Prejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

Prejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel which can deceive the reader into thinking that it is very simple. However, if the reader delves beneath the surface, she may find that there are a number of complex themes running through the novel. One of the central themes in this novel is the prejudice that was characteristic of southern town in the 1930?s. A variety of prejudices combine to form the character of the town of Maycomb. The three main prejudices encountered are those of race, class, and sex. The prejudice of race, in the novel, makes the words of a lower-class white woman from a ne?er do well family readily accepted against those of a Negro with an upstanding reputation. When†¦show more content†¦Mixing of the races is simply not permitted in Maycomb society, unless one is either eccentric like Mr. Dolphus Raymond or too low in status to be of any concern. These racial prejudices, of course, have disastrous consequences for Tom Robinson. Even though Atticus proves that Tom could not have raped Mayella, the jury convicts Tom, and he is sentenced to death. When Atticus tries to explain the biased verdict to his children he says that in a case of a white man?s word against that of a black man, the white man always wins. An almost equally important prejudice in creating the caste system in Maycomb is that of class. The divisions by this prejudice are also clear. People like the Finches are at the top of the social hierarchy, and far below them are people like the Cunninghams, who are respectable, but poor. Jem explains to Scout that even further below the Cunninghams are the Ewells, and further below the Ewells are the ?colored folks? whom the Ewells despise. Jem assess that everyone but the blacks have someone to look down upon. Within this caste system is behavioral standards for individuals in their specific social caste. People like the Finches have a ?postion? to uphold, while a Cunningham may be poor, but refuses charity or pity. Lee notes that the every town has families like the Ewells, who are an eyesore to the community. The Ewells are avoided by the more decent people ofShow MoreRelatedPrejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essays1381 Words   |  6 PagesPrejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Works Cited Missing In todays society men, women and children experience prejudice in their lives, either as victims themselves or being guilty of using prejudice towards others due to differences between them. Prejudice is a preconception of a person based on stereotypes without real facts and discriminationRead MoreEssay on Prejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird6287 Words   |  26 PagesPrejudice in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was written by Harper Lee in 1960. 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