Prejudice? Prejudice comes in many forms, a few are violence and racism, and it can interfere with social customs. Prejudice tore Maycomb County apart; the book takes place in Maycomb a small town in Alabama, during the 1930s. There is evident of prejudice at the court scene of Tom Robinson, Prejudicial discrimination also takes place within family households as shown when Aunt Alexandra tried to get rid of the maid, another act of prejudice is Boo Radleys and the stories about him; we can truly see how prejudice the county of Maycomb really is.
The concept of Prejudice is further explored when part of the town acts unfriendly towards Atticus, because he was a “nigger – lover” and defended Tom Robinson. In the trial there is a lot of racial prejudice toward Tom. Tom was a black man accused of raping a white woman, a crime that is punishable by the death penalty. There was not a doctor present who could testify that Tom couldn’t have committed the crime because of his disability. Even though all the facts proved that he didn't do it, the jury still found him guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt". Tom's life has been sacrificed to racism by the people who were there to protect him. The justice system didn't allow this man to have a fair trial because of the color of his skin. “Tom’s discomfort was not from humility.” Tom knows that the white community will think it completely impertinent for him to feel sorry for Mayella because he is black and she is white. This is an excellent example of the racial prejudice in Maycomb.
Aunt Alexandra is prejudice towards the Finch’s housekeeper Calpurnia, who is black. Calpurnia was bought into the Finch house to educate and act as a female role model for Scout. Aunt Alexandra from the beginning shows Scout who possesses the power. Aunt Alexandra does not say “please” or “thank you,” to Calpurnia, just a simple command. Calpurnia has symbolized strength and authority throughout Scout’s childhood, by acting as a mother figure in the Finch household. Scout has never seen Calpurnia in such a degraded position. Calpurnia has established a respected place in the Finch family through the years of dedicated service and through the love she has shown for the Finch children. Aunt Alexandra senses the children’s closeness to Calpurnia, and fears the bond the family has with Calpurnia. Any relationship with a black person that goes deeper than employer and employee causes scandal in Maycomb. Shortly after her arrival, Aunt Alexandra discusses the matter with Atticus. Aunt Alexandra attempts to get rid of Calpurnia. "And don't try and get around it. You've got to face it sooner or later and it might as well be tonight. We don't need her now." Aunt Alexandra clearly wants Calpurnia gone. Alexandra sees the respect and love that Scout feels towards Calpurnia and fears Scout will learn to love what she considers "trash." Aunt Alexandra’s label of ‘trash’ does not only classify blacks, but any group or person that Aunt Alexandra considers to be lower on the social scale of Maycomb.
Harper Lee uses Boo Radley to show us that the county is not just prejudiced against black people but against white people as well. Boo Radley is an unusual individual, and he is misunderstood by the county. He is an outsider to the normal society of Maycomb County. Because no one ever sees Boo the people of Maycomb make up stories about Boo and the Radley family, and they do not bother to find out the truth. The County let rumors circulate about Boo and these rumors are assumed as the truth. The rumors that were told about Boo made him out to be a horrible monster that eats squirrels and rats with his bare hands. At the end of the novel it shows that the towns prejudice against Boo Radley was all wrong and that Boo was just a shy kind hearted man who would never hurt a fly.
From non-racial prejudice against Boo to racial prejudice against Tom, the book has displayed every aspect of how people can see through the lines and see things completely differently than the person standing next to them. The book shows that the treatment towards certain human beings in the community was wrong and should never happen again, some example are above. By judging people before you know them is a good way of loosing friends, the judge judged whether the person was guilty or not based on their appearance, and the novel shows the racial divisions in society between black and white people. Never judge anyone until you have walked a mile in their shoes.
The concept of Prejudice is further explored when part of the town acts unfriendly towards Atticus, because he was a “nigger – lover” and defended Tom Robinson. In the trial there is a lot of racial prejudice toward Tom. Tom was a black man accused of raping a white woman, a crime that is punishable by the death penalty. There was not a doctor present who could testify that Tom couldn’t have committed the crime because of his disability. Even though all the facts proved that he didn't do it, the jury still found him guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt". Tom's life has been sacrificed to racism by the people who were there to protect him. The justice system didn't allow this man to have a fair trial because of the color of his skin. “Tom’s discomfort was not from humility.” Tom knows that the white community will think it completely impertinent for him to feel sorry for Mayella because he is black and she is white. This is an excellent example of the racial prejudice in Maycomb.
Aunt Alexandra is prejudice towards the Finch’s housekeeper Calpurnia, who is black. Calpurnia was bought into the Finch house to educate and act as a female role model for Scout. Aunt Alexandra from the beginning shows Scout who possesses the power. Aunt Alexandra does not say “please” or “thank you,” to Calpurnia, just a simple command. Calpurnia has symbolized strength and authority throughout Scout’s childhood, by acting as a mother figure in the Finch household. Scout has never seen Calpurnia in such a degraded position. Calpurnia has established a respected place in the Finch family through the years of dedicated service and through the love she has shown for the Finch children. Aunt Alexandra senses the children’s closeness to Calpurnia, and fears the bond the family has with Calpurnia. Any relationship with a black person that goes deeper than employer and employee causes scandal in Maycomb. Shortly after her arrival, Aunt Alexandra discusses the matter with Atticus. Aunt Alexandra attempts to get rid of Calpurnia. "And don't try and get around it. You've got to face it sooner or later and it might as well be tonight. We don't need her now." Aunt Alexandra clearly wants Calpurnia gone. Alexandra sees the respect and love that Scout feels towards Calpurnia and fears Scout will learn to love what she considers "trash." Aunt Alexandra’s label of ‘trash’ does not only classify blacks, but any group or person that Aunt Alexandra considers to be lower on the social scale of Maycomb.
Harper Lee uses Boo Radley to show us that the county is not just prejudiced against black people but against white people as well. Boo Radley is an unusual individual, and he is misunderstood by the county. He is an outsider to the normal society of Maycomb County. Because no one ever sees Boo the people of Maycomb make up stories about Boo and the Radley family, and they do not bother to find out the truth. The County let rumors circulate about Boo and these rumors are assumed as the truth. The rumors that were told about Boo made him out to be a horrible monster that eats squirrels and rats with his bare hands. At the end of the novel it shows that the towns prejudice against Boo Radley was all wrong and that Boo was just a shy kind hearted man who would never hurt a fly.
From non-racial prejudice against Boo to racial prejudice against Tom, the book has displayed every aspect of how people can see through the lines and see things completely differently than the person standing next to them. The book shows that the treatment towards certain human beings in the community was wrong and should never happen again, some example are above. By judging people before you know them is a good way of loosing friends, the judge judged whether the person was guilty or not based on their appearance, and the novel shows the racial divisions in society between black and white people. Never judge anyone until you have walked a mile in their shoes.