Theme Of Equality In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, racism and social inequality are two central themes. Many different forms of social inequality coexist in the society depicted in the book, as the people of Maycomb are very rigid in their ways. This is because the book takes place in a time at which there was much racism and social inequality. In Maycomb, firstly there is discrimination between rich and poor white people, who do not often interact with each other. There is also racism against blacks by all white people in society, both rich and poor. Black people are denied basic rights and discriminated against in this town. Lastly, there is racism between the lowest classes of the community: poor white people and

Inequality is a theme that runs throughout all of history. Harper Lee uses the theme of inequality in her book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson must deal with inequality when he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit because no one will trust a black man over a white man. The Cunningham family must face discrimination because of their lack of money. Scout even faces inequality when she tries to play with Jem and Dill. The theme of inequality is a strong one in Lee’s book, and her use of inequality doesn’t only define racism, but also discrimination based on wealth and gender.

Race is the dominant cause of inequality in To Kill A Mockingbird, thus Maycomb’s views on race heavily influence every aspect of life. Although racial inequality is clearly illustrated in the in the injustice, prejudice, discrimination and antagonism surrounding the Tom Robinson trial, it is also shown more subtly throughout the novel. In chapter 25 Atticus Finch is quoted disclosing that the corrupt justice system is a direct cause of a racist society. “In our courts, when it's a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Pg 295). To emphasize, on the same occasion Atticus attempts to explain to his children how widely spread racism is, “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life”

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the major themes that author Harper Lee highlights are the divisions and inequality in society. The story is set in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama when class, gender, and racial discrimination were highly prevalent. In this time Jim Crow laws were in effect. Jim Crow laws mandated the segregation between black and whites. Consequences of questioning Jim Crow laws were violent and people were rejected from society and their family. The 1930’s is also the time during which the great depression was taking place. Many families were hit hard by the great depression. Maycomb was not a poorer, small, Southern, town. Also in this time, women were not given equal rights and they were expected to fulfill

Imagine you are a lawyer living in the 19’th century called to defend a black man who is wrongly accused of rape. Because of the all white jury, the defendant is guilty. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is called to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He’s putting his family in danger with this case, but he needs to do it. His children, Jem, Scout, and their friend Dill, are exposed to such things that test their maturity. They find out the harsh truth of reality and have to deal with it. The three main themes in To Kill a Mockingbird are losing hope, coming of age, and injustice.

Equality, it’s a word that has many different interpretations all over the world. For some people equality means having the right to vote or marry who they love, but for others it could just mean having the right to go out of your own house without a man’s permission, or the right to drive a car. Equality for all people in America has come a long, long way. There was a time when African Americans weren’t even considered people, but now one has been President. I think that “To Kill a Mockingbird” is an excellent example of the injustice and hatred that has been shown towards African Americans in this country and how people have slowly changed their minds and broken down a lot of racial and ethnic barriers.

Discrimination, it has been part of human nature for a long time, especially relevant subject in literature such as To Kill a Mockingbird. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the main character of Scout Finch was exposed to different types of discrimination as she grows up. Discrimination affected the lives of characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird because of society’s prejudicial views of race, gender, and class.

The absence of courage on equality in the novel To Kill a mockingbird led to the death of Tom Robinson. In Maycomb African Americans were looked upon as second-class citizens, because of this none of them could vote or attain the same equal status. Moreover, in the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird an African American was put on trial for a crime he didn’t commit. Likewise, this was obvious to everyone present in the courtroom, however, the lack of courage to stand up for equality in this town caused Tom to be sentenced to life in prison and eventually die. According, To Kill a Mockingbird “I don’t know how they could convict Tom Robinson, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they do it tonight” (225). This quote shows how all citizens knew

“We hold these truths to be self - evident that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This is a famous line that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Yet, America has failed to show social equality to every race, religion, and gender since the known article was created. Throughout the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and in society today, social equality is not demonstrated in the novel nor in the present.

Throughout the years, most people have said that the social and racial fairness of the human race has been getting closer and closer to reaching full equality, but in my opinion, I really don’t think it has changed much. Just like in To Kill A Mockingbird, the world has just as many prejudiced people that will turn away to the sight of anything discriminatory and act like it isn’t any of their business, and that is a huge issue. For example, during Tom Robinson’s case, nobody believed that he was innocent just because he was a black man. And because of that, they were going to execute him. Just like today, many African Americans are treated the same way. Even though it might not be as harsh as execution, there have been many incidents of hatred

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows a lot of racial or social issues, especially against the African-Americans, such as racial inequality and poor treatment of the poor or homeless; both of these are still at least partially seen today. Harper Lee uses the unfair trial of Tom Robinson and his cruel death to show racial inequality, especially towards the African-Americans. Towards the end of the trial, Lee describes how the jury acts when they come back in as: “A jury never looks at a defendant it has convicted, and when this jury came in, not one of them looked at Tom Robinson…” (Lee 282). Then, Judge Taylor announces the verdict: “Guilty… guilty… guilty… guilty…” (Lee 282). Later on, Atticus comes home after finding out about Tom Robinson’s death: “Tom’s dead…. They got him just as he went over the fence…. Seventeen bullet holes in him” (Lee 315). Based on this evidence, it is clear that racial inequality was evident in the 1930’s because with prior knowledge from the novel, we know that Tom didn’t stand much of a chance against the jury because of his being African-American. Also, if a white man had done what Tom did, he probably would have been given a fairer trial than Tom was. Even though, the police obviously wanted him dead as he tried to escape prison, there was no reason to shoot him seventeen times. Racial inequality can still been seen in the country, and around the world, but doesn’t seem to be as bad as it had been; some statistics show it improved soon after, but some facts show it took longer. One statistic showing that racial inequality has gotten better states, “In 1980, over 50% of the Blacks aged 25 or more had completed high school, and, by 2012, 85%” (Coleman 183).One fact stating that racial inequality took a while before improving states, “Even after the slaves were freed, the African Americans continued to face legal discrimination and segregation until the victories of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s” (“Preface to ‘What…’” 1). This evidence shows that racial inequality didn’t really improve at first. After the civil rights movement, things improved for the African Americans. From the statistic, the reader knows that between 1980 and 2012, a little over 1% more of the

Has America changed in regards to equality for all citizens since The Great Depression? Ethnicity, also known as racism, have been an impact in our society in the past and is probably still an impact in today’s society. As for an example, recently the Ferguson case in Ferguson, Missouri, where a black teenager, named Michael Brown, who was 18 years old was shot by a white police officer, named Darren Wilson, who is 28 years old because Brown was told to move and look at the officer, in which the police officer, Wilson, then shot him several times. To sum up if America has changed for equality, it hasn’t for the racism toward the blacks.

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the court’s jury is heavily swayed by prejudice even though they are supposed to treat everyone equally in the court. Characters are lead to believe that equality does not exist. In my own life, I can see why we, as a human race, are still far from achieving complete equality.

The quote “Show me the guy who’s afraid to look bad, and I’ll show you a guy you can be beat every time.” ,said by Lou Brock is something that the beloved character Eddie Rake, from the novel Bleachers written by John Grisham, would say in one of his pow-wows to his players. However, quite the contrary could be said about him.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is an ideal display of feminism that takes place during the period of depression in the south. It portrayed the two kinds of women found in the south during this time, the women who were pro the feminist movement, and the average Southern women. Sadly some women mistakenly rebelled against the ideals of society, by just being themselves. Men and women were to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen, were men were expected to dress in suit and ties and women were expected to wear dresses and be courteous. Since southern towns were so sheltered from the liberal views of the rest of the world they had no chose but to abide by these gender roles.