Prejudice In 'To Kill A Mockingbird And Monster'

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Monster by Walter Dean Myers a theme of prejudice is displayed throughout the story. Although these novels are written in different settings and do not share the same story line, they still face the same conflicts that every community faces. Within every community there are always preconceptions made and this is one thing that will never change, regardless of how bad people want it to. Whether it's racism, stereotyping, or just believing gossip people always judge before knowing the facts. If a whole community is prejudice towards an individual, the preconceptions spread and it affects the individual's reputation. At that point the individual is no longer themselves, but an image that the community …show more content…
The kids of Maycomb were the people that prejudged Boo Radley not knowing any better. “ He dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were blood stained,” Scout recounts on Jem’s description of Boo (Lee 13). Without any prior introduction to Boo, or any solid proof, Jem ranted on the diet of Boo Radley. Making false statements, Jem made Boo out to be a monster. Now in the kids eyes Boo is a squirrel eating freak. It seems out of all the rumors spread about Boo Radley in Maycomb, Jem came up with the most. Jem spreads a rumour by giving and outlandish description of Boo’s appearance. Making Boo out to seem like a monstrous individual Jem says “There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time”(Lee 13). Anyone to actually see Boo would be surprised to find a pale, thin man instead of some huge monsterous creation. “ my eyes traveled up his thin frame to his torn denim shirt,” Scout says describing the appearance of the man without a face(Lee 270). Due to Jem's and everyone else's rumors and assumptions about Boo Radley, Boo’s reputation was being a squirrel eating