To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes Analysis

Responses to Racism Many stories or novels have a conflict inside pages of the book; it’s necessary part of a book’s story to give the characters something to voice their opinion and their personality on. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee also has conflicts. The main conflict is between the children and society's norms on racism, especially toward Tom Robinson, a african- american who is suspected of the rape of Mayella Ewell. Dill opposes against the town’s racism openly while in Tom’s trial. Dill, unlike the people of Maycomb in the courthouse, realizes the cruelty and unfair treatment toward Tom Robinson. Dill says “I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.” (Pg 226). Dill in this quote says how he hates the way people treat Tom. Dill sees Tom as another human being instead of a unequal black man, like society in Maycomb, sees him. The beginning of the quote is also very

Jem also opposes the town’s racism. He instead sees the incorrectness of the town in a logical standpoint. During the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus brings up solid evidence that the attack was not from Tom, but her father Bob Ewell. Jem believes that there is no way that Tom would be declared guilty, he still believes that the town is not racist and thinks that the jury people will think logically about the case. “I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them.” (Pg 282). Jem in this quote has heard the guilty verdict of Tom Robinson and can’t believe what he has heard. Jem can not understand why Tom is guilty, he taken aback by the realization of the town’s racism. This jerking of the balcony rail can be also be symbolism of Jem’s innocence being ripped from