The idea that justice will always be an issue for the individual is further illustrated by the injustice shown towards Boo Radley all throughout the novel by the people of Maycomb. As well as being a symbol of the Mockingbird, Boo is also a source of childhood superstition for the Jem and Scout; a superstition that is fuelled by Maycomb’s “usual disease.” Scout learns however that it doesn’t matter what society has conveyed Boo to be, “you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in the.” She has felt and understood the injustice that has been inflicted on Boo throughout the years as a misunderstood character in Maycomb’s society.
Irony is used also throughout the novel to convey the injustice issue for individuals and society as a whole. Miss Gates, Scout’s teacher is ironically oblivious to the fact that Maycomb treats its African-American residents similar to the Jews in Germany. She is assured that in Maycomb they “don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced.” This statement is ironically contrasted to her reaction of Tom Robinson’s trial, “time somebody taught them a lesson.” This illustrates just how ignorant the people of Maycomb are to their prejudice ways, and how this injustice affects the individuals in their society.
In the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning the idea that justice will always be an issue for individuals and society as a whole, is further explored. Throughout the documentary de Lestade allows his subjects to do all the talking for themselves, occasionally allowing main participants in the case, such as the defense attorney Patrick McGuinness to talk directly to the camera. From early on in the documentary McGuinness comes off as a charismatic, honourable man and lawyer. He tells the audience of his initial reaction to the news story of Brenton Butler, “As I learned more, I became increasingly angry,” conveying to the audience both his view on the incident and the moral values that he holds; making use of his anger and values to defend Brenton Butler to prevent a travesty of justice from taking place. Brenton Butler, a 15 year old who was brought into the criminal justice system for the sole crime of being a black person near the crime scene; the ideal culprit.
De Lestade further conveys the idea of the injustice issue to individuals by offering the film from a straightforward view of the preparations for the trial, and trial itself, in the point of view of the defense. This point of view represents the police and law enforcement on the case as lazy, and more inclined to believe a white witness than a black defendant. The cruelty and incompetent work done by the police and Det. Michael Glover illustrate clearly the type of attitude and prejudice that are thrust upon those that are minorities in the community, “it’s niggers like you that make me mad,” – in this case Brenton Butler, because of the colour of his skin.
In the film I Am Sam, the idea that justice will always be an issue to individuals and society as a whole is further enlightened. Throughout the film the viewers are invited to take Sam’s perspective – to view life through the eyes of an autistic man living alone with his small daughter. Subtle camera shots are used to illustrate the sometimes pitying but mostly prejudicial stares of the community around Sam, as they are opposed to his taking care of his daughter, because of his condition. Through the story Sam struggles to gain the legal right to care for his daughter who has now surpassed him in intelligence, whilst continuingly being a victim of social injustice and discrimination in the community because of his illness.
The attitudes of the court officials as well as Sam’s own lawyer continue to portray the issue of justice to the individual, and the harsh assumptions of the community on Sam because of his illness, “you think what they think...you think Sam can’t take care of Lucy!” The bitter music in the film as Sam goes through the process of his court hearings further illustrate the bitter, non-caring stance that the court holds against this man because of his illness, and their firm belief that because he is mentally ill he hasn’t got the capacity to nurture and take care of his own daughter. This attitude of discrimination inflicted on certain individuals is closely linked to that in To Kill a Mockingbird and the assumptions made about Boo Radley by society.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the related texts Murder on a Sunday Morning and I am Sam, each composer has used their unique styles of writing and filming to confirm the statement that justice will always be an issue for individuals and society as a whole. Illustrated through issues of racial prejudice and discrimination of the mentally ill all composers have made it clear that justice has always been an issue in society and for certain individuals, and will continue to be unless changed.