The main theme of the book is that fairness and justice are two virtues that are extremely hard to find. The central question, “How can a virtuous person continue to believe in these morals and not get discouraged?” is portrayed by the central characters Atticus and Scout. The deeply ingrained prejudice, that people of color cannot hope to live up to those who are “high class and white ” is explored and exposed. Sexism and class warfare are other conflicts within the story line. People in Maycomb are discriminated against because of the color of their skin, their social class and their gender.
Atticus, the protagonist lawyer, represents morality and reason. He characterized Mayella as someone who was, “...white, and tempted a Negro.
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Jem said that “there’s four kinds of folks in the world. The ordinary kind like us and the neighbors… the Cunninghams… the Ewells… and the negroes.” This statement exemplifies the social stratification in the small town of Maycomb. Even very young children are able to distinguish and differentiate between classes. The book depicts “the negroes” as the very worst of the classes, and people like the Cunninghams, as among the highest class, the “whites.” The “Cunninghams” associated with other “Cunningham 's,” the “negroes” associated only with other “negroes.” Maycomb was a segregated town, where most people interacted with others who were exactly like themselves. This story shows how people are segregated by their social class. Gender discrimination was another theme explored in the book. Males were supposed to be the ones who work all day and then take care of the “manly” tasks. The story touched on deeply ingrained male-based gender expectations. Dill’s parents told him “[He’s] not a boy. Boys get out and play baseball with other boys, they don’t hang around the house worrying their …show more content…
By criticizing her “girliness” he was essentially telling her she was incapable of participating, and Scout was even more fired up to prove the boys wrong. Scout attempted to break this mold by “fitting in” right along the boys, and having fun. The story line elucidates how women were treated as second class citizens, during this period of time.
In conclusion, the book depicts race and ethnicity as enormous issues that impact our society. The story is filled to the brim with examples of discrimination based on class, race, and gender. The Maycomb community is an invidious environment, unpleasant and unfairly discriminating against colored people. Maycomb is a representation of larger societal issues, where xenophobic people, unable to stand up against social norm, lead us to an ineffable dystopian world; where every person of color is atrocious, every woman is weak, and people who are of lower class are objects to be used and