Examples Of Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

Mockingbirds: Innocence Destroyed Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is a coming-of-age story about two children, Jem and Scout, who are raised in the racist and prejudice town of Maycomb County, Alabama. In the novel, Lee displays segregation and unfairness that different characters have to face. Through Mrs. Maudie Lee, Jem and Scout learn the definition of a mockingbird. Jem and Scout received shotguns for Christmas. Atticus gave them instructions on what to shoot and what not to shoot. Atticus tells them to shoot any birds they would like except mockingbirds and Mrs. Maudie tells them why. Mrs. Maudie Lee states, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up peoples gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us” (Lee 119). A mockingbird is a guiltless character that is surrounded by corrupt people who seek to destroy him. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are all metaphorically illustrated, as mockingbirds because of they are all guiltless characters that are surrounded by corrupt people who wish to decline their success in life.]

One character in particular that shows this behavior towards Atticus is Mr. Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell who is the victim of the so-called rape. When Atticus leaves the post office, Mr. Ewell tells Atticus he will get him even if it took him the rest of his life. “Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, and threatened to kill him” (Lee 290). Mr. Ewell is upset that Atticus destroys his last “shred of creditability” during the trial (Lee 290). Atticus resembles a mockingbird because corrupt people, such as Mr. Ewell, try to destroy him. The man, Tom Robinson, who Atticus is defending, is also considered a