Theme Of Racism And Fear In To Kill A Mockingbird

White people believed to treat them like “trash” and they are influencing their kids to do the same which puts an impact on the community . The white people in Maycomb , Albama believe that black people are “ Filthy Beings” . Tom Robinson is a prime example in this book because , just because he’s an african american he loses the case of raping a white girl by the name of Mayella Ewell . Tom was given an defense attorney , which is Atticus and he was chosen by the judge . The law and system is so messed up that the judge picked a white man to be his attorney . Atticus Finch is a white man who is an experienced lawyer . Atticus is trying his best to win Tom’s case . All of a sudden he immediately loses the case . When the trial was over , Mr . Underwood said “Atticus has used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson , but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case . Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed . “ (241)

Atticus explains to Jem that “in our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Lee 295 ). Atticus explain the justice system’s flaws to Jem, shows readers how racist people were in the 30’s. Therefore the novel does show some of the oppression that people of color were being forced to go through. During the trial, Tom Robinson says he ran from the Ewell house because “[he] was scared [he’d] hafta face up to what [he] didn't do” (Lee 265). Tom’s confession of his worried feelings of court prove how terrible and bias the southern justice system is. Even though Tom’s life before the trial was never mentioned in the novel, readers can still get a glimpse of the racist views in the south through his trial. Also at Tom’s trial, readers can “see the town of Maycomb in its worst light, willing to execute an innocent man for a crime he did not commit rather than question their belief in black inferiority and their social taboos about interracial relationships” (Felty). The trial truly shows the racist beliefs and the horrible lives African Americans were forced to live through with no freedom and fear of each new day. The novel does show some of the daily difficulties that African Americans went through and for that reason it should be looked upon as an example of racism in the south. Overall, the

As Lemony Snicket wrote in The Blank Book, “People don’t always get what they deserve in this world.” 1930s America was fraught with racism, especially in the southern states. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a Negro man by the name of Tom Robinson was put on trial. Although he was not guilty, the jury convicted him because of the colour of his skin. During the trial, others showed injustice towards Tom and people that were on his side. As Tom’s lawyer, Atticus Finch was not admired by many of the white citizens of Maycomb, the town in which the novel takes place. Although Atticus and Jean Louise Finch (Scout) were white, they were still treated unjustly as a result of helping and supporting Tom Robinson. Scout, Atticus’

In the story “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the main character Scout realizes the town she lives in is full of bias and prejudice toward negros. Scout, the only daughter of lawyer Atticus Finch, is faced with the activism that follows this prejudice when her father decides to defend a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law. She is constantly harassed and tormented by the residence of their small town, Maycom. What Lee is trying to show through these events is that people are always going to have prejudices, and sometimes these prejudices come from the people you least expect it form. In the story, neighbors, friends, and family all show their prejudices about the defendant Tom Robinson to Scout, who finally realize the world isn’t perfect but is, in fact, full of flaws and prejudices.

The setting of the book To Kill A Mockingbird has a huge role on the conflicts, outcome of the trial, and Jem and Scout’s development. The book takes place in Maycomb county Alabama, in the 1930’s during the Great Depression. Since Alabama is in the south, and was before the Civil Rights Movement, most of the white residents in the town were racist. In the book, the town of Maycomb is almost like a character on its own. It is a small town that had lots of farmers who were struck hard by the Great Depression. Scout, who is the narrator of the book describes it by saying, “Maycomb was a tired old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square”(Lee 6). Scout even goes on to say, “People moved slowly then. They ambled across the square, shuffled in and out of the stores around it, took their time about everything”(Lee 6). In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the conflict of racism is shown through the trial, Atticus, and Jem and Scout’s uprising in a non-racist home but in a prejudice town.

Tom Robinson’s role in this book shows a lot of prejudice. He is a black man convicted of raping a white women. This book is set in the 1930s, during this time period the Jim Crow Laws were still in place and racism was big. ‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling” (Lee, pg 197). Tom Robinson is talking about how he felt sorry for Miss Mayella, who is white. Mr Gilmer gets very upset stating that a nigger should not feel sorry for a white woman. "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads -- they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the fact of life.” (Lee, pg.220) Atticus is talking to the kids about how Tom Robinson will get the death sentence because of the color of his skin and how the jury looks at him. He talks about there is no court in Alabama that would’ve gave him something less. Basically it was Tom against a town full of white folks. Tom is a big symbol of prejudice in the book.

In a world where the color of your skin determines whether or not you are guilty of a horrible crime, a white man tries to defend an innocent black man from being convicted. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch adamantly defends a black man named Tom Robinson from being wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman, an unspeakable crime in that time. The racism embedded in many of the citizens of Maycomb makes Atticus’ job of convincing the jurors of Robinson’s innocence almost impossible but through the challenges, he makes an impressive closing statement. Atticus Finch effectively uses ethos, logos, and pathos to create an exceedingly convincing argument and final statement that Tom Robinson was wrongly accused of an awful

Prejudice and discrimination is looked down upon, yet people still continue to be judgmental and have preconceived assumptions about others. It is a common thing that still happens in today’s society. To be particular, racial discrimination is one example of prejudice and is based solely on the color of one’s skin. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is a caring individual who tries his hardest to treat everyone he meets with appreciation and respect. However, he is African American, which influences him and the other characters' lives in different ways. All he wants to do is help out another character, Mayella, which inevitably costs him his life in the end. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character of Tom Robinson to illustrate the fact that innocent people are sometimes victimized to a racist society.

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

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, many minor themes are present such as gender and age. However, the largest and therefore major theme of the book is racism. All of the events and themes in the book had only one purpose, to support the theme of racism.

The central idea of the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is how the author, Harper Lee(Scout), explains the idiocracy of racism. One it should not exist and two racism is a reality. These two explanations are the exact definition of the famous quote “Do not judge a book by its cover.” Harper Lee made this book to prevent future racism from developing and then eventually ceasing it from existence. Racism develops in a way that Scout, Dill and Jem does not see it coming especially when the trial of two individuals of different color becomes in session.

Tom Robinson had only felt sorry for a white girl, Mayella Ewell, who was higher up the social position than which was considered “unethical.” to others. “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-,” Mr. Gilmer empathized his answer and “nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer,” (Lee 264). He helped her without any request of money just because of the goodness in his heart. A person like that was one of the most rare in the world, and quite selfless to care more about others than himself, but the towns people didn’t appricate that, “Mr. Gilmer smiled grimly at the jury. “You’re a mighty good fellow, it seems — did all this for not one penny?’ ” (Lee 263). The lawyer used the racial injustice against him in order to persude the jury that Tom wasn’t innocent as he seemed and saw a matter of color as an important factor. Tom had only done everything from the goodness in his heart, but Mayella accused him of rape when her father, Bob Ewell, seemed more of the criminal. The gracious man was convicted only in the matter of the color of his skin because a noble black man’s word is still no good against a white woman. In the jury’s heart, they knew that Tom Robinson didn’t commit the crime, but they couldn’t get past their prejudice and admit to themselves that he was a honest man. Atticus knew that Tom Robinson wasn’t going to win the case because of the color of his skin, but still showed support the man because of Tom’s concern of everyone. People like Tom are taken advantage of because of the gentleness that he had and providing the well being for them is immensely important.

“Tom was a truthful man married with three children” (190). Usually a truthful man can be trusted but as “Tom gave his testimony” (191) Bob Ewell and the other people watching the court case knew that he had no chance to win. Tom made a mistake when he said he “felt right sorry for “ Melaya Ewell in front of the jury because it was not acceptable for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman (147). Tom never had a chance because prejudice poisoned the minds of the jury. Although Atticus Finch had proven Tom Robinson innocent, a black man’s word could never be accepted as truth over a white man’s.

From the thirteen colonies and the Revolutionary War to today’s booming industries and advanced technology, America has always stood out on the face of the world. From the stunning break from Britain to one of the greatest military developments in history, the United States has held its own among the introduction and full-bloom usage of new technology. However, like all countries, America has been through some dark spots. One of the most tragic was racism, which sparked in the early 19th century and continues to rage rampant today. In the iconic To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, racism is portrayed as a disease, showing the inequality and conflict between social classes it generates. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characterization to convey that racism creates prejudice and antagonism, is similar to a disease, and is immoral.

Thomas Jefferson claimed that in the Declaration of Independence “All men are created equal”. This statement is false and evidence will be prove that oppressors have used racism, discrimination and the system to stifle equality for African Americans, Jews and minorities. The three universal themes are racism, inequality in the justice system and educational barriers observed throughout the works of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Elie Wiesel’s Night. Based on the finding presented by the European Commission (EU) report, substantiates that Germans instituted the Nuremberg Race Laws, thereby prohibiting interracial relations or marriages between Aryans and non-Aryans such as Jews, Gypsies or African-Americans (Nuremberg Race Law pg.1). In comparison, United States enforced the Jim Crow Laws throughout the South legalizing segregation between blacks and whites (inforplease.com). Ultimately, these extreme practices were eventually declared unconstitutional and justly eradicated.