To Kill a Mocking Bird - Prejudice

Another incident shows Scout and Jem, finding presents in the “oaks of the Radley place”. They felt it “was some kids hiding place” but for all they knew, it was Boo – showing us the niceties and unneeded hate against him. Lee has placed this prejudice ‘in a perspective allowing us to see it as an aspect of a larger thing; something that arises from fear and lack of knowledge’.

As you know, another key incident happens when Scout, Jem and Dill sneak up to the Radley place, hoping to see Boo. This is the beginning of them climbing “into his skin and walking around in it”.

After fleeing from the Radley house, as a result of being scared by a shadow “as crisp as toast”, Jem collects his clothes which got caught in the Radley fence, only to find them roughly patched up. Proving to us all that Boo is a mocking bird, a good man injured by the evil of mankind. Boo’s presence is even stronger, in this episode, verifies the false hate against him, further proving the social prejudice.

Consequently, Scout and Jem wonder why Boo remains inside. Scout, however, brought up by her father’s point of view that all people are equal, is not able to understand that “If they (the folks) are all alike why do they have to go out of their way to despise each other”. But Jem realizes that Boo “wants to stay inside”. Demonstrating to us that Lee, through the attitudes of Jem and Scout increases our perspective on prejudice.

A second episode of language shaping the meaning is at the end of the novel. Lee uses a cumulation of images and dramatic contrast, “two soap dolls, a broken watch and a chain … and our lives”, showing the significance of life and death to Jem and Scout. Present participles, “dragging … waiting … enacting”, demonstrating a passage of time, and past participles, “stopped … delighted … puzzled” giving a sense of movement. More so, changing the specific tone to enigmatic style, giving a sense of wonder and mystery. It then, later in the scene, changes from the enigmatic to a personal style, through the simple caring language, “sleeping peacefully. He won’t be awake until morning”, showing us all the strong bonds of the Finch Family. Further proving how language shapes meaning.

The final incident is in the concluding chapters. It occurs when Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout coming home from a school play, but Boo saves them but kills Bob in the process, changing the story to a dramatic tone. However, Boo is not recognized by Scout at the beginning of this incident, assuming him to be “some countrymen” – showing us all, that Scout had been unable to picture Boo as a man. As a result Boo become a hero who Scout and Jem no longer fear, as they “begin to learn his body English”. But most importantly all prejudice from Scout and Jem against Boo stops. Showing us all, that prejudice is something that may disappear with the knowledge that one gains through learning what people are really like when you finally see them.

 In closing, through the use of Boo Radley, Harper Lee increases our perspective of prejudice in Maycomb. The reader gains information about Boo through the language and attitudes of Scout and Jem. However, all prejudice from Scout and Jem against Boo stops – proving to us all, you cannot criticize somebody unless you know them, “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. 

        WORD COUNT: 1130 WORDS