to kill a mocking bird themes
To Kill a Mockingbird ~Ten Themes
ELA 20
Prejustice
All these people making assumptions, assuming a black man did it, just because he is black.
Prejudice is explored on both a social and racial level. Boo Radley, is a suspected dangerous criminal for killing his father. No one asks Boo why he stabbed his father, though we are told his father was cruel, instead Boo is isolated in his home and boo is actually a very nice guy, but nobody seems to know it until the end.
Tom Robinson is falsely accused of rape by the drunken Bob Ewell and his daughter, Mayella. Atticus tells Scout that he will not win the trial, months before it even begins. Scout ponders at one point why anyone would believe Bob Ewell, when everyone knows that he is always the one to be mad and unhappy at everything.
Racism
The black people in the community are always treated as second-class citizens. Always firstly suspected for crimes, just because they are black. Racism is a big issue in this novel. During the Depression era, blacks were still highly subjugated members of society. Blacks were not permitted to be with whites in public settings, as exemplified in the courthouse physical separation of races and in the clearly distinct black and white areas of town.
Throughout the novel, Scout explores the differences between black people and white people.
Tom Robinson is convicted purely because he is a black man and his accuser is white. The evidence is so powerfully in his favor, that race is clearly the single defining factor in the jury's decision. Atticus fights against racism, and a few other townspeople are on his side, including Miss Maudie and Judge Taylor. Jem and Scout also believe in racial equality. When Atticus loses the trial, he tries to make his children understand that although he lost, he did help move along the cause of ending racism as evidenced by the jury's lengthy discussion period. Usually such a trial would be decided immediately.
ELA 20
Prejustice
All these people making assumptions, assuming a black man did it, just because he is black.
Prejudice is explored on both a social and racial level. Boo Radley, is a suspected dangerous criminal for killing his father. No one asks Boo why he stabbed his father, though we are told his father was cruel, instead Boo is isolated in his home and boo is actually a very nice guy, but nobody seems to know it until the end.
Tom Robinson is falsely accused of rape by the drunken Bob Ewell and his daughter, Mayella. Atticus tells Scout that he will not win the trial, months before it even begins. Scout ponders at one point why anyone would believe Bob Ewell, when everyone knows that he is always the one to be mad and unhappy at everything.
Racism
The black people in the community are always treated as second-class citizens. Always firstly suspected for crimes, just because they are black. Racism is a big issue in this novel. During the Depression era, blacks were still highly subjugated members of society. Blacks were not permitted to be with whites in public settings, as exemplified in the courthouse physical separation of races and in the clearly distinct black and white areas of town.
Throughout the novel, Scout explores the differences between black people and white people.
Tom Robinson is convicted purely because he is a black man and his accuser is white. The evidence is so powerfully in his favor, that race is clearly the single defining factor in the jury's decision. Atticus fights against racism, and a few other townspeople are on his side, including Miss Maudie and Judge Taylor. Jem and Scout also believe in racial equality. When Atticus loses the trial, he tries to make his children understand that although he lost, he did help move along the cause of ending racism as evidenced by the jury's lengthy discussion period. Usually such a trial would be decided immediately.