Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird And Oodegeroo Noon

Powerful concepts surrounding prejudice are addressed by composers through texts to challenge bigotry and promote change. The issues of discrimination and bias are heavily discussed by both Harper Lee, the author of "To Kill A Mockingbird" and Oodegeroo Noonuccal's , the poet of "Son of Mine", throughout their texts. Both composers are elaborating how change can only be achieved when an individual's morality is challenged.

The discriminatory opinions and prejudices of individuals and society can be challenged through the perspectives of the innocent. The innocent have the potential to alter antipathetic perceptions of society as they've not been corrupted by inherent prejudices. This concept is explored in Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird,

This idea is further amplified by Harper Lee in the metaphor "so it took an eight year child to bring them to their senses," which highlights how due to their bigoted opinions, individuals become blind to the truth, choosing instead to act upon their prejudices . Only through the perspectives of the innocent can they be brought to their senses. Colloquial language in "My sister ain't dirty," is utilised by Lee to portray the innocence and naivety of children to the prejudices opinions of society. Scout, who is constantly slandered by an elderly woman over the clothes she wears, just like Tom Robison, is being discriminated against and she is unsure why this is the case. Through this, Lee is portraying the innocent perspectives of children and their naivety to bigotry and it's cause, even when it's targeted towards them. Lee's utilisation of hyperbole in "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it," exemplifies the importance of a morally correct role model

The corrupting nature of prejudice gives it the potential to cause conflict, which when stimulated by its discovery, causes inequities to emerge throughout society. As explored by Lee throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, the discovery of bigotry is the spark that fuels injustice. Lee's utilisation of foreshadow in in the shooting of the mad dog to explore this concept. The scene foreshadows the injustice that Tom Robison faces, as he just like the dog, is shot after trying to escape those with bigoted assumptions of his character. Exhibited by Lee through the utilisation of foreshadow, the prejudiced mindsets of individuals throughout society cause injustices to occur and inequity to prevail. The loss of one's innocence to the corrupting nature of prejudice is portrayed through Harper Lee's utilisation of colloquial language in "it ain't your fault Atticus is a nigger lover" spoken by a character only a few years older than the novel's protagonist, 'Scout', depicts how with maturity, the prejudices of society are discovered and with age an individual mindset is corrupted consequently leading to a loss of innocence. The concept of loss of innocence is further explored by Lee with the utilisation of offensive slang in "Don't say nigger, Scout. It's common," portrays how the influence of prejudice starts corrupting the mindset from