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What Is The Past In To Kill A Mockingbird

Decent Essays
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader is able to comprehend the concept of moving past the traditions of history and conceiving a personal future through Calpurnia’s, Scout’s, and Atticus’s ability to look past stereotypes. When Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout with her to a service at her church, she is looking past the traditional principles. Scout's ability to forget stereotypes is shown when she lives her life the way she thinks is best, not the “girly-girl” way her Aunt Alexandra expects her to live. Atticus exhibits defying expectations when he defends Tom Robinson, looking deeper than the color of his skin.
On a Sunday morning in Maycomb County, Scout and Jem accompany Calpurnia as her guests to a service at her home church, defying expectations and looking deeper than the normal rules. The reader then understands the other side of racism and while rules may be set, they can always be looked past for a positive impact. Lula, a fellow member of First Purchase, halts Calpurnia in her path to announce that Caucasians are not welcome. Calpurnia then states that “...It’s the same God, ain't it?” (Lee 158), and while Scout and Jem may not
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Tom Robinson’s case regarding a potential rape of Mayella Ewell justifies the fact that racism is present in Maycomb County. Atticus may be the only lawyer in Maycomb County that would defend a black man. This action shows that when one town's member decides to go off the normal path, the repercussions ripple off of Atticus’s decision. The jury also assumes that Tom is guilty solely because he is African American and does not focus on the facts. Racism and prejudice is obviously prevalent in this way. The idea of overcoming the color of skin is relevant and alive by Atticus's actions, showing how he and others can look on the inside instead of the
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