Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a modern American classic that deals with race and gender. Mockingbird tells the story of an African American man on trial for the rape of a white girl in the depression-era deep south. The novel’s theme of prejudice can especially be applied to America’s tension-filled race and gender relations today. Although the law no longer discriminates against certain races and genders, prejudice still exists. To Kill a Mockingbird is still extremely relevant in American society. To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of the Finch family, who live in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story focuses on six-year-old Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Although Maycomb is devastated by the Great Depression and most of the town is extremely poor, Atticus is a lawyer and the Finch family is comfortable by comparison. During the summers Scout and Jem play together with their friend Dill, who lives in Maycomb throughout the season. The three …show more content…
Nathan Radley presumably discovers the gifts in the tree, and fills the hole with cement. A fire starts at one of the neighbor’s houses, and while Jem and Scout watch the fire, someone puts a blanket over Scout’s shoulders. Jem and Scout are sure that it was Boo who gave the blanket to Scout and are shaken up. After the blanket incident, Jem and Scout tell Atticus about the blanket and Jem’s pants.
When a local black, Tom Robinson, has been accused of raping a white girl, Atticus agrees to represent him in court. This does not go over well in Maycomb, as the town is mostly white and very racist. At school, Jem and Scout get bullied by the other kids due to the case. The kids are even harassed by their family at Christmas. Soon after, the Finch’s black cook, Calpurnia, shows them a local black church and the community takes a liking to the