To kill a Mockingbird final essay
Peacock 1
Maggie Peacock
Mrs. Marchetti
English 2 honors
Period 8
12/2/14
Evil Assumption
“...the evil assumptionthat all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all
Negro men are not to be trusted with our women
…”
(Lee, 273). To Kill a
Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the early 1930’s.
The story follows two young children named Jem and Scout, along with their dad, Atticus.
Atticus is defending a young African American man you supposed rapped a girl, Mayella Ewell.
There are many characters throughout the book that people do not know anything about so they just assume and make up rumors about them. Assumption will often have a negative effect on the person who is at the receiving end of it.
Tom Robinson is talked about very often in town once the trial begins. Some people believe that he is innocent but the majority of people believe that he did rape Mayell Ewell. This is because of the fact that Tom Robinson is black. During this time period racism is ramped throughout the most of the South and a few parts of the North. Before the trial many of the jury members just assume he is guilty because he is a young black man and they don’t want to face the truth that it is possible that Mayella was beat by up her own father. The fact that Tom is black provides a great scapegoat for the jury and Mr. Ewell( Mayella Ewell’s Father). The assumption that Tom is guilty because he is black which seals his faith eventually leading to his death.
Peacock 2
Dolphus Raymond is also a victim of assumption. People thought because he hung out with blacks and had children with one. People assume the only way he could live like that is to be drunk all the time. The people of maycomb proceed to shun him because he associates with black people. “... folks can say Dolphus raymond is in the clutches of whiskey that’s why he won’t change his ways” (Lee 268). This quote show
Maggie Peacock
Mrs. Marchetti
English 2 honors
Period 8
12/2/14
Evil Assumption
“...the evil assumptionthat all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all
Negro men are not to be trusted with our women
…”
(Lee, 273). To Kill a
Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the early 1930’s.
The story follows two young children named Jem and Scout, along with their dad, Atticus.
Atticus is defending a young African American man you supposed rapped a girl, Mayella Ewell.
There are many characters throughout the book that people do not know anything about so they just assume and make up rumors about them. Assumption will often have a negative effect on the person who is at the receiving end of it.
Tom Robinson is talked about very often in town once the trial begins. Some people believe that he is innocent but the majority of people believe that he did rape Mayell Ewell. This is because of the fact that Tom Robinson is black. During this time period racism is ramped throughout the most of the South and a few parts of the North. Before the trial many of the jury members just assume he is guilty because he is a young black man and they don’t want to face the truth that it is possible that Mayella was beat by up her own father. The fact that Tom is black provides a great scapegoat for the jury and Mr. Ewell( Mayella Ewell’s Father). The assumption that Tom is guilty because he is black which seals his faith eventually leading to his death.
Peacock 2
Dolphus Raymond is also a victim of assumption. People thought because he hung out with blacks and had children with one. People assume the only way he could live like that is to be drunk all the time. The people of maycomb proceed to shun him because he associates with black people. “... folks can say Dolphus raymond is in the clutches of whiskey that’s why he won’t change his ways” (Lee 268). This quote show