On the night of the trial people from all over Maycombe were arriving. Mayella is questioned and has no difficulty answering. Then Mr Gilmer questions Tom and asks him why he does odd jobs for Mayella without money Tom answers by saying Mr Ewell and the children are of no use to Mayella and that he felt sorry for her. Mr Gilmer then replies by saying “you felt sorry for her? You felt sorry for her?” (Chapter 19 page 218). Atticus appeals to the jury by saying “this case is as simple as black and white” (chapter 20 page 224). Several hours later the jury present Tom Robinson as Guilty. Not because he was guilty of raping Mayella Ewell but because he felt sorry for a white women.
There are many other instances in To Kill a Mockingbird where racism is clearly shown. Such as when Aunt Alexandra makes her first appearance and says to Calpurnia “ put my bags in the front bedroom Cal” (page127). This shows the lack of respect and feeling that Aunt Alexandra has for Cal just because of the colour of her skin. The people in the small town of Maycombe are so unaware of their words that racism and racial insult has become a ‘normal’ everyday thing. Sexism is also shown throughout the novel like when Jem asks Atticus why people like Miss Maudie don’t ever sit on Juries and Atticus replies “well there are many reasons for this such as she cant sit on jury because she’s a women” (page221)
The second character that has prejudice in the novel and is also the mockingbird is Boo (Arthur) Radley. Boo Radley is a mysterious character who’s childhood has led him to a lifetimes punishment. As well as Maycombe’s community he was mocked by Scout, Jem and also Dill. His character gradually comes out. He leaves gifts for the children and he also wrapped a blanket around Scout during the fire. He is a lonely kind figure who is watching over Scout and Jem’s lives. A lot of stories had been made up about him to demonise him, which made him unfairly treated, and he is misunderstood and abused. Both Boo and Tom get locked up like birds in a cage but both get out Tom to die and Boo to be given a second chance. Boo suffers years of neglect and isolation then does something nice to be given a second chance. When Jem was nearly 13 he had his arm badly broken. Once it had healed it never bothered him again. It all happened one summer when Jem and Scout tried to get Boo to come out of his house.
Most of the neighbourhood believed the Radley house was haunted. The only person ever seen going into the house was Nathan Radley Boo’s older brother. After the summer holiday’s school started as normal. There was a Halloween play at the school. Scout was playing the role of a walking talking piece of ham. After the place Scout waited until everyone had left with Jem then they both started for home. It was dark and Scout could not see much because of her costume but she could hear some was following them. They both started running and suddenly some grabbed Scout and she fell. Scout got up and they both started to run home. This time Scout heard Jem fall backwards to the ground. A sound came and Jem screamed. As Scout ran towards Jem she was grabbed and her breath was slowly squeezed out of her. Suddenly the attacker went back and fell. Scout heard someone’s heavy breathing and coughing. This someone picked Jem up and took him home. They found out that it was Boo Radley who took Jem home. This is what made Boo become noticed and forgiven.
Although most reader’s thing To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about racial prejudice, you will notice that the mockingbird theme does not only apply to victims of this form of discrimination. Boo Radley is another harmless creature who becomes a victim of cruelty.
A character in this novel who does not develop prejudice is Atticus Finch Atticus is a man who fought for what he believed in. he stood up for what he thought was right not for what the rest of the town thought. Atticus was brave for defending Tom Robinson in court, as he knew a lot of people would be mad at him and try to hurt him as he was defending a black man. I think Atticus knew that Tom had very little chance of winning the case but he tried his best to prove that Tom was innocent. Atticus is not scared in admitting that he is not a racist. Atticus believed that everyone was equal and he believed that all races should be treated the same no matter who they were or what they looked like. I also think what Miss Maudie said was correct, “ were making a step its just baby step but it’s a step” (page 216). What she meant was that the town will not accept blacks overnight but slowly they will start to understand that being black does not make you a bad person. In conclusion Atticus finch was a good man who loved his family and did what he thought was right. He did not agree with the rest of the town when he knew what the others were saying was wrong as he believed in equality. He was a man with courage what fought for a black man who was convicted for rape which most of the town disliked him for.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen is the second book I have studied. This novel contains little description to background detail but Jane Austen presents it with a fully imaginable world. This story is like a love story about judging people from first impressions. Pride and Prejudice opens with one of the most famous sentences in English literature: “IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESION OF A GOOD FORTUNE MUST BE IN WANT OF A WIFE”. Jane Austen wrote this novel at the age of 22. she rewrote it many times and finally published it in 1813 when she was 36. Jane Austen suggests, “To find true love you have to overcome prejudice”.
In the novel Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth and Jane both achieve lasting happiness with their partners Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. After a series of misunderstandings and misjudgements Elizabeth’s relationship with Mr Darcy forms a bulk of the novel and also Jane’s relationship with Mr Bingley adds variety and interest to the novel. Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship is filled with trials and trouble, misjudgements and prejudice eventually ending in marriage. They first met at the Meryton assembly. They both receive unfavourable first impressions. Elizabeth thinks Darcy as a proud cold man whilst Darcy thinks of Elizabeth “tolerable not handsome enough to tempt me” and this “remains with no very friendly feeling towards him”. Her judging of his character is most normal and understandable.
Darcy is to be blamed for his lack of common sense and pride, which leads him to criticize Elizabeth most unfairly at first. As the novel goes on Darcy shows enough flexibility and good sense to change his opinion about Elizabeth. After several meeting with Elizabeth Darcy’s first impression is completely changes and he sees in Elizabeth a good friend. It is his careful judgement, which tempers him such that he is able to recognize in Elizabeth a worthy wife and a friend despite her social standing. Unfortunately Elizabeth displays little of her careful judgement with regard to Darcy. When Elizabeth meets Wickham she is immediately won over by his charm and good looks. Later Elizabeth’s dislike for Darcy is overturned and after Lydia’s engagement they reveal their affection for each other and are joined in a joyful union.
Jane’s common sense is revealed. Jane has completely hidden her affection for Bingley beneath her careful judgment and distance but is crushes and thinks marriage is impossible. It is only after Elizabeth has revealed to Darcy her sisters feelings that Jane realises her own fault in his leaving her. “He loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent would have prevented him coming down again”. Jane’s excess of common sense and caution would have ruined her lasting happiness if Elizabeth had not revealed her affection.
In Jane and Bingley’s relationship Jane Austen provides a counter point to Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship by showing that an excess amount of careful judgment and caution can so much affection such that with so little encouragement offered prospects of lasting happiness can be endangered and lost. Through their two contrasting relationships, Jane Austen has drawn the fine line between too much of careful judgement because prejudice approaches.