Harper Lee uses the themes of injustice throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. At the beginning of the novel, Harper uses Scout's perspective to make points about the injustices caused by misunderstanding. Scout has a new teacher and is shamed for trying to explain the balance of Maycomb’s society. The emphasis of the narration is focused on Scout’s embarrassment and anger, this is used to subtly show the way in which injustice can be done even by those who mean well if they don’t understand the motives for someone else’s actions. Harper also shows the way in which the majority of injustices can have when Scout attacks Walter Cunningham, accusing him of making her ‘start off on the wrong foot’. This shows the violence that had often ensued between the black and white communities in America at the time due to the frictions created by prejudice. …show more content…
This is shown particularly well after the trial when Scout - upon hearing the way in which a member of the Cunningham family fought for Tom Robinson - decides that she will invite Walter to her house. This idea is quickly crushed by Aunt Alexandra and causes Scout to see the hypocrisy of the social ladder as she sees that the group that someone is put in doesn’t define them. Aunt Alexandra is also used to show the effect of rumours on an individual. This is done through the friends that she brings into the house and therefore into Scout’s world. One of the people who has been affected the most by rumours is Boo Radley. He is used as an example of the way that prejudice of a person can lead you to judge them before you have even had any contact with them. This is prominent when the children describe him as a monster, despite the fact that they have no proof of their