Examples Of Nonconformity In To Kill A Mockingbird

John is an important member of a job search committee for his company. His company has reservations about hiring applicant Louise, but John gathers that she is qualified for the position and that the majority of the search committee is eager to have her. John hires Louise despite reservations expressed by his colleagues, and is later fired for being ‘unreliable’ in his decisions. Because John perceived that Louise was best fit for the job and went against popular opinion to hire her, he lost his job on account of reliability. His reluctance to conform resulted in the hardship of unemployment. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, and The Help, by Katherine Stockett perfectly display the fact that nonconformity requires courage and strong perseverance

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee largely demonstrates the courage and consequences that coincide with nonconformity. Firstly, Atticus Finch is publicly shamed for his determination to properly defend Tom Robinson. News of Atticus’ case and controversy regarding it spreads like wildfire; soon enough, even Scout’s classmates are commenting on it. A prevalent example of this disapproval can be observed in the taunts of Cecil Jacobs, who Scout gets into a fight with on account of his “[announcing] in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy [defends] n----” (Lee 99). The hate expressed by such a young child is shocking evidence of the quick-spreading shame Atticus and his children face for defending Tom. Additionally, Atticus receives a multitude of threats to his well being for defending Tom. For instance, directly following the case, Atticus has an encounter in town with defendant Bob Ewell, who “[stops] [him] on the post office corner, [spits] in his face, and [tells] him [he’ll] get him if it [takes] the rest of his life” (291). This comment is clear representation of the resentment Atticus must face from some people for defending a black man. Simply because he is rejecting regular customs in