Examples Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAMB) was written by Harper Lee in 1960 taking place in 1930s Maycomb County, Alabama. TKAMB is a recount of Lee (Scout)’s childhood, during which her father (Atticus) defended Tom Robinson who was charged with raping Mayella Ewell. Other characters include Calpurnia (their colored housekeeper) and Jem (Scout’s brother). As a result, TKAMB runs deep with gender, racial and social prejudices. These prejudices surrounded the people of Maycomb every day and influenced their outlook of the world, thus giving them such wayward views on the world.
These days, a woman working in law or wearing pants is nothing out of the ordinary, but in TKAMB, it was almost unheard of. Aunt Alexandra clearly shows gender prejudices, during

Other phrases can be found in Bob Ewell, through his description of Tom raping his daughter, Mayella. “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” – Bob (p188). Later, Mr. Gilmer cross-examines Tom, whilst doing so he scathingly refers to Tom as “boy”, further showing the prejudice held against blacks. The conviction and maltreatment of Tom Robinson are also key examples in TKAMB. Despite the multitude of evidence supporting Tom, he’s still convicted for beating and raping Mayella. For example, Mayella was mostly beaten on the right side of her face, suggesting a left-handed person beat her. “It was her right eye, Mr. Finch” – Heck Tate (p183). Tom caught his left arm caught in a cotton gin when he was young, rendering it useless, contrarily, Mayella’s father is left-handed. Despite the evidence, the jury still convicts Tom, simply because he’s black. Moreover, when Tom tries to escape from prison and he’s shot, with 17 bullets holes in his body. Furthermore, segregation was in full swing in TKAMB. The clear divide between the two cultures is further emphasized when we learn that the black community lives 500 yards from the Ewells (who live at the edge of town). Other examples include different churches and viewing places for whites and blacks. Also, note that the black church is very run down and in dire need of new supplies. “It was an ancient

However, when prejudice stops communities showing kindness to one another, that’s when hierarchy becomes discrimination. As with any small town, hierarchy is inevitable. In Maycomb, the list contains the white, then black population, and finally, mixed folks. First, higher up families such as the Finches, then Mrs. Dubose, who is lower down because of her scathing manners, then the Cunningham’s, who are polite, but poor, after, the Ewells who are filthy and poor. For the black community, Calpurnia, who is polite and respectable. After Lula, who is rude and poor. And finally, the mixed folks. They’re at the bottom because they don’t fit with whites or blacks. The irony of the Ewells situation is Maycomb’s disregard for them. Even though they’re white, they’re still trash. The townsfolk are ready to insult the black community, but they can’t even accept others who are white. In the eyes of Maycomb: “All the little man on the witness stand had that made him any better than his nearest neighbors was, that if scrubbed with lye soap in very hot water, his skin was white.” – Scout referring to Bob Ewell (p186). It’s not only the Ewells that Maycomb back-hands. Throughout TKAMB, Atticus and his family suffer taunts from their fellows. “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” – Mrs. Dubose (p111) and “I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town.” – Mrs. Merriweather (p253).