Good and evil is an idea which has fascinated literary minds for generations. During the 1930s, many people believed a person's skin color determined their character, separating the human race into two pairs catagories: good and evil, black and white. Harper Lee, using theme, characters, and symbolism, brilliantly introduces shades of gray to the spectrum. Characters Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson are introduced and placed into these catagories at the beginning of the novel. Mayella: a victim of rape. Tom Robinson: the criminal. The false binary of good and evil is demonstrated by many situations in the novel. The theme shows how people can be expected to be one way or another. However, there is more to a person than what part of them is shown.
