Scout doesn’t know what he means but beats him up anyway.
Chapter 16 - Dill’s feeling of illness during Tom’s cross examination shows his extreme sensitivity as a young child to the ugliness of society’s prejudices and evils.
Mr. Raymond explains that when he gets older, he won’t cry “not when he gets a few years on him. Cry about the hell white people give coloured folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too.” Pg 201
Later after Tom’s conviction Atticus says to Jem,
“ I don’t know (how they could convict Tom) but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do ---- seems that only children weep……” pg 225
Chapter 26 – When the Finch children return to school after the trial their classmates treat them coldly as if they had been instructed by their parents. This shows that when children grow up in a racist household, they act with racist attitudes just as Scout and Jem grew up in a fair household.
To Kill a Mockingbird is Atticus’s struggle for justice in a small racist community.
The trial is about more than simply setting a man free – Atticus does not expect to win.
But when Scout asks him why he’s going to even try, he says,
“ Simply because we were licked a hundred tears before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” Pg 76
He suggests that the trial will cause a stir in the town that will have major repercussions.
3. Racism and prejudice are irrational.
Chatr 16 – Mixed children discussion outside the courtroom demonstrates the irrationality of prejudice. A mixed child could look completely white or completely black, but would still be considered black either way. Jem also points out that the human race probable originated in Africa or the Middle East and a drop of black blood makes a person black. Therefore racism is shown to be even more senseless and arbritrary.
When Scout asks what a mixed child is, Jem explains and tells her “they’re real sad” because “they don’t belong anywhere. Coloured folks won’t have them because they’re half white, white folks won’t have em ‘cause they’re half-coloured so they’re just in-betweens.” Pg 161
Racism has more to do with maintaining the social order as Mrs. Dubose says to Jem,
“…..what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? …. Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” pg 102
Aunt Alexandra plays the greatest role in reinforcing the Finch family social status. She refuses to associate with black and white citizens alike if they do not fill the same social position. Atticus , on the other hand urges his children to sympathize with others.
He tells them that they cannot judge people until they “climb into their skin and walk around in it.” Pg 30
The experience of being temporarily restricted from Cal’s church forces the Finch children to momentarily experience the same kind of racial discrimination that is a terrible daily reality for the black community.
2 All men are created equal
Prejudice of every sort runs rampant throughout the town: prejudice against gender, against social class.
During his final summation to the jury, Atticus quotes Thomas Jefferson that all men are created equal, that although there are socio-economic differences, differences in intelligence, talents etc’ their should be no difference in the court of law.
When the Finch children visit Cal ‘s church, despite some differences between black and white congregations, Scout notes that most aspects of the service are very similar including the sermon itself. This demonstrates that the two groups share much in common where issues of faith are concerned. Like the courtroom , the church is a space in which all people can be treated on equal terms.
In contrast , Scout’s teacher Miss Gates speaks sympathetically about the persecution of the Jews in Germany but she doesn’t see that the Blacks are suffering the same kind of persecution in their own backyard.. The democracy she speaks of is not an all inclusive one that offers the same rights to all. Chapter 26
But Atticus in his closing argument admits that he is not an idealist about the court system.
“ A court is only as sound as its jury and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.” Pg 205
The reality of the trial was that despite the obvious undeniable facts of the case the all white jury found in favour of the Ewells and sentenced a black man to death. The jury’s decision proved one sad undeniable fact : when a black man’s word went against a white man’s word ,the white man, regardless of his background or his character would be victorious In spite of the jury’s knowledge of Tom Robinson’s character they could not allow Mayella’s accusation to go unanswered. To do so would have made the two races equal, an idea which was unconscionable at that time.”
3.Every new Generation gets Closer to the ideal – Equality
Atticus acts as a metaphor for hope.
After Tom’s conviction, Atticus is negative but after a good nights rest his natural optimism is restored when he explains that there is a good possibility for the case to be appealed in a higher court.
Every character in the book is human with human faws and weaknesses.
Perhaps Atticus’ fatal flaw is that he is overly optimistic or unrealistically hopeful at times. His prediction that the Ku Klux Klan will never return has been proved untrue. He also doesn’t believe there will be a lynching Sunday night but luckily he shows up at the jail anyway.
Just a Atticus fathers Jem and Scout in good moral virtues, he seems to be trying to teach a lesson and infuse the townspeople with more virtuous ideas.
Atticus wants the children to see that though many of the townspeople are ignorant and racist, they also have personal strengths that keep them from being all bad and give them hope for becoming better.
For example, Atticus speaks to Jem about real courage after Mrs Dubose’s death.
“It’s when you ……………” pg 112
Lulu’s defensive attitude toward allowing the Finch children into the Black church shows that though the black community is by and large welcoming, there are always people, black or white, who are less generous or who will practise unfair kinds of behavior . This relates to Atticus’ courtroom speech that there are honest and dishonest people everywhere.
“ You know the truth, the truth is this: some Negroes lie., some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men cannot be trusted around women black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men” pg 217
Chptr 22
Miss Maudie points out that there were a network of people working on Tom behalf including Mr Tate the sherriff. the black community, Mr Taylor the judge.
Even though Atticus didn’t win he did manage to keep the jury out in discussion for longer than any one else could
“We’re making a step --- it’s just a baby step, but it’s a step”
