How is racial tension and prejudice portrayed in "To Kill A Mocking Bird"
"To Kill A Mocking Bird" was published 1960, just four years after the start of The American Civil Rights Movement. Many people found the book shocking, as it was written by a white woman who was openly opposed to the way black people were treated. The book is primarily about the way we treat those who are different to us, not only in race but in lifestyle, such as Boo Radley and Mr Dolphus Raymond, who are considered outcasts because they choose to live their lives differently. It also discusses why society is so wrong, with references to the American Civil War and the Slave Trade. It implies that society indoctrinates children into being discriminative by pointing out that when people are treated unfairly "only the children weep". The book is very persuasive due to Lee's implications about society. She never directly attacks it but still manages to change the way the reader sees aspects of society and consider his own prejudices.
The major incident involving racism in the book is the trial of Tom Robinson for raping a white woman. He is found guilty even though it is clear from the evidence of the trial that he is innocent. Jem is upset by the open injustice of this, however Atticus is not shocked but in fact pleased that he managed to keep the jury out for so long, as normally it would take them a matter of minutes. The racist view of the community is highlighted as they believe the word of a disrespected, dishonest white man over that of a respectable, honourable black man. In his closing speech, Atticus discusses racist ideas in depth saying that there is "an evil assumption that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings". This portrays racial prejudice as something very wrong. The people of Maycomb all react in the same way to Atticus's passionate defence of Tom Robinson. They call him a "nigger-lover" and try and outcast him from society. When Tom Robinson is shot, they have no sympathy for him or his family. They merely right it off as being "typical of a nigger...not to think of the future and just run blind". At one point they talk about him as if he has a disease, saying that even though he was a Christian and led a respectable life "the nigger always comes out in them eventually"
"To Kill A Mocking Bird" was published 1960, just four years after the start of The American Civil Rights Movement. Many people found the book shocking, as it was written by a white woman who was openly opposed to the way black people were treated. The book is primarily about the way we treat those who are different to us, not only in race but in lifestyle, such as Boo Radley and Mr Dolphus Raymond, who are considered outcasts because they choose to live their lives differently. It also discusses why society is so wrong, with references to the American Civil War and the Slave Trade. It implies that society indoctrinates children into being discriminative by pointing out that when people are treated unfairly "only the children weep". The book is very persuasive due to Lee's implications about society. She never directly attacks it but still manages to change the way the reader sees aspects of society and consider his own prejudices.
The major incident involving racism in the book is the trial of Tom Robinson for raping a white woman. He is found guilty even though it is clear from the evidence of the trial that he is innocent. Jem is upset by the open injustice of this, however Atticus is not shocked but in fact pleased that he managed to keep the jury out for so long, as normally it would take them a matter of minutes. The racist view of the community is highlighted as they believe the word of a disrespected, dishonest white man over that of a respectable, honourable black man. In his closing speech, Atticus discusses racist ideas in depth saying that there is "an evil assumption that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings". This portrays racial prejudice as something very wrong. The people of Maycomb all react in the same way to Atticus's passionate defence of Tom Robinson. They call him a "nigger-lover" and try and outcast him from society. When Tom Robinson is shot, they have no sympathy for him or his family. They merely right it off as being "typical of a nigger...not to think of the future and just run blind". At one point they talk about him as if he has a disease, saying that even though he was a Christian and led a respectable life "the nigger always comes out in them eventually"
