The Theme of Racism in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'
In Harper Lee's to kill a mockingbird, the novel elaborates on the main theme of racism. Harper Lee expresses this overarching theme through the characters in the novel. Through these characters we learn that race divides the town of maycomb from how certain people behave, to how these characters conduct themselves in relationships. Racism and life as it is in Maycomb play a huge role in the long term effect of to kill a mockingbird.
Behaving differently from how you are expected to behave is not accepted by the people of Maycomb. The town of Maycomb is known for its small town isolation. This isolated feel is the source for all the characteristics of the people living in Maycomb. The townspeople’s sole characteristic is how they …show more content…
Tom Robinson had to go through an unjust court case, in which he was found guilty. Tom was put in prison after all of the facts that had been set on the table proving Tom hadn't harmed or raped anyone. The jury, was swayed by their prejudice reasoning and in the end racism triumphed over reason. Later atticus says "in our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life." (295) He acknowledges, in the case that law isn't a pure realm free of the prejudices that plague everyday life. It's subject to the same problems as society at large. Usually Atticus is a voice of hope for change, but here he blantly says that racism is a "fact of life," (295) suggesting that losing Tom's case severely dented his thought on human nature. Later Jem and Scout are talking with Atticus. Jem tells Atticus that he doesn't think it is fair that Tom Robinson was given a death sentence for his crime. Atticus replies, "Tom Robinson's a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world's going to say 'We think you're guilty, but not very' on a charge like that. It was either a straight acquittal or nothing." (pg 219) Atticus is implying that race is the whole reason why Tom Robinson was falsely convicted and sentenced to death. When he says "Tom Robinson was a colored man", he is making a bold statement. Atticus is putting Tom’s race
Behaving differently from how you are expected to behave is not accepted by the people of Maycomb. The town of Maycomb is known for its small town isolation. This isolated feel is the source for all the characteristics of the people living in Maycomb. The townspeople’s sole characteristic is how they …show more content…
Tom Robinson had to go through an unjust court case, in which he was found guilty. Tom was put in prison after all of the facts that had been set on the table proving Tom hadn't harmed or raped anyone. The jury, was swayed by their prejudice reasoning and in the end racism triumphed over reason. Later atticus says "in our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life." (295) He acknowledges, in the case that law isn't a pure realm free of the prejudices that plague everyday life. It's subject to the same problems as society at large. Usually Atticus is a voice of hope for change, but here he blantly says that racism is a "fact of life," (295) suggesting that losing Tom's case severely dented his thought on human nature. Later Jem and Scout are talking with Atticus. Jem tells Atticus that he doesn't think it is fair that Tom Robinson was given a death sentence for his crime. Atticus replies, "Tom Robinson's a colored man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world's going to say 'We think you're guilty, but not very' on a charge like that. It was either a straight acquittal or nothing." (pg 219) Atticus is implying that race is the whole reason why Tom Robinson was falsely convicted and sentenced to death. When he says "Tom Robinson was a colored man", he is making a bold statement. Atticus is putting Tom’s race