Essay On Social Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird

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“There are weapons that are simply thoughts. For the record, prejudice can kill and suspicion can destroy.” In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Harper Lee shows how many different types of prejudice such as racial, social, and rumors can lead to social injustice. A man is accused of rape and found guilty due to the color of his skin. In addition a young girl I changed by the way society in Maycomb, Alabama expects a lady to be. Lastly a neighborhood man is rumored a terrible monster. Harper Lee reveals how prejudice of any kind is a disease that leads to social injustice. The town of Maycomb is very prejudice against blacks and looks at them as useless. People in this time period are looked down on just by the race they are. …show more content…
After the trail of Tom Robinson for being accused of raping Mayella Ewell by her father Bob Ewell Jem is very upset. Jem doesn’t understand hoe Tom can be convicted not because he was seen as guilty but because of the color of his skin. Atticus has to explain to Jem that “in our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s the white man always wins.”(220) This shows racial prejudice leading into social injustice by a black man being convicted of rape because the color of his skin. He did not have much of a chance to prove he was innocent before they decided he was guilty. When Scout was asking Jem about her teacher Miss Gates and how she could talk to the class about how she hated Hitler so much but she could be so mean to people in Macomb. When Miss Gates was walking out of the court house talking to another lady …show more content…
In the town of Maycomb if you are not in the high social class you are looked down on. You are expected to act like ladies and gentlemen in high class. If not people try to change you, it’s their way or no way. Shortly after Aunt Alexandra came to live with the Finches she kept trying to make Scout act and dress like a lady. She would constantly nag her and tell her she should be wearing a dress. Aunt Alexandra asked Scout if she would come to the door for a minute. When Scout would come to the door “aunty would look as if she regretted her request; I was usually mud-splashed or covered with sand.”(132) This is showing social injustice with Scout only being a little girl and her aunt looking down on her. Just by the fact the she is never wearing dresses and doesn’t act like a lady all the time even though she is family. When all the ladies were over for the mission group Scout was invited to join them. She sat and listened to what they talked about. Scout observed how they acted to try and please her aunt and be like them. Miss Maudie commented to Scout “you’re mighty dressed up… where are your britches today?”(229) When Miss Maudie is making snarky comments about Scout wearing a dress it shows that the ladies don’t see her as a typical lady. When Scout tries to act like a lady and please her aunt she is teased. Both Aunt Alexandra looking like she regretted calling Scout over and Miss Maudie’s snarky

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