Showcasing intelligence, manners, and loyalty: Calpernia portrays the perfect black representative, revealing the humanity Negros. Being black, neither Calpurnia nor Lula are shielded from Maycomb’s racial discrimination, therefore oppose racism using their own methods. Given great potential, Calpurnia’s ability to “read, write, and the rest of it” proves black intelligence rivals white minds if given the opportunity. Calpurnia forms the voice for black society; exemplifying extravagent vocabulary, pronunciation, and writing. Implying Negroes perceive the ability to strive yet, diminish due to the lack of formal education.
It occurs because of people having prejudice and stereotypes or generalised opinions about others. In To Kill a Mockingbird there is racial separation between the Negro and the white population. Negroes are pushed to the worst areas “Outside the southern town limits across the old sawmills tracks” (pg 122). We see that a Negro family The Robinsons lived “Beyond the town dump” (pg 83). The white population are separated because they believe the Negroes are filthy and are worthless.
Harper Lee shows the racist social values that most of the inhabitants of Maycomb County follow are one of the factors that cause Atticus Finch’s defense to fail. In Maycomb, hating black people is a never-ending trend. Even though almost everyone follows it, Atticus does not. He is one of the only characters in the novel that has good social values and does not judge one by his or her skin colour. Although he has a feeling that he is not going to win the case, he still does the right thing by
Some of the major issues and concerns conveyed by Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) are the concepts of prejudice, courage and innocence and childhood and how these are represented in the novel through various techniques and symbols. In the novel we see the racial morals of characters, like Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell, conflicting to create events that instigate racial uproar in the town of Maycomb. We explore the issues through Scout's interpretation of the events, as well as experiencing her innocence from the situation because of her childhood. Through the trial of Tom Robinson, readers are able to witness the courage of Atticus Finch, defending a Negro in a racially biased society when knowing he may not be successful with his endeavours. The main concern and issue in TKAM is the concept of prejudice.
Through To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader puts on the shoes of a little girl, Scout, and traipses through this familiar town and learns of social injustice by seeing it affect not only a member of the town, but her own father. The societal ills To Kill A Mockingbird comments on the most are race and the morality of acceptance. Race is the central issue of To Kill A Mockingbird. With Scout being white and coming from a seemingly middle class family, she does not understand racism or its effects on those for whom the hatred is intended. Scout’s hero, her father Atticus, says to her, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view .
Differences in social status are explored largely through the overcomplicated social status. The Finches stand near the top social latter, with most of the townspeople beneath them. Ignorant farmers like the Cunninghams, lie beneath the townspeople, and the Ewells rest below the Cunninghams. But, the black community lies even beneath them around this time and it explains the outcome of the trial of Tom Robinson. For example, Scout can not comprehend why Aunt Alexandra refuses to let her talk to Walter Cunningham.
In various works of literature, the moral ambiguity of a certain character is used to teach readers a lesson and empower them to change their community. This use of moral ambiguity can be seen in the book Native Son, by Richard Wright. The main character, Bigger Thomas, is difficult to identify as good or evil. Throughout the book, Bigger committed many crimes, including two murders and the writing of a ransom note. His aggressive nature and unhindered anger towards the world makes it difficult for readers to like him or connect with him.
Black people only get poorest jobs and hardest jobs. They are made fun of, not being respected. They don’t receive education and have the same rights compared with other. Perhaps one of the stronger examples of racism in the novel is the lynch mob. It is quite obvious that Robinson was not guilty, but he is still convicted anyway.
As the reader begins to see the unfairness of the actions against black people, mostly because of Atticus’ speech, the theme of discrimination is developed through the motive of ‘walking around in their shoes.’ The title, To Kill A Mockingbird is very symbolic and meaningful. The quote which corresponds with the title is also said by Atticus and is, ‘Shoot all the blue jays you want if you can’t hit ‘em, but it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ There are two characters in the text which are metaphorical to the mockingbird. One is the obvious one, Tom Robinson, a black man accused of the rape of a white girl, whom Atticus defends, and the other is Boo Radley. Just like a mockingbird, Tom Robinson only did good and in the end was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He helped Mayella Ewell every time she asked, for free, and for it he was accused of raping her.
The American blacks were victims of racism, segregation, discrimination and furthermore poverty in their community. They were neglected by the government. Nonetheless, they were neglected by fought for their rights and equality. The black people in America had their own separate communities away from the whites, because they were neglected by white people and the government. For instant they couldn’t vote in their country.