When the Hater Meets the Hated- Why is Tom Robinson Guilty? One may be punished for something he or she never did depending on the circumstances in their community. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows in Maycomb County, a society being controlled by racism, Tom Robinson is punished for assaulting Mayella Ewell even though he is the victim. If the majority of the inhabitants of a community are racist, the racist social values influence everything that takes place in the courts of the community. Thus the racist social values of Maycomb County are responsible for the failure of Atticus Finch’s defense for Tom Robinson.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, you can see prejudice throughout the story and the effect it has on the little town of Maycomb, Alabama. There were many people in Maycomb that was shown prejudice to, but only a few had the most prejudice given to. They were Atticus Finch, Arthur “Boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, Walter Cunningham and his family, and the Ewell family. In this book, prejudice is shown with different situations and shows that it can be overcome. Tom Robinson had the most prejudice used against him in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Therefore, the black community in Maycomb was crippled with fear. A fear that they will get lynched for a crime they did not commit. Stereotyping is a human instinct. We will always stereotype people's race, class and families. When Aunt Alexandra lived with the Finches, she said this to Scout about the Cunninghams, "Because he is trash, that's why you cant play with him.
People aren't willing to accept change and theirs not much you can do in the 1930's to change that because it was "sociality acceptable" not to. Racism was given to its full potential in this novel by displaying that of Tom Robinson being charged on a crime that he did not commit. He is accused of raping a white women by one of the most untrustworthy people in the town. This was just another accusation in this time but ended as most did, with the wrong outcome chosen because of social inequality. Differences in social status are explored largely through the overcomplicated social status.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”. This quote reveals that Atticus is mainly focusing on the racial aspect of prejudice as it is the most dominant form of prejudice in TKAM. As well as showing that he understands the ethic of empathy and understanding, that he preaches to Scout and Jem. Atticus also proves how the people of Maycomb do not understand Negros as they have not experienced the abuse that comes with the colour of your skin. In the novel there is also the aspect of classism in prejudice with the hierarchy of families being instilled into the society of Maycomb.
In contrast to Mayella, Tom Robinson was treated as if he were not worth anything, for example he was being called Boy, big buck, when he was being questioned. When Mr Gilmer asked for Tom’s reason for helping Mayella, Tom admitted he had felt sorry for her. “ ‘.. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-‘ ..‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ Mr Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling”. (Page 217/218) No black man should feel sorry for a white person.
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience. Sometimes prejudice is a destructive force in society. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, prejudice is shown in many ways. Prejudice was shown when Atticus was defending the jail, a group of men came to kill Tom and also when Scout was getting teased at school by other kids because her dad was taking Tom’s case. Furthermore, when Tom Robinson was accused of being guilty even though he was not, and died because of it.
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This quote was said by Atticus and clearly describes the situation of Boo Radley, Tom Robinson and Atticus Finch. Throughout the story, To Kill a Mockingbird, many events occur which all revolve around the same theme; you don’t know someone until you walk in his/her shoes. Boo Radley is rarely seen or heard of in the story, and because of this Maycomb folks make assumptions on what he truly is, an evil and vicious person. Miss Stephanie Crawford claims that Boo Radley isn’t a nice person, based on her “encounters” with him, and the rest of Maycomb County believes her rumours. The more the people spreads the rumours, the more Boo’s supposed personality builds up.
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 three residents of Maycomb who were most greatly affected by the thick cloud that dwells over their small town were seen by others as men who went completely against the grain. This influenced many others to not take the time to consider why the men who are so out of the ordinary are doing what they are. Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley are three men in Maycomb who very few manage to see clearly without being clouded by the fog of discrimination that lives all around them. Whether it is racism, prejudice, or a fear of the unknown, they all take their toll on Maycomb, allowing those who are innocent on all accounts to be persecuted. The amount of discrimination that many are forced to endure is at such an extreme level that it forces them to make drastic choices.