To Kill A Mockingbird: The Nature of Racism and Prejudice Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird tells of an all too common story in the past; a story of a racist, prejudiced court case seen from a child’s point of view. Many characters in this story teach and mature the main character, Scout, into the young woman she is at the end of the book. Dolphus Raymond, in his short talk with Scout, teaches her about the nature of people and racism. Bob Ewell, by accusing Tom Robinson, a Black man, of rape, shows Scout racism and the unfairness of the law. Dolphus Raymond is someone who truly understands the nature of people and society, and shares his knowledge with Scout. Firstly, Dolphus is understanding of how people think and deal with surprising
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He first does this by unfairly accusing Tom Robinson, a crippled black man who was trying to help his daughter, Mayella Ewell, of rape. During the court case, Mayella is completely silent when Atticus asks her if Bob Ewell was simply accusing Tom to defend Mayella’s crime: “No answer. ‘What did you father see in the window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it? Why don’t you tell the truth, child[...].’” (Lee 187). Mayella shows a lack of a real, true, response to any of Atticus’ pressing questions, implying that Bob and Mayella are lying about their accusation. Scout is able to see Bob’s cruelty during the case; he is willing to condemn another man just so that Maycomb does not know that his daughter broke a simple social code. Secondly, Bob demonstrates his lack of respect and inhuman treatment of Blacks to Scout and the rest of the courthouse. Tom’s witness account tells of Bob’ hate and racism, and his horrible treatment of Tom after Mayella assaulted Tom. “Tom Robinson shut his eyes tight. ‘He says you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya.’[...] ‘Tom, did you rape Mayella Ewell?’ ‘I did not, suh.’ ‘Did you harm her in any way?’ ‘I did not, suh.’ (Lee 194-195). Bob Ewell thinks of Tom as so inferior that the fact he was there yet did nothing still warranted a fight in court that would inevitably end in Tom’s demise. In our time, a white man cursing,
He first does this by unfairly accusing Tom Robinson, a crippled black man who was trying to help his daughter, Mayella Ewell, of rape. During the court case, Mayella is completely silent when Atticus asks her if Bob Ewell was simply accusing Tom to defend Mayella’s crime: “No answer. ‘What did you father see in the window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it? Why don’t you tell the truth, child[...].’” (Lee 187). Mayella shows a lack of a real, true, response to any of Atticus’ pressing questions, implying that Bob and Mayella are lying about their accusation. Scout is able to see Bob’s cruelty during the case; he is willing to condemn another man just so that Maycomb does not know that his daughter broke a simple social code. Secondly, Bob demonstrates his lack of respect and inhuman treatment of Blacks to Scout and the rest of the courthouse. Tom’s witness account tells of Bob’ hate and racism, and his horrible treatment of Tom after Mayella assaulted Tom. “Tom Robinson shut his eyes tight. ‘He says you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya.’[...] ‘Tom, did you rape Mayella Ewell?’ ‘I did not, suh.’ ‘Did you harm her in any way?’ ‘I did not, suh.’ (Lee 194-195). Bob Ewell thinks of Tom as so inferior that the fact he was there yet did nothing still warranted a fight in court that would inevitably end in Tom’s demise. In our time, a white man cursing,