To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee is written to address the horrendous issues of the 1930’s, The Great Depression, the Jim Crow Laws, and segregation. It explores a variety of themes, all of which affect the reader greatly. Its portrayal of white supremacy, injustice, and prejudice is evident in many occurrences during the novel. The way the characters react to these times of hardship, however, defines their real strength stated by Martin Luther King Jr with the quote “the ultimate measure is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. These significant themes, white supremacy, injustice, and prejudice, are reflected through the characters Scout Finch, Atticus
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Injustice is shown throughout the entire novel towards Tom Robinson, accused of beating and raping of Mayella Ewell. Throughout the false accusation, he still remains strong and dignified. “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her….” “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” Mr Glimmer repeats this to make Tom Robinson fluster and feel small. His goodness is overlooked by all the whites in the courtroom as they are stuck on the fact that he felt sorry for her and disgusted that a black man felt sorry for a white woman. This is evident, in the tone of Gilmer’s voice, dehumanising and inferior to blacks. This is looked badly upon due to Tom rebelling against the societal norms and white supremacy. This is an example of injustice as no one seems to be empathetic towards Tom Robinson, but focuses on the simple fact that he rebelled against the societal expectations of blacks. The court did not see him for Tom Robinson, the kind man who tries to help people from the kindness of his heart, but for the false sins he’s been accused of. “Then you say she’s lying, boy?” “I don’t say she’s lyin‘, Mr. Gilmer, I say she’s mistaken in her mind.” Despite Tom knowing the entire courtroom quite obviously despised him, he did not hesitate at all to answer the questions. However, there is still caution in his words because he is …show more content…
The character that stood their ground even against the societal beliefs, which are questionable whether to be right or wrong, are Scout and Jem responding to prejudice, Tom Robinson’s fight against injustice and racism, and Atticus combatting justice and being rejected by white
Injustice is shown throughout the entire novel towards Tom Robinson, accused of beating and raping of Mayella Ewell. Throughout the false accusation, he still remains strong and dignified. “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her….” “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” Mr Glimmer repeats this to make Tom Robinson fluster and feel small. His goodness is overlooked by all the whites in the courtroom as they are stuck on the fact that he felt sorry for her and disgusted that a black man felt sorry for a white woman. This is evident, in the tone of Gilmer’s voice, dehumanising and inferior to blacks. This is looked badly upon due to Tom rebelling against the societal norms and white supremacy. This is an example of injustice as no one seems to be empathetic towards Tom Robinson, but focuses on the simple fact that he rebelled against the societal expectations of blacks. The court did not see him for Tom Robinson, the kind man who tries to help people from the kindness of his heart, but for the false sins he’s been accused of. “Then you say she’s lying, boy?” “I don’t say she’s lyin‘, Mr. Gilmer, I say she’s mistaken in her mind.” Despite Tom knowing the entire courtroom quite obviously despised him, he did not hesitate at all to answer the questions. However, there is still caution in his words because he is …show more content…
The character that stood their ground even against the societal beliefs, which are questionable whether to be right or wrong, are Scout and Jem responding to prejudice, Tom Robinson’s fight against injustice and racism, and Atticus combatting justice and being rejected by white