How Does Prejudice Exist In To Kill A Mockingbird

In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” prejudice exists. It Exists because people are easily swayed to dehumanize because of their skin colour, or even their personality. They are this way because of Fear, Ego, Plus Mob Mentality.

Fear is a word that means scared. All throughout the boom we have noticed that the whites would discriminate the colour out of their own fear. An Example is a quote on (240) that quotes “Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a negro to cut and run. Typical of a negro’s Mentality to have no plan, No thought of the future, Just run blind first chance he saw. What they are trying to say is that, White people are scared for what they cannot control so they give himself a mindset, that all coloured people have no future.
Preventing Corruption or overpowerment. Also, during the book, everybody in Maycomb feared Boo Radley. He was thought of as a Criminal because of what happened with his Father. People think that Nagging or talking about what happened with him will cause Boo to isolate himself in the House. There is a quote on (38) That quotes “Let’s play something different. It’s called Boo Radley”. Scout, Dill, and Jem decided to create a game Based on Boo Radley. The game was to re-create what might of happened when Boo Tried to kill his own father with a pair of scissors. They might have done it as a joke, but maybe from the Radleys windows, Boo might be watching them, which would make him lose his confidence of coming outside. Because all Boo Radley may think is that Everybody thinks Boo is some kind of killer. Scout, Dill, and Jem might have done this so they do not have to be scared of Boo anymore. All throughout this book, Characters have chosen to Dehumanize people just because of 1 little Mistake in their life, or your colour of skin.

Back in the day, the difference between white and black were huge.
They would think one way is better of living is better than another way. Basically the whites think that living their way is better than living coloured. There is a quote on (125) that quotes “Why do you talk Negro talk to the- to your folks when you know it ain’t right”. What scout was trying to imply is that One way of talking is better than another way because the other way isn’t right. But what Calpurnia is trying to teach her is that there is not only 1 way of talking. There are plenty of ways to talk. And If you are a Black person talking white to another black person, That isn’t right. And whatever colour you are born with, you should speak that tongue. People can’t judge the way you are supposed to speak. Also, Back in the day, White people knew that coloured people get no justice. There a quote on (220) that quotes “When a white white man word is against a black man, the White man always wins. Their ugly, but they are facts”. What this quote means is that in Tom Robinson’s case they all knew that Tom is Coloured. And white people knew they already won because Tom is black. Whites are thinking that their life is better than coloured because they know they get justice and coloured people don’t. Whites would try to hurt them by not treating them right, and giving them less respect. Throughout this book whites would brag about their life as a heaven and the coloured life as
hell.

During that time people are influenced that coloured people are bad, or criminals and they should not be trusted around people. There is a quote on (204) that says “You know the truth, and the truth is. Some Negroes lie, some negroes are immoral: Some negro men are not to be trusted around women. Black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men: There is not a person in this courtroom who has ever told a lie, who have never done immoral thing, and there is no mean living, who has never looked upon a woman without desire”. What this means is that people are influenced that coloured people are bad. And they should not be trusted based on their skin colour . And they think that all coloured people lie, In the court of law. Also another sign of Mob Mentality is on (153) That quotes “Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I’m Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some Hickory Nuts one time , Remember?” What happens is that, Mr. Cunningham was with a group of men. They were all trying to Lynch Tom Robinson. But scout come out of the dark and says that quote. And Scouts innocent talk with Mr. Cunningham reminded him they are both human beings, despite all his blind spots. So a person like Mr.Cunningham had a Mob Mentality to Lynch Tom. But a person like scout reminded him something important in life. During the book people like the whites tried to put down coloured people by thinking something or telling a lie about someone. Giving the white people a reason to talk.

People are easily swayed to hurt each other. People are not just looking at their skin colour. But also their past. They are this way's because of Fear Of Losing, Ego, And Mob Mentality.