Racism or Discrimination, Its Still Prejudice
To Kill a Mockingbird
During the 1930s, in the southern states, people were poor, white or black and they had to behave according to their colour, gender as well as their social standing. Prejudice- a judgment or opinion formed before hand or without thoughtful examination of the pertinent facts, issues or arguments: especially an unfavourable, irrational opinion (The Readers Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1063). In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, prejudice is seen in many forms, such as racial prejudice and social prejudice. However, prejudice can be overcome when people take the time to start seeing people for who they are; good or evil.
Racial prejudice is also known as racism. The novel is set in the 1930s where racism was common place. White people would call coloured people niggers. They had their own restaurants, schools and even water fountains. White families often had black slaves or servants. The Finches are one of those families. They had Calpurnia. Even though she is loved by the Finches, she is still at a lower social level. During suppertime, she eats in the kitchen and when Atticus drives her to Helen Robinsons house, she sits in the back of the car, not the front. She also refers to Scout as maam and Jem as sir, terms used when addressing adults: Hush your mouth, sir! When you oughta be hangin your head in shame you go along laughin- (Lee, 207).
Another example of racial prejudice is during Tom Robinsons trial. He has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Mayella and her father, Bob Ewell, made up a lie to cover up her guilt for having feelings towards a black man. The truth is that Mayella asked him to help her with a task inside the house. Soon thereafter, she basically jumped on Tom trying to kiss him. Even though Atticus points of proving Toms innocence were true, the jury still finds him guilty because he is black. In Mr. Underwoods editorial, he states this fact: Atticus used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of mens hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed (Lee, 241). These are just a few examples of prejudice against the blacks. However, not only blacks were discriminated but also white people because of their social status.
Social prejudice is mostly against the poor, especially in this novel. One example illustrated is Aunt Alexandras thoughts towards the Cunninghams. Because of her heritage, she thinks that the Finches are above every family in Maycomb. When school restarts after the summer, Scout invites Walter Cunningham to play. Aunt Alexandra refuses then forbids Scout to play with him. Scout asks why. In Aunt Alexandras words: theyre good folks. But theyre not our kind of folk (Lee, 224).
Another example of social standing importance in the 1930s, is for society to accept a tom boy since woman are supposed to be feminine. Since Scout was very young when her mother died, she grew up with very little female influence. If she did not begin to act lady like, she would have been considered unwomanly. For many years, Scout refuse to look or do anything lady like. But after Aunt Alexandra came to stay, Scout began to soften and embrace her femininity. For instance, when Aunt Alexandra found out about Toms death, although she was upset, she still managed to put her game face on and return to her guests. Scout follows into her footsteps: After all, if Aunt Alexandra could be a lady at a time like this, so could I (Lee, 237).
Furthermore, people did not accept a black and white relationship. This happens to Mr. Raymond. From the day he married a black woman; he acts half-drunk all the time and socializes with coloured people. Scout and Dill figure out that his drunkenness is false and asks him why. In his own words, Mr. Raymond says: Its aint honest but its mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, Im not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because thats the way I want to live (Lee, 200). The reason for this is that society did not accept white and black relationships. For people to understand, he acts drunk all the time so the people think he doesnt know what he his doing. The truth is that he simply fell in love with a black woman.
Finally there is the Radley clan. There are many stories about the family that are rumours and greatly exaggerated by Scout, Jem and Dill. Sadly they are feared of because of the disappearance of Mrs. Radley and that Arthur Boo Radley never comes out of the house. Many years back, Arthur got into a situation where he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors while cutting newspaper. Ever since then, he stays inside the house and the children of Maycomb are raised to fear him and he is referred as the town freak. No one ever bothered to take the time to get to know the real Arthur Radley. Was he really as Jem would describe him:
Boo was about was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he couldnt catch, thats why his hands were bloodstained-if you ate and animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time (Lee, 13).
Racial prejudice and social prejudice is still what blinds us today and keeps from learning the truth. However, some people can be cured and overcome it.
Over coming prejudice is quite difficult for people in this era. But Atticus is one of the few people who can. In his words: You never understand a person until you climb into their skin and walk around in it (Lee, 30). He knows that coloured people dislike being called niggers, therefore he calls them Negroes. Also, during Tom Robinsons trial, Atticus stood along side him throughout his trial, even though he already knew he could not win this case. Atticus came up with several points to try to change the jurys mind about Toms innocence, but he could not. Throughout the novel, he teaches several lessons to Jem and Scout about treating other people and how not to harm them in any way. One particular event is when he did not want to teach Jem and Scout how to use their air rifles. However, he does teach them this lesson: Id rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know youll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit em, but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird (Lee, 90). Miss Maudie explains to the children why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird: Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up peoples garden, dont nest in corncribs, they dont do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird. (Lee, 90)
Finally, Scout learns how to overcome prejudice as well. At the beginning of the novel, Arthur is merely a myth and a childhood tale for her. As the novel progresses, he slowly becomes more realistic for her. Arthur had contact with Jem and Scout through a knothole in a tree. Sadly, his brother Nathan Radley covers it up with cement because he said that the tree was dying. Later on, while the Finches were watching Miss Maudies house catch fire, Arthur placed a blanket over Scout. Near the end of the novel, Arthur saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell who was trying to kill them. Scout then finally realizes that he is real. She learned that the stories about his were a lie: An; they chased him n never could catch him cause they didnt know what he looked like, an Atticus, when they finally saw him, why he hadnt done any of those things Atticus, he was real nice (Lee, 281). It took time and effort for her to realize it because she grew up thinking differently.
Prejudice in its many forms existed back in the 1930s. Harper Lee illustrated many examples of racial and social prejudice in her novel. The author also touched on how to look past prejudice providing the readers with some hope to learn about different cultures to see them for who they are and not what they think they are. An open mind can break social and racial barriers and provide us with great, enriching life experiences.
Bibliography
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: First Warner Books Printing, 1982.
The Readers Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary. Pleasantville: The Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1977.
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