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Issues of prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (draft, Nur Asyikin binti
Rusimin)
Prejudice is a real problem in the world. It is an assumption or opinion against
something that formed without proper knowledge. Based on the novel To Kill a
Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the prejudices found in a small American town in the
1930s. Race, social class and gender are example of it. There are basically four types
of prejudice that occur in the novel which are prejudice towards the black, prejudice
within the society, prejudice of men toward women and prejudice of something unknown
(towards Boo Radley).
Prejudice runs rampant in Maycomb County. Prejudice against the black is one
of it and this is seen in the trial of Tom Robinson. The evidence presented by Atticus,
that Bob Ewell is left handed and Toms left hand is useless even though it is obviously
shown that Tom Robinson is innocent. However, since the jury is not unwilling to take
the word of a black man over that of a white one because they essentially believe the
white, Tom Robinson was found guilty. Atticus tried to help him by opting himself to
defend him in the court, justice for black man like Tom Robinson is not served. The
whites believe that they are superior to the blacks.
In the novel, Bob Ewell represents all that is wrong with the society and Atticus
represents justice and all that is good with society. Atticus is the moral voice of
Maycomb while Bob Ewell is the evil and all that is wrong with the society, drunkness,
hatred and violence. Atticus stands up for what is good and he took the case of Tom
Robinson, knowing he is innocent and a black man. He knows that he wont get a fair
trial but he still determined to do the right thing, even though the majority of people in
Maycomb are prejudice.
Prejudice against women also played through the novel especially Scout. Scout
thinks that being called a girl is about the worst thing possible. It is an insult for her
being called a girl. Girls were not allowed to play outside, swearing nor pretty much
does anything fun and girls should wear pink dresses. In the novel, Scout described as
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a tomboy and she spends much of her time with her older brother Jem. Throughout the
novel, Scout impacted by gender discrimination, along with other women in Maycomb.
Aunt Alexandra tells Scout a few times that she could not hope to be a lady if she wore
breeches. She also expects Scout to play with stoves, tea sets and necklaces. Aunt
Alexandra is not the only person who discriminates women. Even Atticus, who does not
judge anyone, also discriminates again women. On the page 296 (chapter 23), Atticus
tells Jem that women are not allowed to serve on juries in Alabama. Atticus even jokes
that the court would never get a complete case tried with women on the jury because
women would interrupt to ask questions. Scout even agrees with Atticus on this by
saying Perhaps our forefathers were wise.
Prejudice toward against Boo Radley can be seen through the children attitudes
about Boo. It represents the beginning of racial prejudice and superstition. No one
bothers to find out about the real Arthur Boo Radley. He may seem a little scary but the
town neglects and ignores him from the society. All the children have been raised to
fear him as the town freak. He was described monstrous by Jem in the novel (chapter 1,
page 16). If they took the time to see the world from his eyes they might not be so
prejudiced to his situation.