Examples Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Thesis

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses dialogue and thoughts derived from the characters experiences to convey how the physical appearance of a person affects how they are treated because of the social stereotypes made about a certain race and gender lead to the person facing discrimination that puts them at a disadvantage in the society.

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Tom Robinson, a black man, which at that time automatically meant he belonged in the lowest class of the society. This idea also meant that he was seen by others as irrelevant and his only purpose really was to work for others in a higher class. In the book, Bob Ewell, a white man who believes that people from different races should not be treated equally, thought Tom would

The reason why Tom was brought to trial because he was accused for raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. He was falsely accused because Mr. Ewell knew he would have a higher possibility of getting away with his abusive actions towards his daughter. He knew that the system would favor someone in the higher class. This also shows the racism and the disadvantage that Tom was at because he knew that the society at that time, overlooked black men and there were no equal rights that could have defended him in a situation like that. He knew that he would lose his case despite whatever he said was the truth. The author used this to show the sad reality of African-Americans during that time. Tom ran because he knew the moment Mr.Ewell had seen him, many possibilities opened for him to get in trouble or be charged. To show that this discrimination Tom faced was considered normal in the society at that time Harper Lee used the main character, Scout Finch, who was only 8 years old at the time of the trial, to make understand the world of injustices to Scout and the reader. Scout had just started to really be aware of her surroundings and how people can be and with the help of her father Atticus Finch,

There are many times in the book where she was told to act more “lady-like” and to limit her boy-ish actions. “‘You can just take that back, boy!’ This order, was given by me [Scout] to Cecil Jacobs……My fists were clenched and I was ready to let fly,”(99) This kind of threatening “order” behavior would seen as a boy-ish act because at that time in society there certain expectations on how women should act. “Fists were clenched……ready to let fly,” would be considered very unfeminine and impolite, but on the other hand if it was a boy they would not be seen as bad as a girl would be in this situation. There have also been times where Scout was told to do something that would make her more “lady-like”. Her Aunt Alexandra had moved into Finch's house and one of her main reasons was, “it would be best for you[Scout] to have some feminine influence,”(170). Throughout Aunt Alexandra’s stay she keeps pointing out things that Scout does that are not feminine-like, ¨when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants,¨(108). Lee put in the character of Aunt Alexandra to bring some “feminine influence” to Scout but also to show how women are expected to act as if they are smaller, in power and action, then men and that in order to do that they have to dress neatly; should not “be doing things