To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most notable novels in American literature . It has the ability to expose the complex social and racial structures that have been and are still in place today. This book is exceptionally deep and has a plethora different characters, ideas, and themes that requires much deep thought in order to decipher its meaning. This being the case, many have a common question: what does the mockingbird, as stated in the title, have to do with the plot? In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee displays how various social prejudices have the ability to negatively affect the lives of good people, some of these being Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and even Mayella Ewell. Even though there are many characters that can display
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Although she has offered him compensation, he refuses, simply stating, “Yes suh. I felt right sorry for her…” (Lee 224). Not once did he make advances at at her, Tom only did what was right. Despite Tom’s innocence, he is convicted to die, and is shot while attempting escape. Toms killing is certainly a sin in itself, but the wounds reach deeper into the community. As Dill mentioned on page 274,“‘ Scout,’ said Dill, ‘she just fell own in the dirt, like a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her’” (Lee274). It is disheartening to think of a fatherless family during the Great depression, much less to think that the community put them there. To convict and kill a righteous family man is unquestionably a sin. Mostly, reader's view Mayella as an antagonist throughout this book, and, while this argument still stands, there is evidence that reveals Mayella’s innocence as well. First she is a Ewell, which essentially means that she is white trash. She lives with her many siblings in a shack behind the dump, while their abusive father spends all the family’s money on alcohol. Mayella cannot help the upbringing that she had, but apparently tries to be better than the rest of her family. When on trial, Scout …show more content…
All three were cornered by social prejudices of the little community of Maycomb, and each did or could have had their way of life destroyed. Each one also shared, in their unique way, a level of innocence. Tom, a crippled black man with a family, was eventually shot for a crime he did not commit. Mayella, a reserved, nice girl who resorted to lying and deceit to save face. Boo, the protector and provider of children almost was pushed out of his comfort zone. Together, these characters display the social prejudices that are rampant in Maycomb, and, in the
Although she has offered him compensation, he refuses, simply stating, “Yes suh. I felt right sorry for her…” (Lee 224). Not once did he make advances at at her, Tom only did what was right. Despite Tom’s innocence, he is convicted to die, and is shot while attempting escape. Toms killing is certainly a sin in itself, but the wounds reach deeper into the community. As Dill mentioned on page 274,“‘ Scout,’ said Dill, ‘she just fell own in the dirt, like a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her’” (Lee274). It is disheartening to think of a fatherless family during the Great depression, much less to think that the community put them there. To convict and kill a righteous family man is unquestionably a sin. Mostly, reader's view Mayella as an antagonist throughout this book, and, while this argument still stands, there is evidence that reveals Mayella’s innocence as well. First she is a Ewell, which essentially means that she is white trash. She lives with her many siblings in a shack behind the dump, while their abusive father spends all the family’s money on alcohol. Mayella cannot help the upbringing that she had, but apparently tries to be better than the rest of her family. When on trial, Scout …show more content…
All three were cornered by social prejudices of the little community of Maycomb, and each did or could have had their way of life destroyed. Each one also shared, in their unique way, a level of innocence. Tom, a crippled black man with a family, was eventually shot for a crime he did not commit. Mayella, a reserved, nice girl who resorted to lying and deceit to save face. Boo, the protector and provider of children almost was pushed out of his comfort zone. Together, these characters display the social prejudices that are rampant in Maycomb, and, in the