What Is A Hypocrite?

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)

Tom Robinson is another mockingbird figure. He was a genuinely caring person who is destroyed by his willingness to help Mayella Ewell. Just like a mockingbird, Robinson never hurt anyone. Yet, he was also persecuted by society for his kindness and his race. Tom Robinson was killed because of his kindness and the color of his skin; “ a harmless songbird that was shot down by a senseless hunter.” Lee uses the character of Tom as a mockingbird figure to express the innocence of the mockingbird and exhibit the narrow-mindedness and biased opinions of the towns folk.

Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry. Maybe things’ll strike him as being—not quite right, say, but he won’t cry, not when he gets a few years on him . . . Cry about the simple hell people give other people—without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too’” (Lee 269). This quote by Mr. Dolphus Raymond is especially significant as he provides a huge male stereotype: men cannot cry. Previously in the book, Aunt Alexandra had presented a female stereotype criticizing Scout for looking like a tomboy, instead of wearing dresses and helping her father around the house (which all girls supposedly have to do). Mr. Dolphus Raymond and Aunt Alexandra would probably go along pretty great since they both share that traditional way of life. This quote overall is significant because Mr. Dolphus Raymond informs Dill and he presents another stereotype of that specific time period, yet he is also the one going out of boundaries by having mixed children. In the 21st century, they would have called Mr. Raymond out for having male stereotypes about what they are supposed to do and be. Now in days, stereotypical people are called out therefore they try and demolish these “rules”. Mr. Raymond also states another one of his opinions during the quote, that he believes that both black and white people are equals.

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, characters are used to demonstrate the misjudgement by others in society. Arthur “Boo” Radley is thought of in a very dimensional and untrue way by the children. Dolphus Raymond makes unnoticed compromises in order to live in the community which he does not fit in. Tom Robinson is a kind and humble African American, who is misjudged by society due to the colour of his skin. Lee uses characterisation to show readers how society judges others.

Racism and prejudice both serve as barriers for Atticus when he displays courage in the novel by continuously defending Tom Robinson, who is deemed a criminal by society but innocent by Atticus and a few others. Throughout the length of the court case, Atticus is aware of the fact that much of

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.

Spoiled Aunt Alexandra also believes that the Finch family is the superior family mainly because of their wealth, along with other factors such as their bloodlines accomplishments, and their “streak”. These childish views of what's wrong and what’s right that were set by mindless adults further deepens the opened wound that is hatred. Another example of bigotry among the small southern community is racism, which is a key factor in this novel. Race relations skyrocketed as the book continued, started from slurs, into wrongfully accusing and executing a black male. One peculiar white citizen named Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an odd one according to the public eye. The odd thing about him? He had children with a black woman, which is similar to beheading another being in Maycomb. Due to the many scandals about Dolphus, he reminds “intoxicated” for the rest of his days, or pretends to be nonetheless. Families in Maycomb are so frightened by equity that they have forced

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.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” As humans we tend to let other people’s beliefs impact our thinking of values. Sometimes those beliefs come from our society. Tom Robinson is a person that knows this because of his skin colour. He will never be able to escape the reality of racism in Maycomb. The situation he is in may or may not have ended his life due to the color he was.

Finch and his family face abuse from many people in Maycomb, including his own family. “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family -” (Lee 110). Francis, Atticus’ own nephew, tells Jean-Louise that Atticus defending a black man is shameful. This opinion is reflected by nearly everybody in Maycomb. However, Mr. Finch proudly admits to defending Tom Robinson.

In the 1930s, there were strict rules society placed on people about race and class. It was crucial that everyone stuck with his or her own kind. Dolphus Raymond plays a significant role in To Kill a Mockingbird as he reveals racism and prideful characteristics in the white majority. He is alienated because he lives differently than everyone else, and the haughty white community is unable to accept him.

nson. “--- I seen the black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella.”” This is pure lies all coming out of a man who wants a welfare check and for the community to like and accept him. He wis will to through Tom on the ground and spit on him just so he can look better. Bob Ewell is the purest form of prejudice. His daugher, Mayella, isn’t much better. She walks up to the stand with the same promises her father did and she said, “... He got me round the neck, cussin’ me an’ saying dirt-- I fought’n ‘hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me agin an’ agin--.” Tom Robinson is a crippled man. He is short an arm. This whole family makes up this lie for himself. To hide their own issues. They do it at Tom’s expense. The prejudice is breaded in

Lee’s use of the word “rutting” in this dialogue represents Maycomb’s view of black men; animals, and savages, waiting for the chance to attack. Mr.Gilmer furthers this disrespect in his own way. In his cross-examination of Tom Robinson, the prosecutor repeatedly addresses Tom as “boy”(196), and “big buck”(198). Once again, this language provides a beast-like image of not only Tom Robinson, but all black men. The reader also sees symbolism of racism during Aunt Alexandra’s meeting with her neighboring woman. During a missionary meeting, Mrs.Merriweather states that the Mrunas, (an African tribe) live in “poverty and darkness”(230). The sickening irony of the women is seen here, as they feel pity towards the Mrunas, but are so hypocritical, they ignore the racism that results in the poverty of several black families in their very own town. The women at the meeting even proceed to insult their own black cooks and servants. Later, when the Tom Robinson vs. Mayella Ewell trial is completed, Aunt Alexandra expresses to Atticus her disapproval of him allowing the children to be present during the trial, but Atticus repartees, “they might as well learn to cope with it. … It’s as much Maycomb County as missionary teas”(212). Here, Atticus bluntly states that the conviction of Tom Robinson was just as racist, and unjustified as Aunt Alexandra’s hypocrisy-filled missionary teas.

Mr.Robinson is a kind, honest, and hardworking man who has never hurt anyone in anyway, shape, or form. Tom Robinson is also referred to as a mockingbird also because of his innocence. Before he was accused of raping Mr. Ewell, He would help anyone with whatever they needed without asking for anything in return especially with Mr. Ewell chores. Ever since the trial begun the town assumes that he is guilty because of his skin color. Even after his death the town assumes that it's "typical of a African American to cut and run"(Lee 276).

Tom Robinson is the most easily identifiable mockingbird in this story. Although he is a peaceful, respectful man who helps Mayella Ewell without asking for anything in return, he is falsely accused and dies tragically as a result. Mr. Underwood, Maycomb’s newspaper editor, likens Tom’s death to the “senseless slaughter of innocent songbirds by hunters and children” in the editorial he writes immediately after the Negro’s death. As shooting a mockingbird results in the loss of a sweet song-maker, the death of Tom brings no good fruit—it only satisfies the destructive racial prejudice of the South. Tom is also targeted for the same reasons that mockingbirds are targeted