Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, brings to light racial tensions and prejudice that continue to polarize Americans to this day. One of the most prominent example of this is Tom Robinson's conviction, despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. Robinson, a black man is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white women in Maycomb Alabama. In reality, it is Mayella who had pursued Robinson, and wants to engage in a romantic relationship. Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell, catches his daughter’s during her liaison with Robinson. It is clear that his daughter is propositioning Robinson. He is so enraged, he beats his daughter. A white woman with a black man is unheard of at this time, so to hide the truth, and shame, Ewell accuses Robinson
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One example is the treatment of Calpurnia, the housekeeper and nanny for the Finch family. Even though she is treated fairly, and with kindness, there is an understanding that she is not an equal member of the Finch household . An example of this is how she address Jem, the 10 year old son of Atticus Finch. Calpurnia says, “Hush your mouth, sir! When you oughta be hangin' your head in shame you go along laughin'. If Mr. Finch doesn't wear you out, I will - get in that house, sir!" (Lee 211) She addresses Jem as “sir”, a term reserved for someone in a place of authority or respect. Another example that indicates Calpurnia’s position in the Finch family is that she sits in the backseat of Atticus’s car instead of the front passenger seat. She also does not eat at the Finch family's dinner table, but instead in the kitchen by herself. These are all small ways that make it clear that although she is loved by the Finch's, she not one of them, she is still “less than” …show more content…
In this book Atticus Finch represents the future of American society and equality for all people regardless of race or gender. In the end of the book Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 288) This quote not only represents equality for all people of America, but it represents what all prejudice people must consider. The fact that you should never judge anybody based upon their skin color or gender, but on their actions and empathy towards
One example is the treatment of Calpurnia, the housekeeper and nanny for the Finch family. Even though she is treated fairly, and with kindness, there is an understanding that she is not an equal member of the Finch household . An example of this is how she address Jem, the 10 year old son of Atticus Finch. Calpurnia says, “Hush your mouth, sir! When you oughta be hangin' your head in shame you go along laughin'. If Mr. Finch doesn't wear you out, I will - get in that house, sir!" (Lee 211) She addresses Jem as “sir”, a term reserved for someone in a place of authority or respect. Another example that indicates Calpurnia’s position in the Finch family is that she sits in the backseat of Atticus’s car instead of the front passenger seat. She also does not eat at the Finch family's dinner table, but instead in the kitchen by herself. These are all small ways that make it clear that although she is loved by the Finch's, she not one of them, she is still “less than” …show more content…
In this book Atticus Finch represents the future of American society and equality for all people regardless of race or gender. In the end of the book Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 288) This quote not only represents equality for all people of America, but it represents what all prejudice people must consider. The fact that you should never judge anybody based upon their skin color or gender, but on their actions and empathy towards