As history has proven time and time again, racism and fear have disastrous effects on the society in which it’s established. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a father with two children who must undergo the racism in their hometown of Maycomb, to win the trial of Tom Robinson, an innocent black man accused of rape. While the trial takes place, the discrimination starts to arise and the people of Maycomb are blinded by fear. In Harper Lee’s most famous book, To Kill a Mockingbird, she shows how racism and fear are far more powerful in society than morality and reason.
Racism and fear override morality and reason many times in Harper Lee’s literature. The overwhelming problem in society is made evident when Tom Robinson, a black male accused of …show more content…
Mayella Ewell tried to pin the situation of rape upon an innocent man because he was black and she knew she would get away with it. Before the trial, the town of Maycomb tells Atticus not to defend Tom. Maycomb, and its people, have favored racism over reason. The favoritism is mostly displayed when the trial takes place. Atticus proves, without a doubt, that Tom Robinson is innocent, by first, showing Tom’s limp arm and proving that there is no possible way for Tom to have hurt Mayella, and second, by showing Mayella’s father had beat her, since he is indeed left handed and an alcoholic. Tom should have been awarded justice, but instead, he was punished with being found guilty and sent to prison. Tom Robinson was later killed, which took a tremendous toll on Atticus and their family. It is because of characters like Tom, that racism is made evident to be stronger than reason. The town of Maycomb and many other societies today are so filled with hate, that they outweigh …show more content…
As kids, they don’t truly understand everything yet. That is what makes them so used to racism. As the trial starts is when they truly start to notice it because they are treated horribly by other children. This is because Atticus, their father, is defending Tom Robinson. In Lee’s book, she incorporates Jem and Scouts coming of age stories. They start to find themselves and are shown how to act by influential people in their lives. They also become much more mature when given difficult obstacles.
Overall, racism and fear are far more powerful than morality and reason when it comes to the people of Maycomb, and sadly, many other societies today. This is because of characteristics of Atticus, Jem, Scout, Calpurnia, and Tom, all against the characteristics of Maycomb and its people, which is prejudice and fearing others. Harper Lee demonstrated the perfect situation to prove all of this is indeed true. Will we ever see morality and reason overcome the harshness of racism and fear? Well, that is up to future generations to
Racism and fear override morality and reason many times in Harper Lee’s literature. The overwhelming problem in society is made evident when Tom Robinson, a black male accused of …show more content…
Mayella Ewell tried to pin the situation of rape upon an innocent man because he was black and she knew she would get away with it. Before the trial, the town of Maycomb tells Atticus not to defend Tom. Maycomb, and its people, have favored racism over reason. The favoritism is mostly displayed when the trial takes place. Atticus proves, without a doubt, that Tom Robinson is innocent, by first, showing Tom’s limp arm and proving that there is no possible way for Tom to have hurt Mayella, and second, by showing Mayella’s father had beat her, since he is indeed left handed and an alcoholic. Tom should have been awarded justice, but instead, he was punished with being found guilty and sent to prison. Tom Robinson was later killed, which took a tremendous toll on Atticus and their family. It is because of characters like Tom, that racism is made evident to be stronger than reason. The town of Maycomb and many other societies today are so filled with hate, that they outweigh …show more content…
As kids, they don’t truly understand everything yet. That is what makes them so used to racism. As the trial starts is when they truly start to notice it because they are treated horribly by other children. This is because Atticus, their father, is defending Tom Robinson. In Lee’s book, she incorporates Jem and Scouts coming of age stories. They start to find themselves and are shown how to act by influential people in their lives. They also become much more mature when given difficult obstacles.
Overall, racism and fear are far more powerful than morality and reason when it comes to the people of Maycomb, and sadly, many other societies today. This is because of characteristics of Atticus, Jem, Scout, Calpurnia, and Tom, all against the characteristics of Maycomb and its people, which is prejudice and fearing others. Harper Lee demonstrated the perfect situation to prove all of this is indeed true. Will we ever see morality and reason overcome the harshness of racism and fear? Well, that is up to future generations to