How Does Scout Face Discrimination
Social class, race, or gender is not a choice, but discrimination is. The people who choose to discriminate do not realize what it means to be different. If people can learn the meaning and take the time to appreciate its importance, many would not be witnessing, experiencing, or taking part in discrimination. Scout experiences this in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as well as Skeeter in The Help by Tate Taylor. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout grows up in a town full of discrimination. It seems that wherever she is, whether it be school, church, or at home, discrimination is present. This is also seen in The Help where Skeeter is actually raised by a black maid, and she experiences discrimination at work, home, and among other places
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This is shown when Scout is with Francis at Finch’s Landing with the rest of their family. Francis is talking about Atticus and says, “He’s nothin’ but a nigger-lover!” (Lee 110). Scout is absolutely shocked when Francis says this to her and she doesn’t know how to react. At first she is confused as to what Francis even means but then discusses it with Atticus later on. Her moral beliefs are reflected by her response because she believes that just because her father was given the case of a black man, does not mean he is a bad person. She thinks it is better to not say anything if one feels it will harm another person. In addition, Scout faces discrimination when she is in class at school. Ms. Caroline is teaching and she asks Scout what the alphabet is. Scout knew exactly what she was talking about, so she read it aloud along with some other things Ms. Caroline had requested of her. Ms. Caroline was baffled because she soon realized Scout could read and told her that she was no longer able to continue letting her father teach her. They get let out for recess and Jem comes to check up on Scout and she says, “If I didn’t have to stay I’d leave. Jem, that damn lady says Atticus’s been teaching me to read and for him to stop it-” (23). Her comment conveys just how upset and confused she is about what Ms. Caroline had told her. What Scout says to Jem displays
This is shown when Scout is with Francis at Finch’s Landing with the rest of their family. Francis is talking about Atticus and says, “He’s nothin’ but a nigger-lover!” (Lee 110). Scout is absolutely shocked when Francis says this to her and she doesn’t know how to react. At first she is confused as to what Francis even means but then discusses it with Atticus later on. Her moral beliefs are reflected by her response because she believes that just because her father was given the case of a black man, does not mean he is a bad person. She thinks it is better to not say anything if one feels it will harm another person. In addition, Scout faces discrimination when she is in class at school. Ms. Caroline is teaching and she asks Scout what the alphabet is. Scout knew exactly what she was talking about, so she read it aloud along with some other things Ms. Caroline had requested of her. Ms. Caroline was baffled because she soon realized Scout could read and told her that she was no longer able to continue letting her father teach her. They get let out for recess and Jem comes to check up on Scout and she says, “If I didn’t have to stay I’d leave. Jem, that damn lady says Atticus’s been teaching me to read and for him to stop it-” (23). Her comment conveys just how upset and confused she is about what Ms. Caroline had told her. What Scout says to Jem displays