Racism in to Kill a Mockingbird

Last Updated: 23 Mar 2023
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Harper Lee uses racism in, To Kill a Mockingbird, to show readers the bad outcomes of racist thoughts and ideas. The sentence of life in prison to Tom Robinson, Atticus defending Tom Robinson, and Jem's thoughts on Black people's blood are all examples of Harper Lee's intentions. Racism is the hatred or intolerance of another race and is a theme that is ever present in Harper Lee's book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson was being sentenced to life in prison for supposedly raping Mayella Ewell even though there is proof that he did not.

The jury voted him guilty as charged. "In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's word the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life. " Atticus tells Jem. This is a terrible outcome of Racism. Tom Robinsons life is now gone because of white man in the jury being prejudice against a black man essay writer cheap. When Atticus decides to a Tom Robinson he gets sworn at by getting called a "nigger-lover" by many even his own nephew. "'Francis, what the hell do you mean? / 'Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you run wild, but now he turned out to be a nigger lover. '" Those who are racist are very arrogant and proud but those who are affected by it are affected greatly. Tom Robinson and Atticus are just two of many that are affected by Racism. Even Atticus, a white man, is affected by the patronizing on slaughter of racist remarks. Jem, slightly brainwashed by his town and community, has racist thoughts and ideas about Negroes.

Jem tells scout outside of the courthouse "Once you have a drop of Negro blood, that makes you all black. " This example of racism shows how even children, at best, are showing signs of racism in a country where there should not be any. Harper Lee is showing the older community is doing to Maycomb's children. Basically they are brainwashing the kids without even knowing it. Their children just go by what their parents do and say. Thought Jem said a racist remark, later on in To Kill a Mockingbird he does not show much racists thoughts.

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In fact, Jem learns about racism during and after Tom Robinson's trial. Harper Lee uses racism to show readers the bad outcomes of racist thoughts and ideas. The sentence of life in prison to Tom Robinson, Atticus defending Tom Robinson, and Jem's thoughts on Black people's blood are all examples of Harper Lee's intentions. Though Racism is still in this world today Harper Lee shows what racism does and how it works; thus proving the bad outcomes and results of racism.

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Racism in to Kill a Mockingbird. (2017, Feb 13). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/racism-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/

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