In Harper Lee’s novel To kill a Mockingbird she show the significance of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Tom Robinson is an african-american man who needs protection because he lives in Maycomb, Alabama and white people think that he is lesser than they are and that all african-americans lie. Arthur Radley or Boo is a recluse and a hermit. He need to be defended because he is not social, he stays inside his house all day and is made fun of by everyone in Maycomb. Scout Finch is the daughter of Atticus and is a young child. She needs be protected because she is young, a girl, and she is Atticus’ child. Harper Lee examines the importance of protecting the vulnerable members of society, as is shown through the characters of Tom Robinson, Arthur Radley, and Jean Louise Finch.
Tom is vulnerable because his race makes him inferior to the white community and makes him a target for false criminal accusations. He is an african-american who is accused of assaulting Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Tom is treated unfairly: “But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her
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He is mocked and teased by most of the people in Maycomb, Alabama. The adults make up rumors and stories to spread, and the children mock him by reenacting the stories the adults made up. Many people believe the rumors: “Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom … When people's azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them. Any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work.”(10). This shows that the community is prejudice against Mr. Arthur, and they judge him on his past and blame him for petty crimes that others commit. Though he is defenceless and needs a lot of protection, and Scout Finch needs to be protected because she is also