The Importance Of Inequality, And The Way We View Others

The whole town of Maycomb is racist, which makes Atticus’s job harder trying to defend Tom Robinson against the word of a white man.Tom Robinson’s case is unjust since he is black and the majority of Maycomb revert to the stereotype that all blacks are immoral and criminals. “Quote” shows that it is a situation where little is possible to do when defending a black man because the town of Maycomb is deeply affected by racism they tend to only make decisions based on the race and so immediately think Tom Robinson is guilty, that he did indeed raped Mayella when there was so much evidence to prove otherwise. This is challenging for Atticus, since he has to persuade everyone to pretend there is no stereotype about blacks and that they are human

Because the Ewells are at the bottom of the class structure along with the African Americans, and are constantly sneered and despised by their higher-ranking white peers, Bob Ewell tries to seem better than his current situation of utter poverty by trying to appear as morally superior to Tom Robinson, an African American. In accusing Tom Robinson, he sees what he believes is a way for advancement in society. Not only does he i) clear his daughter of the ‘crime’ she has committed of tempting a black man, he also ii) elevates his societal status. In his mind, the town should think him a hero for saving Maycomb's white

Tom Robinson’s trial for miscegenistic rape and his ultimate death paralleling in importance Tracy Deen and Nonnie Andersons interracial affair. The Ewells knows that they are the lowest of the among. The whites in Maycomb they have no money, education, and breeding. Bob and Mayella would like to better their station in life. Bob is unwilling to to put forth the effort necessary to change. She suffer from abuse at the hands from her drinking father. Mayella kisses Tom Robinson because of an emotional need to feel loved. She receives beatings and is raped by her father. Mayella

233). Atticus faces discrimination from almost the entire town of Maycomb for his decision to defend Tom Robinson. Mrs.Dubose’s comment is not the only racist one made to Atticus throughout the story. In the same way, Scout discriminates against Bob when she comments on Bob’s ability to comprehend what Judge Taylor had said to him. Judge Taylor uses advanced language and Scout assumes Ewell does not understand it because he did not finish school. Atticus and Bob both experience others judging them. Although Bob was not directly called a name, many comments are made about him behind his back. Given these points, it is clear that Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell display similarities.

People feel sympathy towards those that are believed to be unlikely to lie, and Mayella took advantage of this. During the trial, Scout realizes that “Tom Robinson was a dead man the moment [Mayella] opened her mouth to scream” (Lee 323), which is mainly because she was given sympathy. When she tells her story about the events that happened between her and Tom Robinson, the audience pities her, and she is described as “[. . .] fragile looking, but when she sat facing us in the witness chair, she became what she was, a thick-bodied girl accustomed to strenuous labor” (Lee 239). They describe her as someone who looks strong and controlled, but also as frail and fragile. Even though her life is not on the line, the people in the courtroom believe her to need more protection because of her fragile appearance. After Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell spit in his face, Atticus responds to his children by saying “if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take” (Lee 293). Even the lawyer that shows the town that she was guilty pities her, even after she denies her lies and lets a young man die. In this situation, race is a contributing role towards this sudden acceptance, because in the society that these characters live, individuals with white skin are often viewed as less likely to commit sin

Trying to get Tom Robinson killed, spitting in Atticus’ face, beating up his own daughter, and attempting to kill Jem and Scout are all terrible things that Mr. Ewell has either succeeded or tried to commit. The stereotype of the poor white southerner, along with the theme of the mockingbird, the destruction of innocence, is strongly supported by Bob Ewell and his actions against his community. First off, Bob exemplifies his stereotype when he tries to throw his own crime against Tom because he is “below him.” And he doesn’t do it so subtly either. When Bob was describing Tom in his testimony, he said, “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella” (Lee 175). This one quote shows just how trash Bob is. The way he phrases his accusation achieves an impressive feat of multitasking as he dehumanizes Tom by not even speaking his name, emphasizes his race over everything else, compares Tom to a beast by saying he was “rutting”, shows Mayella as a passive victim, and puts his own power over her by saying “my Mayella”, as if Tom is stealing property from the Ewell’s.

Therefore, the mockingbird and Robinson's voice commonly are not paid attention to throughout the whole novel. "It couldn't be worse Jack. The only thing we've got is a black man's word against the Ewells. The jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells." (88) This quote from Atticus is noteworthy for it implies that regardless of what Tom Robinson claims in the court, the jury is expected to stand on the white man's side. Although the jury at court is supposed to make objective decisions, along the other villagers, he displays a definite bias against the black man. If there is any responsibility that falls upon Tom, it would be the responsibility for chopping wood and providing help for Mayella who is reflected as the loneliest person on earth in the eyes of Scout. However, the mockingbird figure is wrongly accused of things that he has never done or even imagined. Although there is a sufficient amount of proof that Robinson is innocent, it is ignored after all, and he is imprisoned. Emphasizing this, Atticus tells his son Jem: "In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins." (220) This

Atticus displays acts of personal courage in his willingness to keep others safe and his response to racism based threats. Many of the citizens of Maycomb County and its surrounding area were upset about Atticus, a lawyer, taking the defense case of Tom Robinson, a black man who was accused of raping a white woman. Mr. Link Deas and Mr. Heck Tate, along with some other men in Maycomb, come to tell Atticus about the Old Sarum lynch mob coming to kill Tom. The next night, Atticus goes down to the county jail and tells the mob to go home and leave Tom alone (Lee 194 and 202). The lynch mob comes to kill Tom, so they could potentially hurt Atticus, too. The amount of courage Atticus has to display to defend Tom outside of the courthouse and stand up to a dangerous mob of men is extremely high, considering the risks he takes. Atticus comes home from work one day, after the trial is over, and is approached by Mr. Bob Ewell, the victim's father: "According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him... Atticus's peaceful reaction probably prompted him to inquire,'Too proud to fight, you [Negro-lover]?' Miss Stephanie said Atticus said, 'No, too old', put his hands in his pockets, and strolled on"(291). Mr. Ewell is upset that Atticus had tried to prove that Tom was innocent and that Mr. Ewell had hurt his own daughter. He also believes that

To Kill a Mockingbird Timed Writing “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Harper Lee writes To Kill a Mocking Bird during a troubled time in our countries past; a novel about the coming of age of a brother and sister in the south while they see the racism around them. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird, the audience see’s that all men are not treated equally; and the courts do not treat all men of all colors the same.

Another presence of judgment in the novel is present in the character of Bob Ewell, an oblivious, grimy, abusive father, who looks down upon Negroes, believing he can take full advantage of them because he is of the white race. Scout declares that, “all [Bob Ewell] had that made him any better than his [Black] neighbors was, that if he scrubbed with lye soap in very hot water, his skin was white” (Lee 229). This indicates that the population of Maycomb judges primarily on race instead of morals, ethics, income, personality, or lifestyle, which further proves the segregation occurring within the South. This excerpt means that the community is more accepting of an unmannerly, poor, and often-drunk man rather than an honest, harmless black man, such as Tom Robinson. Skin color is the main eparation of the people for it determines who are neglected and who are treated like royalty. Furthermore, Mr. Ewell verifies his prejudiced nature, when, “[h]e stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. ‘I seen that black nigger yonder rutttin’ on my Mayella’” (Lee 231). This further reveals Mr. Ewell’s biased behavior because it presents him mistreating Tom Robinson. Lee uses words

Atticus Finch, a character from To kill a Mockingbird defends Tom Robinson, an African American, who is accused of raping Bob Ewell daughter, Mayella. Although Tom Robinson is innocent, the Judge finds him guilty because Tom Robinson told the jury that “I felt sorry for her”(Lee 197). This symbolizes the judgement in social class because Tom knew he made a great mistake saying to the town of Maycomb that he felt sorry for a white female. This was a turning point during the trial because in Maycomb, people in a higher class viewed other lower classes as not important and no respect to them. Their judgment towards the lower classes based on their skin color or what they are wearing is how people in Maycomb divide themselves from one another. In addition, another judgmental aspect in To Kill a Mockingbird is racism. Someone who shows racism is called a racist which is major factor in the novel. On Jem’s birthday, Scout

Bob Ewell the father of the Mayella (the woman who was raped) was not a kind, innocent person. The Ewells were ranked just above coloured people in Maycomb’s status, when Bob beat his daughter for kissing a black man he made the conscience decision of framing Tom Robinson. “ We do know in part what Mr. Ewell did: he did what any God-fearing, persevering, respectable white man would do under the circumstances - he swore out a warrant, no doubt signing it with his left hand, and Tom Robinson now sits before you” (Lee 272). Bob Ewell attempted to convict another of his crimes, although he won in court his actions caught up with him, and during his attack towards Jem and Scout the children of Atticus, he ended up dead. The two rapists James Louis Willard and Billy Ray Cobb executed a heinous crime when they targeted a 10 year-old girl.

A tenet of our Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal” are five very famous words. They are, however, often put at odds with the prejudiced treatment of people of color and women. This prejudice is the core of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus Finch tries to make Maycomb, Alabama looks past its racism to free an innocent black man. However, the blatant racism of Maycomb County was not the only prejudice that influenced characters.

“‘Mr. Ewell?...Why, Atticus said they were absolute trash-I never heard Atticus talk about folks the way he talked about the Ewells,’” Scout says talking to Reverend Sykes about the court case (Lee 164). In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Mr. Ewell is a citizen of Maycomb, Alabama who is looked down upon in the town. In everyone’s eyes he is the worst citizen and should not be trusted, but there is one group of people that is hated more and that is the African-Americans. Mr. Ewell accuses a black man, Tom Robinson, of raping his daughter Mayella. He wins the court case due to the racism in the town, even though it is obvious that Tom did not do it. Who actually hurt Mayella was Mr. Ewell because he saw Mayella kiss Tom. A white woman

“No matter your social status or how powerful you feel you are; we are all equal. We came here by birth and will leave in death.” –Anonymous. In the midst of the wrongly executed trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus states “our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (Lee 173) to defend the suspect, Tom Robinson. Harper Lee wrote To Kill A Mockingbird to express social injustice among the non-white Americans during the 1960s. Through different characters and the trial of Tom Robinson, Lee suggests racism towards non-white Americans.