Approaching Prejudism in To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch states in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his viewpoint...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” There is so much wisdom and truth in this quote, words that everyone should live by. Unfortunately, people do not always abide by this, judging and discriminating others often without trying to understand another person’s experience. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is told by the viewpoint of Jean Louise Finch (Scout), an innocent six year old tomboy. Her father, Atticus Finch, brother Jeremy (Jem), and friend Dill Harris, encounter many situations such as race and discrimination. Throughout the book, the problems unravel while the children grow. The author creates many themes to fit the book, and because I side with morality, no one theme is more important than another. A theme in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is prejudism that the characters Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Arthur Radley had to face. Tom Robinson, a man of color, is accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter, Mayella Ewell. During the 1930’s, racism was still a prodigious problem in society. During and after cross examination of Mayella, it was quite clear that Tom was innocent, but was still sentenced to prison with a chance of going to death roll. Jem and Atticus were discussing what Tom was accused of after the trial. Jem knew that rape was a capital offense in Alabama but thought that Tom should be able to live since he didn’t take anyone’s life. Atticus then responds by saying, “Tom Robinson's a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world’s going to say, ‘we think you’re guilty but not very,’ in a charge like that. It was either a straight acquittal or nothing” (Lee 294). Atticus is explaining to Jem that because Tom is colored, the jury is either going to definitely side affirmative or negative. Perhaps there was a chance that Tom Robinson wasn’t going to be found guilty of any charges, especially rape, but being a man of color certainly did not help him. Sadly, Tom wasn’t the
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His home life was bad enough, people talking just added to the equation. “According to Miss Stephanie, Boo was sitting in the living room cutting some items from the Maycomb Tribune to paste in his scrapbook. His father entered the room. As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities.” (Lee 13). Being socially awkward did not help Boo Radley, any, but he truly cares for others, only the uncorrupted can see. “When they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things...Atticus, he was real nice.” Atticus responds, “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them,” (Lee 376). A theme in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is prejudism that the characters Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Arthur Radley had to face. Harper Lee addresses this topic while not elegantly, it came across truthfully. Everyone deserves the right to life on earth in peace, but as Lee points out, there’s always going to be someone else snatching someone else’s
His home life was bad enough, people talking just added to the equation. “According to Miss Stephanie, Boo was sitting in the living room cutting some items from the Maycomb Tribune to paste in his scrapbook. His father entered the room. As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities.” (Lee 13). Being socially awkward did not help Boo Radley, any, but he truly cares for others, only the uncorrupted can see. “When they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things...Atticus, he was real nice.” Atticus responds, “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them,” (Lee 376). A theme in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is prejudism that the characters Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Arthur Radley had to face. Harper Lee addresses this topic while not elegantly, it came across truthfully. Everyone deserves the right to life on earth in peace, but as Lee points out, there’s always going to be someone else snatching someone else’s