Theme Of Prejudice In Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'
4/6/2014
A classic novel is one that relates to and questions aspects central to our lives, and can be related to for generations to come. To kill a mockingbird (Harper Lee, 1960) elevates itself to become a timeless classic through its portrayal of profound themes and narrative messages that impact readers across all demographics. It is a compassionate story that not only educates and thrills the reader, but also ultimately inspires them to re-evaluate their presuppositions, and learn to denote an emotional understanding of someone else’s feelings or problems by walking around in their shoes. Themes concerning injustice of racial prejudice and the value of courage and bravery are traversed in great depth through the main characters, Atticus …show more content…
and Scout Finch, and their correlations with others in turn allow the reader to relate the lessons learnt to their own lives.
One of Lee’s most profound themes is the injustice of racial prejudice.
Black people were extremely subjugated members of society during the Depression era. They were forbidden to commingle with white people in public areas, as epitomised in the courthouse, where the physical separation of races was blatant, as well as in the clearly distinct “black” and “white” areas of town. Interbreeding was heavily frowned upon, as shown by Mr Raymond, a white man who married a black woman and has mixed children, who reveals that he pretends to be an alcoholic by carrying around a paper bag with a bottle of Coca-Cola inside it, in an attempt to let the town condone his choice to marry a black woman. From the very beginning of the story, the racist nature of Maycomb is portrayed through their harsh accusations and emotive language as Atticus defends a black man. “Atticus is a nigger lover”; “Scout Finch’s dad defends niggers”. Lee uses the constant repetition of the disparaging term ‘nigger lover’ as a way of demonstrating the hatred shown towards anyone who supported the African …show more content…
Americans.
The most considerable example of racial prejudice, however, is the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape of Mr Ewell’s daughter. Lee makes it quite conspicuous that he is guilt-free, through Atticus’s case in court, yet he is denied his innocence, purely because of his skin colour. The most blatant technique Lee uses to show how racially prejudiced people were is by juxtaposing Tom Robinson, a honest black man, with Mr Ewell, the most despised white man of Maycomb County. This is highlighted through the statement “In our courts, when its white man 's word against a black man 's, the white always wins. They 're ugly, but those are the facts of life pg 220”. Through the use of linguistic features, Lee’s classic portrayal of the injustice of racial prejudice remains both pertinent and intrinsically powerful.
Another one of Lee’s many intricate themes is the value of courage and bravery.
Bravery takes several forms in “To kill a mockingbird”. The most obvious is Atticus’s defence of Tom Robinson, in the face of relentless criticism and threats of violence. Jem and Scout also exhibit the utmost bravery, as shown in chapter 15, where Atticus makes his way to the prison to protect Tom. When the mob arrives at the jail seeking to harm Tom, the children, who’ve been spectating, come to Atticus’s aid. Scout is the one who initiates the charge, but Jem displays bravery as well, when he refuses to leave. If Jem had left, Scout and Dill would have followed. The presence of the children diffuses the situation and Scout 's words thus cause Mr Cunningham to call off the mob. To Atticus, withholding violence is one of the highest forms of bravery, and so constantly urges Scout to be brave and avert herself from fighting those who denigrate herself or her family. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists
down”.
In Atticus’s eyes, Mrs Dubose is upheld as the ultimate definition of bravery, as she fights against her morphine addiction in order to be free from it before she dies, even when she knows she will die in the process. “…Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew." Boo Radley also displays a monumental amount of courage, through how he musters up the courage to leave the children little gifts, despite the rampant rumours about him. Finally, Bob Ewell represents the greatest cowardice, as he both lies in the courtroom to protect himself and resorts to maiming the children in the darkness in a pathetic attempt to make himself feel like a man. The value of courage and bravery is expressed in great detail throughout the novel, and can be related to in the present, thus making “To kill a mockingbird” a classic novel.
Ultimately, “To kill a mockingbird” is a classic novel as it expresses perennial and universal themes that heighten its powerful authorial voice. The injustice of racial prejudice and the value of courage and bravery are reconnoitred through the main characters Atticus and Scout Finch. These themes relate to a wide range of audiences across the globe, regardless of age, and strengthen understandings or questionings into the core of our social structures. By engaging the audience and providing them a specific window to reflect on the history of human conditions, Harper Lee allows the novel to live on for the reader long after the final page.
This is a good effort and your first paragraph is very strong. You have a good understanding of what makes a classic novel and the examples you chose are strong. It’s important to identify and explain the effect of specific language techniques throughout the rest of the essay and it’s also important to discuss at least three themes, in order to really argue that it is a classic novel. Overall though, this is good work.
Bibliography
SparkNotes: To Kill a Mockingbird: Themes, Motifs & Symbols. 2014. SparkNotes: To Kill a Mockingbird: Themes, Motifs & Symbols. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/themes.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird the Theme of Prejudice - Research Papers - Studymode. 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird the Theme of Prejudice - Research Papers - Studymode. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.studymode.com/essays/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-The-Theme-1987.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird - Research Paper - Studymode. 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird - Research Paper - Studymode. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.studymode.com/essays/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-13711.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird: To Kill a Mockingbird Book Summary & Study Guide | CliffsNotes . 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird: To Kill a Mockingbird Book Summary & Study Guide | CliffsNotes . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/to-kill-a-mockingbird-at-a-glance. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird Themes | GradeSaver. 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird Themes | GradeSaver. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/major-themes/. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
A classic novel is one that relates to and questions aspects central to our lives, and can be related to for generations to come. To kill a mockingbird (Harper Lee, 1960) elevates itself to become a timeless classic through its portrayal of profound themes and narrative messages that impact readers across all demographics. It is a compassionate story that not only educates and thrills the reader, but also ultimately inspires them to re-evaluate their presuppositions, and learn to denote an emotional understanding of someone else’s feelings or problems by walking around in their shoes. Themes concerning injustice of racial prejudice and the value of courage and bravery are traversed in great depth through the main characters, Atticus …show more content…
and Scout Finch, and their correlations with others in turn allow the reader to relate the lessons learnt to their own lives.
One of Lee’s most profound themes is the injustice of racial prejudice.
Black people were extremely subjugated members of society during the Depression era. They were forbidden to commingle with white people in public areas, as epitomised in the courthouse, where the physical separation of races was blatant, as well as in the clearly distinct “black” and “white” areas of town. Interbreeding was heavily frowned upon, as shown by Mr Raymond, a white man who married a black woman and has mixed children, who reveals that he pretends to be an alcoholic by carrying around a paper bag with a bottle of Coca-Cola inside it, in an attempt to let the town condone his choice to marry a black woman. From the very beginning of the story, the racist nature of Maycomb is portrayed through their harsh accusations and emotive language as Atticus defends a black man. “Atticus is a nigger lover”; “Scout Finch’s dad defends niggers”. Lee uses the constant repetition of the disparaging term ‘nigger lover’ as a way of demonstrating the hatred shown towards anyone who supported the African …show more content…
Americans.
The most considerable example of racial prejudice, however, is the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape of Mr Ewell’s daughter. Lee makes it quite conspicuous that he is guilt-free, through Atticus’s case in court, yet he is denied his innocence, purely because of his skin colour. The most blatant technique Lee uses to show how racially prejudiced people were is by juxtaposing Tom Robinson, a honest black man, with Mr Ewell, the most despised white man of Maycomb County. This is highlighted through the statement “In our courts, when its white man 's word against a black man 's, the white always wins. They 're ugly, but those are the facts of life pg 220”. Through the use of linguistic features, Lee’s classic portrayal of the injustice of racial prejudice remains both pertinent and intrinsically powerful.
Another one of Lee’s many intricate themes is the value of courage and bravery.
Bravery takes several forms in “To kill a mockingbird”. The most obvious is Atticus’s defence of Tom Robinson, in the face of relentless criticism and threats of violence. Jem and Scout also exhibit the utmost bravery, as shown in chapter 15, where Atticus makes his way to the prison to protect Tom. When the mob arrives at the jail seeking to harm Tom, the children, who’ve been spectating, come to Atticus’s aid. Scout is the one who initiates the charge, but Jem displays bravery as well, when he refuses to leave. If Jem had left, Scout and Dill would have followed. The presence of the children diffuses the situation and Scout 's words thus cause Mr Cunningham to call off the mob. To Atticus, withholding violence is one of the highest forms of bravery, and so constantly urges Scout to be brave and avert herself from fighting those who denigrate herself or her family. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists
down”.
In Atticus’s eyes, Mrs Dubose is upheld as the ultimate definition of bravery, as she fights against her morphine addiction in order to be free from it before she dies, even when she knows she will die in the process. “…Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew." Boo Radley also displays a monumental amount of courage, through how he musters up the courage to leave the children little gifts, despite the rampant rumours about him. Finally, Bob Ewell represents the greatest cowardice, as he both lies in the courtroom to protect himself and resorts to maiming the children in the darkness in a pathetic attempt to make himself feel like a man. The value of courage and bravery is expressed in great detail throughout the novel, and can be related to in the present, thus making “To kill a mockingbird” a classic novel.
Ultimately, “To kill a mockingbird” is a classic novel as it expresses perennial and universal themes that heighten its powerful authorial voice. The injustice of racial prejudice and the value of courage and bravery are reconnoitred through the main characters Atticus and Scout Finch. These themes relate to a wide range of audiences across the globe, regardless of age, and strengthen understandings or questionings into the core of our social structures. By engaging the audience and providing them a specific window to reflect on the history of human conditions, Harper Lee allows the novel to live on for the reader long after the final page.
This is a good effort and your first paragraph is very strong. You have a good understanding of what makes a classic novel and the examples you chose are strong. It’s important to identify and explain the effect of specific language techniques throughout the rest of the essay and it’s also important to discuss at least three themes, in order to really argue that it is a classic novel. Overall though, this is good work.
Bibliography
SparkNotes: To Kill a Mockingbird: Themes, Motifs & Symbols. 2014. SparkNotes: To Kill a Mockingbird: Themes, Motifs & Symbols. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/themes.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird the Theme of Prejudice - Research Papers - Studymode. 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird the Theme of Prejudice - Research Papers - Studymode. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.studymode.com/essays/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-The-Theme-1987.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird - Research Paper - Studymode. 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird - Research Paper - Studymode. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.studymode.com/essays/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-13711.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird: To Kill a Mockingbird Book Summary & Study Guide | CliffsNotes . 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird: To Kill a Mockingbird Book Summary & Study Guide | CliffsNotes . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/to-kill-a-mockingbird-at-a-glance. [Accessed 23 April 2014].
To Kill a Mockingbird Themes | GradeSaver. 2014. To Kill a Mockingbird Themes | GradeSaver. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/major-themes/. [Accessed 23 April 2014].