Racism in To Kill A Mockingbird
Racism in “To Kill A Mockingbird” is demonstrated through the story’s tone and setting
It is a harsh reality that racism is such a big problem in America. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racism is a topic that our narrator Scout Finch experiences a lot. Throughout the entire book there are many ways in which racism is shown. In my opinion racism is conveyed the most through setting and tone.
The setting in To Kill A Mockingbird helps to show racism in the story. In chapter 12 when Calpurnia brought Scout and Jem to her church there was a black person named Lula who didn’t like Calpurnia bringing white children into the church. She said “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n.” (Lee, 158) This quote acknowledges the fact that there is a dispute between white people and black people. It shows how black people have to go to different places to do the same thing white people do. During the court scene Bob Ewell said “Ive asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they’re dangerous to live around ‘sides devalouin’ my property.” (Lee, 234) These quotes tie to the setting because they both talk about how blacks and whites have to be split up for almost everything. Through setting Scout will see how much racism there is in Maycomb.
The tone in To Kill A Mockingbird is usually very racist. There’s always racial slurs being used and black people are always looked down upon. Scout experience people saying bad things to her and about her family. For example “He has announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defends niggers I denied it, but told Jem. (Lee, 99) People are being mean to Scout just because her family is doing something with a black person. Later that day Scout said “Do you defend niggers, Atticus?” I asked him that evening. Of course I do. Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.” “’s what everybody at school says.” “From now on
It is a harsh reality that racism is such a big problem in America. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, racism is a topic that our narrator Scout Finch experiences a lot. Throughout the entire book there are many ways in which racism is shown. In my opinion racism is conveyed the most through setting and tone.
The setting in To Kill A Mockingbird helps to show racism in the story. In chapter 12 when Calpurnia brought Scout and Jem to her church there was a black person named Lula who didn’t like Calpurnia bringing white children into the church. She said “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n.” (Lee, 158) This quote acknowledges the fact that there is a dispute between white people and black people. It shows how black people have to go to different places to do the same thing white people do. During the court scene Bob Ewell said “Ive asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they’re dangerous to live around ‘sides devalouin’ my property.” (Lee, 234) These quotes tie to the setting because they both talk about how blacks and whites have to be split up for almost everything. Through setting Scout will see how much racism there is in Maycomb.
The tone in To Kill A Mockingbird is usually very racist. There’s always racial slurs being used and black people are always looked down upon. Scout experience people saying bad things to her and about her family. For example “He has announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defends niggers I denied it, but told Jem. (Lee, 99) People are being mean to Scout just because her family is doing something with a black person. Later that day Scout said “Do you defend niggers, Atticus?” I asked him that evening. Of course I do. Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.” “’s what everybody at school says.” “From now on