Ignorance In To Kill A Mockingbird

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” In Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote, he expresses how much danger ignorance can cause upon our world. Ignorance can lead to racism or being prejudice causing which can cause damage. Likewise in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, During the Great Depression Scout learns in the county of Maycomb located in Alabama learns that the ignorance of others can lead to prejudice during the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was not guilty, but due to the town’s ignorance they failed to see who was really guilty. In the novel, Harper Lee shows that one’s unchecked ignorance can lead to prejudice that may prevail over justice. Lee uses external conflict

For instance, when Jem and Atticus were on private grounds Atticus tells Jem about mockingbirds by saying ,” I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after the birds. Shoot all the Bluejays you want , if you can hit'em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(Lee 90). Atticus is showing that shooting birds are fine but mockingbirds who do nothing should never be shot because of their innocence. Using symbolism, the mockingbird can represent Tom Robinson and his innocence. Tom Robinson was innocent but they killed him when they called him guilty in his court case. Tom Robinson was killed even though he was innocent because of others prejudice. Another instance is when the Tim Johnson is coming down the road at night to Atticus with people fearing because they thought he would be dangerous. “Tim Johnson was advancing at a snail’s pace, but he was not playing or sniffing at foliage: he seemed dedicated to one course and motivated by an invisible force that was inching him toward us.” This shows that Tim Robinson had a motivation to go to one certain area and was driven by a motivated force. Using symbolism it can be seen as the mob going to confront Atticus at the county jail. They were angry and were driven by an invisible force, prejudice. They were so blinded by prejudice that they couldn’t see that Tom Robinson was innocent. The prejudice could prevail