‘Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the court
house lawing niggers’
and
‘Your fathers no better than
the niggers and trash he works for.’
The first quote shows how rude and abusive the white people were towards the black people just because of their skin colour. Similarly the second quote suggests that the white people didn’t just like people who were black but hated those who were associated with the black community. Jem heard about this and cut off the tops of every camellia bush in Mrs Dubose’s garden. However Atticus reacted very maturely and told Jem to apologise to Mrs Dubose. This shows the experience and patients Atticus has even when people make nasty comments about him. The way Atticus keeps his nerves at all times represents him as a hope for equality especially the way he thinks of the coloured folks compared to what other white folks think. Atticus is an excellent role model of a good citizen because he is not racist especially at a time when the white people are superior and have the power to discriminate. The story is set when slavery had just been abolished however the black people were still treated as the lowest class so the white people still had the power to make whatever rules they wanted to, this is proved because back in those days when the story was set, the black people weren’t aloud to vote or get education from high classed schools and so neither were they aloud to make their rights of life in America. Amazingly in this context Atticus is also a magnificent father because he is bringing up his children alone. He makes his children responsible for them selves most of the time unless in a dangerous situation, such as when the dog with rabies was walking on the streets and Atticus showed his expertise by killing the dog with one shot, proving his talent and wisdom. Similarly Atticus passes on this sort of wisdom to his children. This is shown when the white men living in Maycomb come to hurt Atticus because Atticus is defending a black man however Atticus’s children have been so vastly prepared and thought on the harsh realities of the world that when the men come, scout shames them and Atticus says,
‘So it took an eight-year-old child to bring 'em to their senses....
That proves something - that a gang of wild animals can be
stopped, simply because they're still human. Hmp, maybe we
need a police force of children.’
This quote shows that Lee is saying that just because you are different because of your size, skin colour, etc. It doesn’t mean you are superior. This phrase is said by a child therefore it shows how ignorant some adults were, never thinking justly before taking action. Atticus shows himself as a good citizen to the neighbours by respecting them even though people like Miss Dubose hates him and calls him trash. Atticus and Dolphus Raymond clearly think of and respect others fairly due to the fact that they both do of what they think is right and stick to it, rather than just doing what others do. Tom Robinson is a tough customer especially to the white community because he does not step down and goes for the extreme limit. In the court case Tom says he felt sorry for the lady and that is why he helped her,
‘Looks like she didn't have nobody to help her.
I felt right sorry for her.’
This quote shows that Lee is emphasizing that not all of the black people were scared to speak out and everyone should have the freedom to speak. Tom wasn’t supposed to say this because that made the white folks feel insulted because the white people were superior and powerful so it made them feel low. Unfortunately even though Tom is not guilty he is still treated unfairly in the trial because he is black and the whites can’t see them selves fail so they still have to punish him. Secondly all of the jury is made of white people, due to the fact that most people weren’t allowed to have descent education and jobs. Therefore it is very likely Tom will lose the case. Tom represents himself to the black people as hope because if he can win the case then soon many more black people will start to win and the gap of freedom will slowly start to open. Tom also represents to the black people as power because he is at a point where no black person in Maycomb has got this far in a trial and he is showing the hope of more power to the black community. Tom shows the white people of the town that the black people have as much feelings as they do and that the white people are not superior and can be beaten. Firstly, he acts as a scapegoat in the novel because he is allowed to take the blame for something he didn't do by other people and he represents the mockingbird.
Maycomb is a town where education is vital. The more education you have the more power you get and vice versa. Atticus is a typical example in the story, he has great education and therefore the neighbours trust in him for what he does because he has the knowledge and with that knowledge he is getting the money in aswell. On the other hand the Cunningham’s have very low classed jobs. Their children hardly ever go school and so they have much less power because without knowledge they can’t get jobs so they are ranked one of the lowest in Maycomb even above the black people who work very hard. However the Cunningham’s do have manners and don’t behave that badly, which earns them some respect. On the other hand the Ewell’s are in the same position as the Cunningham’s but they are much fouler. They have no manners at all and live in the worst of conditions. The Ewell children are not educated at all and are very dirty. Bob Ewell who is the father spends the money on beer which he gets from the state for child benefits but doesn’t use it on his children. Scout is well educated and therefore is given more than enough power for where she wants to go and what she wants. The black people work hard for their earnings and are hardly seen committing crimes or being impolite but they are still classed as the lowest in Maycomb which suggests they see them as animals. This just shows the hell white people give coloured folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too! So the white people don’t even stop to see whether the black people have lives as well.
During the trial the white and black people come and see the jury in the court house. The black people take the trial very seriously because this also affects them and are there to support Tom Robinson. On the other hand the white people come into the court all dressed up with their babies as if they’ve come into a circus, gossiping because they have not gone to the court to support someone however they have simply gone to have a nice day out. While all of this is going on Scout and Jem are in between the black and white people because firstly they are white and are respected for that and secondly their father is defending a black suspect so the blacks also respect them.
In this novel Harper Lee’s message about this period in history is showing us how vial discrimination towards the black people was in those periods of time even though slavery had been abolished decades ago. I think the most vital message Harper Lee is showing is that even though if a black person was clearly innocent he/she would still be punished either put behind bars or most likely put to a death sentence. Harper Lee shows what an important weapon education was in 1930’s because without it you were doomed. Through the character of Atticus, Harper Lee uses the mockingbird motif throughout the book to symbolize the innocence of various victims of injustice.
