Essay
In the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, there are many important messages shown throughout the book. However the primary focus was set on racial prejudice that existed in the 1930s-1940’s in the fictional town of Maycomb County.The racism in the novel was very much a reality in 1930s-1940s America. A very good example of the racial prejudice that existed was in the courtroom during Tom Robinson’s trial, an innocent Negro man held against his will for a crime he did not commit.
The courtroom set up was very close minded as people were seated by race, social status and skin colour. The Negroes were situated on the balcony and it was clearly visible that there was not enough room for them to all be seated. Most people were standing and leaning against the rail to witness the trial. The all-white jury were positioned to the left under long windows, where they sat comfortably with sun shining in on them. Just inside the railing that divided the spectators from the court were the witnesses sitting on ‘cowhide-bottomed chairs’. The witness stand was to the right of Judge Taylor. The Ewell’s were placed near the front. ‘
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When Mayella, and Bob Ewell, lie to the jury, they do it to make themselves look good. They went out of their way to make an official case about the scenario. Therefore it put Tom Robinson’s own life on trial for something he did not commit.Bob, got to do The only reason Mayella, and what they did, was because of the racial discrimination during that time. Everything that took place in the courtroom shows the loss of childhood innocence and extreme racial prejudice. The courtroom scenes show how ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is a coming-of-age novel which I believe teaches young children and readers how extreme racism could be in the 1930’s-1940’s, but it also educates them on how racism is still very much real in the world