Racism in To Kill A Mockingbird

A detailed Summary of Racism in To Kill A Mockingbird

In Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the prejudice of society causes people with differences to become victims of the town's bigotry. Not only differences in skin color, but also differences in social status. As a man who always believes in doing the right thing no matter what, Atticus Finch teaches his children, Jem and Scout, the difference in right and wrong.

One of the main characters in the novel that is being discriminated is Tom Robinson. Tom is accused of beating and raping sixteen-year-old Mayella Ewell, daughter of the town's poor white trash family. Mayella would sometimes ask Tom to help her out with small tasks around the house. After inviting him inside Mayella made a sexual advance to Tom, which was morally unthinkable, so she connives with her father to accuse Tom of rape. Atticus Finch is appointed to defend Tom. "Atticus would risk his reputation and his life to defend a black man accused of a crime that violated the most sacred taboos of his society"(Magill, 1991). During the trial, some evidence was shown that should have made the jury realize that there was no possible way that Tom could have done the crime. When Tom was of a young age, he was in an accident that left him handicap

around Scout when she is standing outside to watch a neighbor's house burn. Once the children begin to share secrets with Boo, they have admitted him to their world. He is no longer a stranger; he is a friend. The children have surmounted the prejudice of their community." (Magill, 1991, p.1117)

There is racism inside the Finch house as well. Calpurnia has been the housekeeper for many years. Aunt Alexandra comes to live with them because she feels like Scout needs a woman role model. She senses the respect that Calpurnia has earned in the Finch family throughout the years of dedicated service and through the love that she has shown the children. Aunt Alexandra fears this bond because she believes Calpurnia is not a good enough or suitable role model for a young white lady. She immediately tells Atticus that Calpurnia is no longer needed and should be fired.

When he was a teenager, he got into minor trouble, and since that time, his father, who is a religious fanatic, has imprisoned him in his home. Because no one in the community ever sees Boo, much less gets to know him, everyone has come to fear him. At first, the children share this fear. They dare each other to run up to the house where Boo is incarcerated, as if he were a super natural monster. Gradually, however, they become aware that Boo is observing them and that he wishes them no harm. Indeed, in his loneliness, he reaches out to the children. He keeps Jem from getting in trouble by returning his torn pan

Some common words found in the essay are:
Radley Boo, Aunt Alexandra, Tom Atticus, Finches Cunninghams, Harper Lee, Mayella Ewell, Atticus Calpurnia, Lula Negro, Kill Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra's, aunt alexandra, matuz 1990, walter aunt alexandra, walter aunt, race prejudice, children jem, finch family, friends walter, walter cunningham, atticus calpurnia, discriminated people, matuz 1990 p247,

Approximate Word count = 1009
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English