To Kill a Mockingbird, an inspiring tale exploring all the flaws in humanity, and giving an outline of the worst kind of people we can be. The book covers many controversial topics, such as rampant racism, prejudice, and hypocrisy. The story follows Jem and Scout Finch, the children of Atticus Finch, a lawyer who has been appointed to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman in 1930’s Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus is forced to deal with the stress and judgment of defending Tom even though he knows he cannot win, while Jem and Scout face a similar judgment for being his children. Throughout the book, Lee shows through irony and characterization how hypocrisy and prejudice can permeate into a society's beliefs. Lee uses irony many times in the book to showcase the hypocrisy that exists in Maycomb’s society. Irony in a society can highlight hypocritical situations, as seen in the Missionary Circle. “‘Not a white person’ll …show more content…
I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-’”(Lee 331). Here, Lee gives a glimpse of irony and hypocrisy using the point of view, as the story is being told through a child’s eyes. Miss Gates is clearly speaking with irony, as she is shown to have a strong distaste for prejudice overseas with Hitler and the Jews, whereas she turns around and shows the exact same kind of feelings towards the African Americans in her own town. It is also interesting to see how Scout, as a child who is free of such thoughts, realizes the hypocrisy in Miss Gates’ actions. Throughout the book, Lee uses irony to show how the hypocrisy has worked its way into