What Is The Hypocrisy In To Kill A Mockingbird

Prejudice, a preconceived opinion on something not based on fact or experience, has long been an on-going issue in human nature. Around the world, wars and movements have been fought in defiance of racism and prejudice. To Kill a Mockingbird, is a southern gothic novel by Harper Lee. The book hit bookshelves in 1960, during the pinnacle of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. In her most well-known work of literature, Lee illustrates the prejudice and hypocrisy of the deep south. The story, set in the 1930’s, follows a young girl named Scout and her family, who all live in a small Alabama town where everyone knows everyone. As a scandal that involves an African American who allegedly raped a white woman rocks the town, Scout faces criticism from her peers when her father chooses to defend him. This is when the true nature of the town’s inhabitants comes to light. The story encompasses themes such as innocence, good vs. evil, and especially prejudice and hypocrisy. The prejudice and hypocrisy of the people in the story are depicted through the social structure of the town, the verdict of the trial, and the actions of the women in the story. The first way in which prejudice was portrayed in the story is through the social hierarchy described by the characters in the book. African Americans were …show more content…
It tackles difficult topics such as rape, hatred, abuse, falsehood, and finally prejudice and hypocrisy. These themes are perhaps the most important in the story. The examples of prejudice and hypocrisy throughout the story, teach us about human nature in its most ignorant form. Prejudice and hypocrisy are two concepts that prevent the formation of an accepting and equal society. The story, written over 50 years ago, is still relevant and addresses issues still prevalent throughout our nation and the rest of the world. These are issues such as police brutality, discrimination, and even gender