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Analysis of racism in to kill a mockingbird
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6/24, Chapter One: As the book begins, the readers are introduced to Scout, and her knowledge of Maycomb. I noticed how Scout’s narration sounded; she is telling the story as an adult but from a five year old’s point of view during the book, but her narrative included complex words such as “imprudent” (5) and “domiciled” (10), which is unlike what a child would say. Harper Lee uses the unique narration so that Scout would be able to provide background and context to Maycomb, but also so that readers would be able to see how Scout reacted and felt about the events in the book, and how it impacted her life growing up. Scout also used description and imagery as she told the story, which I found intriguing, since children don’t usually care for description and see things simplistically.
In court, they said “ Now don’t you be so confident, Mr.Jem, I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man…”. This quote is saying because she is a white person that means that she will always win in court or get her way over a colored person. The people in the court say “that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes, men are not to be trusted…”. The quote is said, because that African Americans are liars that no one should trust or believe anything they say or do. Mayella most power is race because she is a white person and white people are the better people during this time.
In the story, Mayella is outclassed in almost every category except race. Her race is what saved her and killed Tom.
One would say she is not powerful because she is enclosed from the world, beaten by her father, and not very respected. For example, as Atticus asked Mayella to see if her father is good and tolerable to her, but she says “He does tollable, ‘cept when-”, ‘Except when he’s drinking?’ asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded. ”(Lee, Chapter 18) This would prove that Mayella has less power than usual when her father is drunk because, his gender as a male has the power over her and gets violent when drunk.
“Now don’t you be so confident, Mr. Jem, I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in four or a colored man over a white man”.(Doc. C). Dolphus Raymond said that a jury hasn’t favored a color man in his life. Being white give you power like Mayella because people that are white will favour
The theme of this novel is "Not everything is the way you predict it is". I believe this thematic statement suits the story because throughout the book there are lots of surprises, and most situations don't go the way people predict they will. For example, Aunt Alexandra was first seen as mean, according to her attitude towards Scout. At the end of the book Aunt Alexandra hands Scout her overalls, as mentioned in the story, "the garments she most despised." Because she always wanted Scout to be a lady and wear dresses.
When asked how Atticus was mocking her, she responds “Long’s he keeps callin’ me ma’am an sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I ain’t called upon to take it.” (p. 184) this shows that she hasn’t grown up with much respect around and
Truly i think Mayella does lack power because of class, after reading Doc A, i have a quote that might help you understand why she lacks power. “Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind a garbage dump in what was one a black cabin it’s windows were nearly open spaces in the walls… what could
Mayella was was just a poor girl who had never been to school a day in her life and suffered so much abuse from her father, she didn’t give herself the opportunity to be powerful. In a time of oppression and depression Mayella standing up would have been a monumental change but she never seized it and took advantage, she let everyone else take advantage of
A black man named Tom Robinson also lives in Maycomb and was accused of raping Mayella. While some may think that because of Mayella's race she can outdo her lack of power in social class and gender with the fact that she is white, but during the novel people's actions and reactions contradict that. Mayella did not have power with social class because she is from a poor family who is looked down upon by
Using her race, gender, and class to her advantage, even though these might appear as weaknesses at first glance. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, the character Mayella was not a good character, but she was a great one. Even though it was a terrible situation, Mayella still took the opportunity to make the best out of it. Eventually, Mayella obtains what she wants, even at the cost of Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell, making Mayella a stone cold character who will do anything as long as her desires are what come first and
But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet.” Mayella’s loneliness and powerlessness drove her to have an affair with a black man, breaking a societal code. She is a victim of poverty because of the hatred and discrimination occurring in Maycomb. Although some might view Mayella Ewell as a victim, others might view her as a villain because she broke a societal code by attempting to have an affair with a Negro.
What does Power really mean overall? Do we really even know what it means to have power or do we think of power as what we want it to be? This book is about many things, growing up in the south, and being around prejudice people, also a white woman Mayella Ewell claiming to be raped by a black man Tom Robinson. How would where and how you live, or her being a female, also her race effect her power in Maycomb, Alabama. Although Mayella class and gender do not make her powerful how does her race make her powerful.
Change means to make or become different from a previous state. As an individual grows up, they go through many changes, especially in behavior, character, decisions, friends and body that can be internal or external. It pushes us out of our comfort zone and lets us experience and explore our world. Change is inevitable and many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee display their change through their actions and choices. Jean Louise Finch, known as Scout goes through a significant change in her character and behaviour throughout the novel.
First, she had to make up a story about Tom Robinson because she had kissed a black man, which was frowned upon for a white woman to do. “She was white and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society in unspeakable: she kissed a black man”(272). Mayella is also used as an example when she convinces the jury to convict an innocent black man because of Southern Womanhood. “That n***** took advantage of me, an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanna do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you”(251).
