Theme Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Racism is something that most people would claim they do not believe in or support; however, as clearly shown in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, racism is a disease that spreads through a region and worsens as time goes on. Racism is an issue that is still prevalent in the American society today, and Harper Lee’s timeless novel continues to teach the lesson that one needs to look beyond the color of another man’s skin and see them for who they truly are. Mr. Raymond’s conversation with Dill after Tom Robinson’s testimony initially shows that racism is better comprehended with age. He says, “Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry… Cry about the hell white people give to colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too” (Lee, 1960, p. 269). Here, it becomes clear that children can be naive to racism and the evil in the world, but as they continue to grow up in an area that feels so strongly about white supremacy, they become immune to the injustice and prejudice. Further, Mr. Raymond’s words allow the reader to better understand the severity of the racism in Maycomb and the entirety of the country. It also unveils a crucial theme in the novel, namely that one must consider a person of color to be no different from oneself, as all humans are equal. Additionally, racism is repeatedly referred to as a disease in the novel, which is explained when Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about the trial and he says “‘... I hope and pray I can get

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.

Imagine being persecuted your entire life. Having to constantly respect someone even though they were rude to you. This is what many African-Americans had to go through during the 1930’s. Racism is a major aspect in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The main character, Scout, has to deal with this problem everyday. Bob Ewell, Mr. Cunningham, and other characters are very racist, and don’t approve of Atticus defending a “Negroe”. This causes Scout to be bullied in school and even attacked by Mr. Ewell. Also, characters such as Tom Robinson are negatively affected by racism in Maycomb. Tom is killed just because of his skin color. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s use of point-of-view, irony, and symbolism help to develop

Decades ago, in the 1930s, people of color were not treated fairly. Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird took place in the 1930s in the fictional place of Macomb County, Alabama. It was narrated through a young girl named Scout Finch. Throughout the novel, Scout, her older brother, Jem, and their good friend Dill discover realities of society. Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus, was appointed to be the attorney of a black man. Because of the time period, the case was almost hopeless, but Atticus fought anyway. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird displays universal themes such as racial intolerance and innocence of youth.

There are many themes shown throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird. The author, Harper Lee made the novel take place in the 1930s and in a fictional town called Maycomb County in Alabama. The narrator was a young girl in the novel names Scout Finch. Throughout the book Scout, her older brother Jem, and her best friend Dill discover new things and become more mature. Then towards the end of the book Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, agrees to defend a black man named Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white girl. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, racial intolerance and courage are two of the many themes demonstrated throughout the novel.

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.

names’s Tom Robinson”. Discuss the effects of racism on Maycomb citizens such as Tom and Helen Robinson,

During the 1930s in “To Kill a MOckingbird” by Harper Leek, racism was known and present. The first example is when a Maycomb citizen talks about Atticus defending Tom's life, “..yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. Thats what I don't like about it”(163). White people in Maycomb look down on African Americans and they were disgusted that Atticus want to help a black man. The second example is when Atticus explains about unequal treatment of blacks to scout, “...when it's a white man's word against a black man's word, the white always wins. they’re ugly, but these are the facts of life”(252). No matter how right a black man is, the whites will prevail because to whites they see themselves as civilized people and not inferior beings. The final

In the book ¨To Kill A Mockingbird¨ by Harper Lee, the differences of social class, ideals, and how racism is showed during the 1930s are mainly shown. This book was set in the city Maycomb, Alabama and specifically on a young girl named Scout and her family. Scout 's father, Atticus, is a lawyer, but he´s a little different from the rest. Atticus is the kind of lawyer white people hate but blacks appreciate simply because he knows what´s right no matter the color of their skin or race. During this story, Atticus receives a hold of a very special case including a black man, Tom Robinson.

Racism is as hot a topic now as it appeared in the 1930’s, but what defines racism? According to dictionary.com, racism is hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. In other words, racism is the discrimination against a different race because one thinks of their race as superior. Harper Lee provides readers with a glimpse of racism in her book To Kill A Mockingbird. Set in the 1930’s, Lee’s book displays a time where segregation became prevalent in America. Though Maycomb itself did not seem to have segregation laws, the people still acted racist towards Negroes. This act of racism appears in Maycomb’s court, allegedly safe communities, and people’s attitudes toward those who interact with Negroes.

Since the time period of To Kill a Mockingbird, the opinions and worldviews of people have changed from how they label and treat others. To Kill a Mockingbird set in the 1930s, reflects racial injustice and the opinion that black people are not respected nor trusted. When Atticus Finch takes on African American Tom Robinson’s case, he and his family receive a negative backlash of comments like N-lover. This type of reaction has since been challenged. People have conflicting opinions on the slurs and values used in the book. “The Black community was chided for being overly sensitive to the use of racial slurs and for its failure to appreciate the context and message of the

In To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses memorable characters to explore Civil Rights and racism in the segregated southern United States in the 1930s. In the novel, Jean-Louise's disposition is influenced by her community. My question is, “what about people who grew up without a community”? When I was younger, I didn't have a home outside my parents. My family and I moved a lot for my father's occupation. I never had a community to grow up in, to develop in, and to be part of. My community was reduced to two people: my mother and my father. Due to this, my character development rested solely with my parents. They raised me to be kind, intelligent, and open-minded. My parents taught me to never have prejudice and to be open to new concepts.

To Kill a Mockingbird shows how fear and racism are often powerful than reason and intelligence. There are many themes such as gender and age but the major theme is racism. Racism comes in different ways and forms like when it comes from whites, African-Americans, or the non-racist people.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is filled with many themes. One of those themes is racism. In this story there was a black man who was accused of rape by a white woman. It was set in the 1930's in Alabama, so most people in this time were harsh towards those of color. This was also the time of the Great Depression so people were stressed about making a living.