To Kill A Mockingbird Satire Analysis

Some authors place satire in their writing to draw attention to a social or political issue. When utilized appropriately, satire has the ability to criticize foolishness in a humorous way. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee employs satire to portray the hypocrisy during the ladies’ missionary society meeting in chapter twenty four through Mrs. Merriweather’s dialogue, actions, and ironic statements. In chapter twenty four, Mrs. Merriweather and the ladies’ missionary society get together and the topic of Tom Robinson’s trial is brought up. During the discussion of the trial Harper Lee uses Mrs. Merriweather’s dialogue to develop the ladies’ hypocrisy. After griping about how the blacks in the community are dissatisfied about the outcome
of Tom’s trial, Mrs. Merriweather tells the other ladies that when her maid, Sophy, complained of the trial, she told Sophy, “you simply are not being a Christian today. Jesus Christ never went around grumbling and complaining” (265). Because Sophy is black and complaining about a trial concerning a black man, Mrs. Merriweather is very quick to judge her harshly, while she does the exact same thing. According to Mrs. Merriweather, you cannot be a Christian and complain at the same time, but as she says this, she is also complaining. Mrs. Merriweather doesn't see herself as hypocritical because she is white and Sophy is black, and at the time black people were considered inferior to white people. Harper Lee uses this to her advantage and puts the judgements of Mrs. Merriweather under ridicule. Not only does Mrs Merriweather’s dialogue present her hypocritical nature, her actions do so as well. As the ladies talk about the Mruna tribe and the hardships they face, Scout observes that “Mrs. Merriweather’s large brown eyes always filled with tears when she considered the oppressed” (263). Harper Lee utilizes the privileged eyes of a white child living in the 30s to make fun of what Mrs. Merriwether considers oppressed. When Mrs. Merriweather speaks of the African Mruna tribe, she is concerned for them. In contrast, when the African-American community of Maycomb county is brought up, Mrs. Merriweather has no sympathy for their dissatisfaction towards the biased ruling against Tom Robinson. Despite both groups being black, only one is considered oppressed to the white community. White people in the 30s feel bad for the black people not living in America, but have no concern for the blacks in America that are subjected to racism and hate everyday. When Mrs. Merriweather tears up at the thought of the Mruna tribe it only shows her hypocrisy and naivety towards the struggle of people in her own community.
Along with hypocritical dialogue and actions, Mrs.
Merriweather also makes some ironic statements that are satirized by Harper Lee. The ladies’ missionary society begins to discuss how the North set blacks free. Mrs. Merriweather calls the North hypocrites for lying to the blacks and telling them that they are equal. She believes the South is more honest by not trying to pretend blacks and whites are equal. “At least we don’t have that sin on our shoulders down here” (267) she states, implying that showing blacks equality is sin. She makes this statement after the town sends an innocent black man to death. Maycomb is not free of sin, but because the community members do not “lie” to the blacks about being equal, Mrs. Merriweather doesn’t see it as wrong. Again, Harper Lee puts Mrs. Merriweather’s irony into a critical light to satirize her hypocrisy. Throughout chapter twenty four, Harper Lee utilizes Mrs. Merriweather’s hypocritical dialogue, actions, and ironic statements to satirize the ladies’ missionary society. Lee puts the group under ridicule for their judgement towards the black community of Maycomb county and makes them seem foolish. She portrays whites thoughts towards blacks during the 30s in a truthful light and brings it to
attention.