ipl-logo

To Kill A Mockingbird Impact On Society

689 Words3 Pages

The Impact of Racism on Society and Children Are young children actually aware of the racial inequalities present in society? The novel To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of how the children Jem and Scout Finch learn the harsh reality of racism. In the novel, in which Jem and Scout witness the trial of Tom Robinson who was wrongly accused of rape due to his race, Harper Lee uses a plot event and symbolism to help develop the theme that prejudice significantly harms society. The use of a plot event in To Kill a Mockingbird shows Scout and Jem learning about the impact of prejudice. The trial of Tom Robinson helps Scout better see how prejudice directly harms certain individuals. Toward the end of the trial, Scout realizes what is going …show more content…

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird represents innocence. After the trial, Scout shows her understanding of prejudice has evolved due to the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial. When talking to Atticus, she states “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (317). This realization from Scout shows how much she has learned. The symbolism of the mockingbird helps the reader understand how aware of prejudice Scout has become. She has learned through the trial and other events after the trial what it truly means to “shoot a mockingbird”. She now fully comprehends the impacts of hurting innocent people. Jem also shows maturity through the symbol of the mockingbird. Jem takes the trial to heart and does not want to wrongfully hurt innocent people anymore. After the trial, Jem sees a bug a refuses to kill it because of its innocence: “‘Why couldn’t I mash him?’ [Scout] asked. ‘Because they don’t bother you’ Jem answered in the darkness” (273). This scene shows how Jem has learned from the trial. Similar to Tom, the bug also symbolizes the mockingbird. Jem now realizes the wrongs of prejudging people and even bugs. Jem no longer wants innocent people and things to be mistreated due to a common belief. The symbolism of the mockingbird helps show how Scout and Jem have matured and learned from the trial about how much prejudice can negatively affect the lives of

Open Document