What kind of society is portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird and to what extent do you think things have changed since the time of the novel?
In To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee explores the themes of racism and injustice through the eyes of two children, Jem and Scout, as their father, Atticus, takes on a case to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, against a false allegation that he had rapped a white girl, Mayella Ewell. The story takes place during the 1930s, in Maycomb, a small city in Alabama, filled with hatred and prejudice. Because of its historic content, showing racism, prejudice, women’s role, and because of its unique approach to human nature, through the perspective of innocent children, that this novel is considered a great classic. …show more content…
He, along with many other Negros and Caucasians, believed that Maycomb was never going to change its racist ways and that no number of appeals could modify that. The news of his death spread through the country quickly but was easily forgotten by Maycomb’s citizens, as shown in the following quote: “Maycomb was interested by the news of Tom’s death for perhaps two days;...” (P265). The life of another black man lost due to prejudice and violence was not news for Maycomb, it was routine: “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical.” (P265). The white population of the town blamed the deceased for his own death, since he was the one trying to run. It was typical in Maycomb, according to Scout’s narration, to judge the Negros and condemn them for all of their action, insignificant what led them to it. This only adds up the number of reasons that Tom Robinson, and many other, felt hopeless about Maycomb’s situation, change seemed …show more content…
The popular reaction to the injustices suffered by African-Americans in the recent years was to demand a more equal society through public demonstrations and movements, the die-ins that happened in the main streets of important American cities such as Miami and New York for instance. And movements such as ‘Black Lives Matter’, created after the death of young Trayvon Martin in 2012 in Florida, were advertised by popular television series like Empire and Law and Order and many celebrities, black and white. The victims of police brutality and their families received great supported in social media and the led to talks about race equality and gun control. Unlike the Maycomb people, when those injustices happened they weren’t ignored, rather there was a full news coverage of the incidents. Even though progress to equity was little so far, the public indignation and craving for justice present to us a chance to improve our society and lessen the
In To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee explores the themes of racism and injustice through the eyes of two children, Jem and Scout, as their father, Atticus, takes on a case to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, against a false allegation that he had rapped a white girl, Mayella Ewell. The story takes place during the 1930s, in Maycomb, a small city in Alabama, filled with hatred and prejudice. Because of its historic content, showing racism, prejudice, women’s role, and because of its unique approach to human nature, through the perspective of innocent children, that this novel is considered a great classic. …show more content…
He, along with many other Negros and Caucasians, believed that Maycomb was never going to change its racist ways and that no number of appeals could modify that. The news of his death spread through the country quickly but was easily forgotten by Maycomb’s citizens, as shown in the following quote: “Maycomb was interested by the news of Tom’s death for perhaps two days;...” (P265). The life of another black man lost due to prejudice and violence was not news for Maycomb, it was routine: “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical.” (P265). The white population of the town blamed the deceased for his own death, since he was the one trying to run. It was typical in Maycomb, according to Scout’s narration, to judge the Negros and condemn them for all of their action, insignificant what led them to it. This only adds up the number of reasons that Tom Robinson, and many other, felt hopeless about Maycomb’s situation, change seemed …show more content…
The popular reaction to the injustices suffered by African-Americans in the recent years was to demand a more equal society through public demonstrations and movements, the die-ins that happened in the main streets of important American cities such as Miami and New York for instance. And movements such as ‘Black Lives Matter’, created after the death of young Trayvon Martin in 2012 in Florida, were advertised by popular television series like Empire and Law and Order and many celebrities, black and white. The victims of police brutality and their families received great supported in social media and the led to talks about race equality and gun control. Unlike the Maycomb people, when those injustices happened they weren’t ignored, rather there was a full news coverage of the incidents. Even though progress to equity was little so far, the public indignation and craving for justice present to us a chance to improve our society and lessen the