Conformity In To Kill A Mockingbird

Maycomb is an old, tired town in Alabama that has a usual disease, racism. Most people in Maycomb have caught this disease, yet some choose to display what they think is right, even when others believe differently. It may be hard for them to do this considering conformity. Harper Lee makes it prominent how people stand against the theme of racism in the novel. Tom Robinson is an African American man who is accused of rape by Mayella Ewell who is low at the bottom of the social classes, with her only being above the African Americans. In Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, it is presented the theme of racism needs to be eradicated as seen by characters such as Jem, Dill, and Atticus who stand up for what they believe would be correct for the community.

Gilmer. Dill, who goes to the trial with Scout and Jem, sees how Tom is treated rudely, and unfairly. During Mr. Gilmer's cross-examination, Dill starts to tear up and Scout takes him outside to find what is wrong with him. Scout asks Dill and he talks about how is upset with Mr. Gilmer for speaking rudely to Tom Robinson, Scout says he does everyone that way and it does not matter, Dill responds, “ I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do ’em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that – it just makes me sick” (Lee 266). Dill is very certain Tom should be treated as everyone else in the courtroom and it has made him sick to his stomach. Dill speaking his mind over Tom's treatment shows how Lee represents his ability to express his feeling about the racism in the trial. It shows how he is developed as a character and able to mature into his

Atticus is a compassionate man who speaks for what he believes in, which is equal rights for all no matter their skin color. Atticus was with Scout when one evening she asked “‘ You aren’t really a n***** -lover, then are you’”, Atticus replies “‘I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you’” (Lee 144). Atticus tells Scout about how he tries his best to love everybody equally. Atticus says just because someone says something is an insult, does not mean it is. Atticus is open about how he is not racist and loves everyone. If you take it the right way, it could be positive. He is being optimistic about the term and loves everyone