Throughout history, intolerance on the basis of color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, social status, wealth, and other factors has caused the undue suffering of millions around the world. Even today, this problem remains to be resolved; the media continues to stereotype minority groups, such as Muslims and the LGBT. This very subject of intolerance is a major theme in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Set in the Depression-era South, Maycomb’s placid exterior masks the town’s underlying prejudice against the outliers of convention. Written through a lens of sincerity and empathy, Lee’s novel is a unique social reflection, thoughtfully depicting the unjust consequences of intolerance left unchecked. Despite his numerous attempts to
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In the segregated society of 1930s-Alabama, Robinson is unjustly condemned for a crime he never commits. Due to his color, the town immediately assumes that he is at fault, especially since his alleged victim is white. Dolphus Raymond, for one, identifies the injustice at play: “The hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too” (269). From the beginning, Robinson helps Mayella out of the goodness of his heart, but the Ewells take advantage of his kindness. Even in a court where all men should stand equal, the jury refuses to acknowledge the ample evidence upholding Robinson’s innocence. Additionally, those who rightly stand up for him are also scorned. Atticus especially is a victim of Maycomb's abuse, yet he remains perseverant. However, he is ultimately unable to overcome the town's racism: "In the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case" (323). Atticus himself understands this, saying that “you rarely win” in this set of circumstances (149). Regardless, his actions form a platform from which others can see the moral dimension of this situation. Thus, while Maycomb may be enveloped by intolerance, people like Atticus tirelessly fight the town’s bigotry with
In the segregated society of 1930s-Alabama, Robinson is unjustly condemned for a crime he never commits. Due to his color, the town immediately assumes that he is at fault, especially since his alleged victim is white. Dolphus Raymond, for one, identifies the injustice at play: “The hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too” (269). From the beginning, Robinson helps Mayella out of the goodness of his heart, but the Ewells take advantage of his kindness. Even in a court where all men should stand equal, the jury refuses to acknowledge the ample evidence upholding Robinson’s innocence. Additionally, those who rightly stand up for him are also scorned. Atticus especially is a victim of Maycomb's abuse, yet he remains perseverant. However, he is ultimately unable to overcome the town's racism: "In the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case" (323). Atticus himself understands this, saying that “you rarely win” in this set of circumstances (149). Regardless, his actions form a platform from which others can see the moral dimension of this situation. Thus, while Maycomb may be enveloped by intolerance, people like Atticus tirelessly fight the town’s bigotry with