Examples Of Reality In To Kill A Mockingbird

One of the most prominent themes in To Kill a Mockingbird is facing reality. As Scout gets older and the novel progresses, there are many instances in which Scout and Jem are seen facing reality, or opening their eyes up to see the world differently. One clear instance in which the kids face reality occurs when Jem learns about the trial ruling, which he finds unfair. Even though it was clear to most that Tom Robinson was innocent, the jury found him guilty because of his race. Lee writes, “His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. “It ain’t right,’ he muttered” (Lee 284). Even though Jem knows why Atticus lost the trial, he finds the ruling unfair. Because of the way Atticus has raised the kids, Jem quickly becomes aggravated and upset abou. t the outcome. He’s forced to

Another instance in which the kids face reality is when they go to church with Calpurnia. She is the Finch’s housekeeper, but is also one of Jem and Scout’s main female influences, seeing as they’ve both grown up without a mother. Since Calpurnia is black, she goes to an all black church, and other people of the church aren’t happy that she brought two white kids there. Calpurnia’s friend Lula states, “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their church and we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?” (Lee 158). Because of all the racial segregation going on in Maycomb at the time, it was rare for white and black people to be anywhere together. Calpurnia bringing white kids to a black church was something unheard of. Because Scout and Jem are two white kids who are very young, they’ve only seen the segregation in the town from one point of view. When they were brought into a black church, it was one of the first times that they were the “odd ones out.” In this, they faced reality by realizing how special their church was to them, seeing as that was one of the few things that they could call