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Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

950 Words4 Pages

Written in the Southern Gothic style, Harper Lee’s bildungsroman novel To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) draws attention to the themes of injustice, innocence versus prejudice and moral decay. TKAM explores various forms of stereotypical assumptions, flaws within the American judicial system, and the superiority complex embedded in people. These properties contribute to a single outcome—a decadent social system where prejudice dominates. The snowman, the bluejays and Tim Johnson are symbols of prejudice within Maycomb, while the mockingbird serves in the capacity of a metaphor for the vulnerability of innocence.
Through the extensive manipulation of symbolism, Harper Lee highlights how justice and innocence is easily demolished by aggravated prejudice. …show more content…

Initially, the construction and destruction of the snowman symbolises Maycomb’s biases, warning the reader about the perils of prejudice. Scout declares that she “ ain’t ever heard of a n* snowman,” (p.72) suggesting that stereotypical assumptions and prejudice emerges subconsciously, even at an ‘innocent’ n ‘innocent’ age. In comparison, after Scout’s comment, Jem provokes the idea of virtual equality between different ethnicities by hauling white snow over Scout’s black mud snowman foundation. The inner snowman structure remains unchanged regardless of snow coverage, signifying that everyone is equal regardless of their skin colour. Hereafter, Atticus believes that Jem will not become opinionated like the rest of Maycomb, hence he “will never have to worry[about]what’ll become of…[him]” (p.73) anymore. As the plot progresses, the snowman dismantles during Miss Maudie’s housefire, leaving nothing more than muddy residue. Through this event, the readers recognise that a thin layer of snow remains impervious to the temperature of the blazing fire. On one hand, the symbol of the snowman is significant, as Lee encourages her readers to recognise how ‘individualities’ such as ethnic appearances should never contribute to justice. On the other hand, preconceptions – prejudice – are often the culprit of misconception and hinderance of truth. Hence, the snowman highlights the perils of prejudice and vulnerability of

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