Are the black characters portrayed as passive victims, who need rescuing by the heroic whites?

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Are the black characters portrayed as passive victims, who need rescuing by the heroic whites?

Harpers Lee’s portrayal of the black community throughout To Kill a Mockingbird is widely diverse and they can be either be depicted as passive victims or heroic characters in the novel.

The ways that the black community can be seen as passive victims is by the way the white community of Maycomb always oppresses them. This can be seen clearly by the fact that the black community live in their own little settlement on the outskirts of the town. Also they live next to the town dump so they can be seen as dirty and uncivilized. In addition to this, is that the white community socially and institutionally shuns them so they are seen as weak and powerless. The black characters themselves know the consequences of challenging the status quo. For example in the courtroom, Tom says, ‘If you were a nigger like me, you’d be scared,’ which shows that they are passive and unwilling to stand up for themselves. It seems that the only people who are willing to stand up for them are some members of the white community such as Atticus Finch, Link Deas and Heck Tate who at the risk of their own reputation, are willing to stand up for the black community. So in contrast to these people the black community can be portrayed as feeble and defenceless. On the other hand their passive way of living can be seen in a different light.

The black community’s lack of response to their persecution can also be portrayed as being heroic and valiant. As Milton wrote, ‘….the better fortitude is/ Of Patience and heroic martyrdom/ Unsung.’ This means that it is better to patiently bear your trials, than to grab attention and get all the glory. This, maybe, is how Harper Lee also wanted to portray the back community. The way Tom presented himself, in the courtroom; with dignity and superb manners, can be seen as being heroic, because he is able to control his actions even when being blamed by something he didn’t do. Reverend Sykes and the rest of the black community show respect towards Atticus, not because he’s white but because it is due. In the courtroom Reverend Sykes says,‘ Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin,’ shows them as being laudable, which is stark contrast compared to the white community, who treat Atticus with lack of respect and disregard. So even though the black community are victims of society, their behaviours in the face of adversity is somewhat heroic.

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As a whole the black community of Maycomb are able to win over the reader’s sympathy and admiration because Harper Lee is able to maintain their dignity and respect throughout the course of the novel. On the discussion about the Mrunas at the missionary tea party, Miss Merriweather says, ‘they had little sense of family that whole the tribe was one big family,’ which is seen as bad thing due to western Christian morality. However, Lee is being ironic. Surely it is a good thing that a community should look after each other, regardless of how they are related ...

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