How Does The Author Present Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird
Questions About Race
How does the novel portray its African-American characters? Are there elements of racism in these portrayals?
African American characters are not given much depth in the book and are only shown a few times. The few times they did, such as at Calpurnia’s church, they seemed very kind and sweet. There are some elements of racism throughout the book when describing the characters but it is mostly when other characters are talking about the blacks.
How is the African-American community similar to the white community in Maycomb? How is it different? How might these similarities and differences affect how the two communities see each other? The African-American and the white community both have their own ideal systems and ways in which their parts of town work. The African American community seems to be more laid back and seems to come together and act more as a coherent group. On the other side of town, the white community seems to be more divided by class. Due to how the white community chooses to live their lives, the African-Americans might be nervous about trying to be a part of the same town because they don’t want that separation. Whites might not like ow African-Americans mingle with each other no matter their income or title. …show more content…
How might Maycomb, and the events of the novel, be different if there were more than two races represented in the town?
If there were other races represented in the town there might be more conflict between the lower class side of town and the better off side because the lower class area would probably be bigger. Then, the lower class area might not put up with how they are being treated by those who have a higher
income.
Does the novel seem to think that racism will eventually be overcome? Or will there always be an element of racism in Maycomb?
There is the hope that Scout and Jem’s generation will bring a new light to the town and change the ideas of racism. But because of how the book ended, I have the impression that there will always be a lingering idea in some white man's head that they are better than African Americans.
Questions About Women and Femininity
Why does Scout take being called a girl as an insult? Would she have felt differently if she had an older sister instead of a brother? Why are there no other little girls in the novel? Scout takes being called a girl an insult because she grew up around rowdy boys who played outside rather than ‘weak’ girls who started learning to cook and sew at a young age. I think Scout would feel different if she had an older sister because then she would have someone to look up to and most likely would have acted more like a girl. The reason there might not be any other young girls in the novel is because those aren’t the types of people Scout or Jem would have affiliated themselves with.
What effect does not having a mother have on Jem and Scout? Is Calpurnia a female role model for Scout, or does Scout just see her as "black" rather than as a woman?
I think that ot having a mother, Jem and Scout had to grow up a lot faster and be put into real-ville since they had no one to baby them and keep them hidden from the dark world. As the book progressed I think Cal became a bigger role model for Scout because Scout was starting to grow up and realize that she can’t always be just like the boys. Cal was a sort of replacement as a motherly figure for Scout, but due to how Cal is, her influence seemed different than what most of us are probably used to.
Why does being a lady require different skills than being a gentleman? Is there any overlap?
Being a lady seems to have more set rules that are restricting to women. Women are expected to dress nicely, have unrealistic amounts of manners, be really smart, be able to cook and clean, and do a number of other things. Gentlemen seem to only have to work and treat their lady nicely. I think there might be some overlap but are mostly separate. These are all standards that I just assume from readings and movies that I have seen. At my house my brother and I aren’t really given different standards because of our genders. We both are able to go out and hunt, play in the mud on quad runners and fish, but at the same time be able to clean, cook, and make ourselves presentable.
How does the novel portray its African-American characters? Are there elements of racism in these portrayals?
African American characters are not given much depth in the book and are only shown a few times. The few times they did, such as at Calpurnia’s church, they seemed very kind and sweet. There are some elements of racism throughout the book when describing the characters but it is mostly when other characters are talking about the blacks.
How is the African-American community similar to the white community in Maycomb? How is it different? How might these similarities and differences affect how the two communities see each other? The African-American and the white community both have their own ideal systems and ways in which their parts of town work. The African American community seems to be more laid back and seems to come together and act more as a coherent group. On the other side of town, the white community seems to be more divided by class. Due to how the white community chooses to live their lives, the African-Americans might be nervous about trying to be a part of the same town because they don’t want that separation. Whites might not like ow African-Americans mingle with each other no matter their income or title. …show more content…
How might Maycomb, and the events of the novel, be different if there were more than two races represented in the town?
If there were other races represented in the town there might be more conflict between the lower class side of town and the better off side because the lower class area would probably be bigger. Then, the lower class area might not put up with how they are being treated by those who have a higher
income.
Does the novel seem to think that racism will eventually be overcome? Or will there always be an element of racism in Maycomb?
There is the hope that Scout and Jem’s generation will bring a new light to the town and change the ideas of racism. But because of how the book ended, I have the impression that there will always be a lingering idea in some white man's head that they are better than African Americans.
Questions About Women and Femininity
Why does Scout take being called a girl as an insult? Would she have felt differently if she had an older sister instead of a brother? Why are there no other little girls in the novel? Scout takes being called a girl an insult because she grew up around rowdy boys who played outside rather than ‘weak’ girls who started learning to cook and sew at a young age. I think Scout would feel different if she had an older sister because then she would have someone to look up to and most likely would have acted more like a girl. The reason there might not be any other young girls in the novel is because those aren’t the types of people Scout or Jem would have affiliated themselves with.
What effect does not having a mother have on Jem and Scout? Is Calpurnia a female role model for Scout, or does Scout just see her as "black" rather than as a woman?
I think that ot having a mother, Jem and Scout had to grow up a lot faster and be put into real-ville since they had no one to baby them and keep them hidden from the dark world. As the book progressed I think Cal became a bigger role model for Scout because Scout was starting to grow up and realize that she can’t always be just like the boys. Cal was a sort of replacement as a motherly figure for Scout, but due to how Cal is, her influence seemed different than what most of us are probably used to.
Why does being a lady require different skills than being a gentleman? Is there any overlap?
Being a lady seems to have more set rules that are restricting to women. Women are expected to dress nicely, have unrealistic amounts of manners, be really smart, be able to cook and clean, and do a number of other things. Gentlemen seem to only have to work and treat their lady nicely. I think there might be some overlap but are mostly separate. These are all standards that I just assume from readings and movies that I have seen. At my house my brother and I aren’t really given different standards because of our genders. We both are able to go out and hunt, play in the mud on quad runners and fish, but at the same time be able to clean, cook, and make ourselves presentable.