Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
Although there is a multitude of prevalent, blatant acts of racism throughout To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee that one may point out with ease, there also exist overlooked instances of racism in which theoretically good characters allow usually veiled racism to creep into a conversation or event. The utilization of both conspicuous acts of racism as well as more normalized acts of racism creates a well-balanced spectrum that draws a detailed picture of racism that spans the reality of decades, from the 1930’s setting of the novel to modern times. In fact, several characters in the novel are the epitome of differing points on the aforementioned spectrum. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the theme of racism with the
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use of specific characterization on a wide variety of characters. On the extreme side of the racism spectrum stands Mrs.
Grace Merriweather. Mrs. Merriweather is a devout Christian who eagerly participates in Aunt Alexandra Finch’s missionary circle, an organization of Maycomb women who convene in order to gossip at length about those lower in the social caste system than they, as well as to complain about, during the meeting as described in the novel, the black people who live in Maycomb (Lee 308). From the information gleaned about the missionary circle, one may infer that anyone who associates with the Maycomb missionary circle holds at least an ounce of bigotry in her heart. Accordingly, such prejudice may manifest as classism, not just racism. With Mrs. Merriweather specifically, though, it is plain to see that her prejudice extends beyond the ordinary. For example, Mrs. Merriweather spends time condemning her black maid, Sophy, for being a “sulky darky” after Tom Robinson’s death. Moreover, she complains that it “[j]ust ruins your day to have one ‘em in the kitchen” (310). Mrs. Merriweather’s inconsideracy demonstrates an utter lack of understanding of the concept that both blacks and whites are humans who experience identical basic emotions such as grief. Anyone who endures the loss of a beloved community member feels some measure of grief, yet Mrs. Merriweather contends that blacks should not express those emotions if they are detrimental to the positive emotions of whites, showing a marked sense of superiority to blacks. Although flagrant acts of racism are the best known, less notable ones can do considerably more
harm.
Racism in the form of hypocrisy causes harm because it creates a dichotomy of expectations, one benevolent and one malevolent.
use of specific characterization on a wide variety of characters. On the extreme side of the racism spectrum stands Mrs.
Grace Merriweather. Mrs. Merriweather is a devout Christian who eagerly participates in Aunt Alexandra Finch’s missionary circle, an organization of Maycomb women who convene in order to gossip at length about those lower in the social caste system than they, as well as to complain about, during the meeting as described in the novel, the black people who live in Maycomb (Lee 308). From the information gleaned about the missionary circle, one may infer that anyone who associates with the Maycomb missionary circle holds at least an ounce of bigotry in her heart. Accordingly, such prejudice may manifest as classism, not just racism. With Mrs. Merriweather specifically, though, it is plain to see that her prejudice extends beyond the ordinary. For example, Mrs. Merriweather spends time condemning her black maid, Sophy, for being a “sulky darky” after Tom Robinson’s death. Moreover, she complains that it “[j]ust ruins your day to have one ‘em in the kitchen” (310). Mrs. Merriweather’s inconsideracy demonstrates an utter lack of understanding of the concept that both blacks and whites are humans who experience identical basic emotions such as grief. Anyone who endures the loss of a beloved community member feels some measure of grief, yet Mrs. Merriweather contends that blacks should not express those emotions if they are detrimental to the positive emotions of whites, showing a marked sense of superiority to blacks. Although flagrant acts of racism are the best known, less notable ones can do considerably more
harm.
Racism in the form of hypocrisy causes harm because it creates a dichotomy of expectations, one benevolent and one malevolent.