How is the theme of prejudice explored in Harper Lee's 'To kill a mockingbird?'

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How is the theme of prejudice explored in Harper Lee's 'To kill a mockingbird?'

Prejudice is the most prominent theme in 'To kill a mockingbrid', and it occurs in many different forms throughout the novel. In this essay, I am going to disscuss how the theme of prejudice is explored in the novel, what forms this prejudice takes, and how the prejudice is related through the eyes of Scout.

 When reading 'To kill a mockingbord' it is important to realize that, although the story is fictional, the vicious racial prejudice in the novel is inspired by actual events that occured in the southern states of America, during the 1930's. In fact, the trial of Tom Robinson was based on the 'Scottsboro trials' of 1931, where nine black males were charged with raping two white girls. Much like the fictional trial of Tom Robinson, hordes of white villagers gathered to watch the fate of the boys, who, all except one, were given death sentences by the all white jury. All the boys eventually escaped state execution, but the event was typical of its time.

 This discrimination stems from the American civil war of 1861, which itself was brought about by the more civilised Northern states objection to the Southern states use of black people as slaves. This difference of  opinion resulted in the Southern states attempting to leave the union of United States. This caused the civil war, in which, the Northern states(the union) defeated the Southern states(the confederacy) and slavery was abolished.

 However, this did not stop the Southern states viewing black people as 'second class citizens', and the Southern black population was continually persecuted. This was done by enacting laws favouring white people, denying blacks the right to vote, and even lynching them. The great economic depression of the 1930's didn't help matters, as poor whites, like  Bob Ewell in the novel, feared the extra competition for work that black men were likely to give. The whites also feared the blacks desired all the whites had, including their women.

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 This is the setting for Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and, although racial prejudice plays a big part in the novel, it is not the only kind of prejudice that people experience in the novel. The first half of the novel is mainly dedicated to the story of Arthur 'Boo' Radley, a recluse, who hasn't left his house since his father promised a judge, who was prosecuting a young Boo, that he would make sure Boo didn't get into any more trouble. This deviation from what Maycomb society considers 'normal', causes Boo to achieve mythical status among the locals. ...

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