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Racial Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

651 Words3 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age novel as one sees how Scout and Jem Finch are slowly growing up and understanding situations that were once not so clear to them as children. At the beginning of the novel, both children are completely oblivious and naïve towards the negative side of Maycomb which highlights the powerful and dominant effects of racial prejudice in their community. The children are unable to identify human’s personality traits to a great extent, but rather characterize them as being either good or evil. Both Jem and Scout are influenced easily by the people surrounding them. Boo Radley, a ‘malevolent phantom’ sparks significant curiosity within Scout and Jem; igniting an urge for them to witness Boo Radley leave his …show more content…

Upon attending school for the first time; Scout gets reprimanded by her teacher for ‘[rising] graciously on Walter’s behalf’, in trying to inform Miss Caroline about Walter Cunningham’s living conditions. Scout was immensely surprised and struggled to comprehend her teacher’s motivation for her scolding, evident when Scout blames Walter for the anguish she was exposed to. Thus, ‘catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave [her] some pleasure]’ as she has not yet developed empathy. This portrays Scout’s immaturity as she uses violence as a coping mechanism. Atticus tries to put things in perspective for Scout by informing her that ‘[she] [can] never really understand a person until [she] consider[s] things from [their] point of view’, highlighting Atticus’s intention of broadening Scout’s …show more content…

Scout is expected to conform to extreme societal pressures regarding gender roles, demonstrated at the Missionary Brunch, whereby she is criticized. Although the ladies of Maycomb ridicule Scout for wearing her ‘britches’ ‘under [her] dress’, Scout remained diligent, especially, when she ‘picked up the tray and watched [herself] walk’. This shows that she is finally aware of acting like a lady. At the end of the novel, Scout is walking Boo home and treats him like a gentleman as ‘[she] slip[s] [her] hand into the crook of his arm’. This reinforces Scout’s transformation into becoming a lady, and highlights her development of empathy, as she does not want to look superior to Boo. As Scout is standing on Boo’s porch, she begins to perceive life from Boo’s perspective, highlighting Atticus’s constant efforts in encouraging her to open her eyes and expand her narrow-minded view, as seen throughout the

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People are capable of forming their impression of someone within ten seconds of meeting them. This can begin to form prejudice; an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Another factor that can influence a person’s opinion towards another is the views of their society. Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (22). This quote how unfair and unjust prejudice is without solid facts to base your opinion on.

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