“What we see is an illusion. What we don’t see is reality” –Anonymous. Imagine going to a funhouse of mirrors. The reflected image of you is an illusion; this illusion is what you want society to see of you. Though, only you know what the reality is and this reality is what you want to hide from society. Society only judges people by their appearance, not personality. The people in Maycomb are no different from the people in the real world. Many characters in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ were mistaken because their society judged them by their appearance not personality. Misconceptions of such characters from the novel include Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and Dolphus Raymond.
Appearance vs. Reality is a huge concern throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In each chapter,
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Whether it is because of their appearance, personality or beliefs, people like Tom Robinson receive judgment from the community every day. “Why, I run for Tate quick as I could. I knowed who it was, all right, lived yonder in that nigger-nest, passed the house every day. Jedge, I’ve asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they’re dangerous to live around ‘sides davaluin’ my property-” (Lee 234) Tom Robinson was seen by society as an average black man who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The black population was seen as people who are filthy, disrespectful and unlawful people who always committed crimes. They were dangerous to live around and should be ‘cleaned out’ as Bob Ewell said. “Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her. But she said he took advantage