Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird - 1924 Words

Maya Angelou, a famous poet and activist, understood that, â€Å"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.† This quote portrays how prejudice causes people to have apathy, and stops communities from growing into welcoming and accepting environments. This is a crucial message in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Written by Harper Lee, the story follows a young girl named Scout and her brother Jem growing up in the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama surrounded by prejudice and discrimination. As the story progresses, their father, Atticus Finch, a well known and admired legislative representative, is assigned to the case of Tom Robinson. He is a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, part†¦show more content†¦Even though n- is a commonly used word for their time, Atticus lets Scout know that it is not acceptable. He also portrays how he will defend anyone, no matter their race. Atticus understands the brutality of this word, and the dark meaning it holds. Therefore, he will not let his children walk around using it, even if it is what everyone else uses. Another case which demonstrates adults putting an end to the cycle of prejudice is when Atticus makes an important statement which makes sure his children are aware of the consequences of prejudice. After the trial where Tom Robinson is found guilty without much evidence, Jem and Atticus argue about how the law should work, and what should happen in a courtroom. Jem is very angry about the outcome, and Atticus takes the opportunity to inform him about prejudice. â€Å"‘As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you ever forget it-whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.’† (pg 295) Atticus makes sure his children are aware of the e veryday circumstances that involve discrimination and deception in order to make sure they do not behave this way. He teaches them that if a white person cheats a black person, as they often did during this time period, they are immoral. If you take advantage of someone who you already haveShow MoreRelatedPrejudice to Kill a Mockingbird1014 Words   |  5 PagesPrejudice denotes a prejudgment and negative opinion formed without adequate knowledge or justification. Individuals who are prejudicial are often biased and act unfavourably to other groups, particularly those of differing race and socio-economic status. Ideas and themes about prejudice are strongly evoked through Harper Lee’s 1960 novel â€Å"To Kill a Mocking-bird† and the poem â€Å"The Child† by Valerie Church. â€Å"To Kill a Mocking-bird† explores the prejudices associated with the coloured and underprivilegedRead MorePrejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesTo Ki ll a Mockingbird: GCSE Coursework The theme of prejudice is central to the novel. A number of characters are discriminated against. Making close reference to the text discuss what you think Harper Lee wants us to learn about society as illustrated in her novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ set in 1930’s America. In this essay I will give my opinions on why in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, Harper Lee included a lot of prejudice and controversial issues in the 1930’s. 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Through the course of the novel, Harper Lee conveys the idea of prejudice to the reader in a variety of forms – mostly by use of symbolism. The most powerful examples of this symbolism are the use of the term ‘mockingbird’ - which is used to symboliseRead MoreRacial Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird1564 Words   |  7 Pagesasking themselves following their experiences of racial prejudice and unfair judgement of others in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Racial issues are still a problem in society today, as are many of the other morals taught throughout the story. For example, the discrimination of the character Tom Robinson leads the children, Jem and Scout, to come to the conclusion that society creates opinions about oth ers based on prejudice, rather than the truth. The author includes many importantRead MorePrejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay1983 Words   |  8 PagesIn both the past and present, prejudice produces a plethora of problems (alliteration). In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that people must think outside the box of prejudice for the resolution of societal conflicts. Lee writes about the lives of Scout and her brother, Jem, children growing up in Maycomb, Alabama amidst the Great Depression. Arthur Radley, their secluded and mysterious neighbor, captivates the minds of the children, including their summer friend, Dill. Meanwhile, their attorneyRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingto Kill a Mockingbird Prejudicebird Prejudice763 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill A Mockingbird Prejudice has caused the pain and suffering of others for many centuries. Some examples of this include the Holocaust and slavery in the United States. In to Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee racism was the cause of much agony to the blacks of a segregated South. Along with blacks, other groups of people are judged unfairly just because of their difference from others. The prejudice and bigotry of society causes the victimization of people with differences. Some who are discriminatedRead MoreInnocence and Prejudice in to Kill a Mockingbird Essay957 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a beautiful story depicting a family living in the South of the 1930’s, and their struggle against the prejudice which was common to that time. The book centers on Atticus Finch, the father of the family as well as a lawyer, and his fight against prejudice. We see the story unfold through the innocent eyes of his young daughter, Scout, who is free from prejudice and not yet jaded. By viewing events as Scout sees them, the author shows us how to overcome prejudicesRead MoreThe Prejudice Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1010 Words   |  5 PagesOne/Period 2 1 March 2015 The Prejudice of Maycomb â€Å"All men are created equal†, one of the most ignored statements that our founding fathers wrote in the Constitution. People exercise prejudice everywhere in the U.S. Prejudice is a topic that is constantly revisited in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Her novel focuses on Scout, the daughter of Atticus Finch, living her life in the 1930s of rural Maycomb, Alabama. Scout witnesses the injustice and prejudice against many people, not onlyRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird: the Theme of Prejudice Essay1359 Words   |  6 PagesTo Kill A Mockingbird: The Theme of Prejudice The theme of prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird is much more than just a case of black and white. The entire novel is about prejudice in its many forms, the most prominent case of prejudice is the racism and hate between the blacks and whites. The whole town of Maycomb is based on stereotypes of its inhabitants, that are passed down from generation to generation. Rumors run rampid and very little truth is usually in them. So Jem received most