I am 100% against racism to every race. No one benefits from the racism and in the end, we are all same human beings –why are we harming each other? The world has become a better place compared to before, but racism still does exist in this world. Imagine how peaceful will the world be if there was so racism and we all got along together no matter which race we are.
Essay on Maycomb's Racism and Unfair Trial of Tom Robinson
With close reference to the text, write about racism and prejudice in Maycomb showing why it is impossible for Tom Robinson to get a fair trial. In this essay I will prove why, "Tom (Robinson) was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth," and what reasons there were for his unfair trial in the racist and prejudice Maycomb County. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell and although of unconvincing evidence he was still put on death row by the racist jury, as they would have done of any other man with dark coloured skin. The time period of the book revolves around the 1930's, a time of great racism in America and is set in the states of the Deep South where prejudicial rights for the whites received great support.
In Maycomb itself racism was rife, and the case of Tom Robinson proves this. All the characters in, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' are racist at some point except for Atticus. It seems that, although the people believe strongly that they are better than the blacks, they do not show this at any point to people of their own race other than their closest family unless they are supposed to, and example of the time to show this is during Tom's trial, 'I said come here, nigger...' when Mayella Ewell is testifying. Evidence of the characters not showing their racist side to one another can be strongly seen in the ladies of Maycomb, such as Aunt Alexandra, Stephanie Crawford and Mrs. Merriweather.
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, was set in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. It was the 1930's, merely after the Great Depression. There was a lot of segregation and racism of blacks. Many of the families struggled for money. The fortunate people of Maycomb had cars, but most of them still had horses.
The class structure in Maycomb began first with Atticus Finch, then Maudie Atkinson, then The Radleys, then The Cunninghams, then The Ewells, and then the blacks. Above all, Atticus Finch was the most well rounded and respected man in the town. He was a lawyer with two kids and had a positive attitude. His two kids were Jim and Scout Finch. They were both mischievous and adventurous. The most important characters in the novel were Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson was a black man. He was a big man but also hard working and honest. Boo Radley was a lonely man. He was locked away when he got in trouble by the state and was threatened to be sent away. But his father said that Boo would never come out again as long as he didn't get sent away. He didn't hurt anyone but the town seemed to be scared of him.I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This is what Atticus Finch tells his children after they are given air-rifles for Christmas. Uniquely, the title of the classic novel by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, was taken from this passage. At first glance, one may wonder why Harper Lee decided to name her book after what seems to be a rather insignificant excerpt. After careful study, however, one begins to see that this is just another example of symbolism in the novel. Harper Lee uses symbolism rather extensively throughout this story, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism can be seen by studying various examples from the book. This includes the actions of the children, the racist whites, and the actions of Atticus Finch.
The actions of the children in this novel certainly do have their share of symbolism. For instance, the building of a snowman by Jem and Scout one winter is very symbolic. There was not enough snow to make a snowman entirely out of snow, so Jem made a foundation out of dirt, and then covered it with what snow they had. One could interpret this in two different ways. First of all, the creation of the snowman by Jem can be seen as being symbolic of Jem trying to cover up the black man and showing that he is the same as the white man, that all human beings are virtually the same. Approval of these views is shown by Atticus when he tells Jem, "I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on I'll never worry about what'll become of you, son, you'll always have an idea." The fire that night that engulfed Miss Maudie Atkinson's house can be seen as the prejudice of Maycomb County, as the fire melted the snow from the snowman, and left nothing but a clump of mud. The fire depicts the prejudice people of the county saying that blacks and whites are, certainly, not the same. Another way of looking at the symbolism of the snowman would be to say that Jem's combination of mud and snow signifies miscegenation, marriage or sexual relations between persons of different races. The fire at Miss Maudie Atkinson's could, once again, be seen as the prejudice of Maycomb County showing that the mixed child is, in fact, no better than a pure black child, and that the two are, actually, one and the same. Jem and Scout's encounters with Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose are also filled with symbolism. Mrs. Dubose and her insults, which included, "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" not only show us her own views, but they also represent the views of the rest of Maycomb County.In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there was tolerance and intolerance from the people of Maycomb County towards different races. Harper Lee shows us the type of intolerance in the novel. She also shows us signs of hope in the plot and characterization.
There were types of intolerance in the novel that were clearly stated. For an example, there was intolerance between the white and black people. The main quarrel that stands out in my mind is between Mr. Ewell and Tom Robinson's family. Mr. Ewell clearly did not like the black people. This is proven in what he did to Tom. He accused Tom of raping and beating his daughter, Mayella Ewell, when it was actually he. In addition, after they had the trial, Mr. Ewell killed Tom Robinson. He was also hateful towards Tom's wife; threatening her that she had better not walk in front of his house or he would kill her. Another issue of intolerance was towards the Finch family. No one liked them or cared for them in the town because they supported black people. The only people that talked to them were their close neighbors.
In Maycomb itself racism was rife, and the case of Tom Robinson proves this. All the characters in, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' are racist at some point except for Atticus. It seems that, although the people believe strongly that they are better than the blacks, they do not show this at any point to people of their own race other than their closest family unless they are supposed to, and example of the time to show this is during Tom's trial, 'I said come here, nigger...' when Mayella Ewell is testifying. Evidence of the characters not showing their racist side to one another can be strongly seen in the ladies of Maycomb, such as Aunt Alexandra, Stephanie Crawford and Mrs. Merriweather.
The class structure in Maycomb began first with Atticus Finch, then Maudie Atkinson, then The Radleys, then The Cunninghams, then The Ewells, and then the blacks. Above all, Atticus Finch was the most well rounded and respected man in the town. He was a lawyer with two kids and had a positive attitude. His two kids were Jim and Scout Finch. They were both mischievous and adventurous. The most important characters in the novel were Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson was a black man. He was a big man but also hard working and honest. Boo Radley was a lonely man. He was locked away when he got in trouble by the state and was threatened to be sent away. But his father said that Boo would never come out again as long as he didn't get sent away. He didn't hurt anyone but the town seemed to be scared of him.I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This is what Atticus Finch tells his children after they are given air-rifles for Christmas. Uniquely, the title of the classic novel by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, was taken from this passage. At first glance, one may wonder why Harper Lee decided to name her book after what seems to be a rather insignificant excerpt. After careful study, however, one begins to see that this is just another example of symbolism in the novel. Harper Lee uses symbolism rather extensively throughout this story, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism can be seen by studying various examples from the book. This includes the actions of the children, the racist whites, and the actions of Atticus Finch.
The actions of the children in this novel certainly do have their share of symbolism. For instance, the building of a snowman by Jem and Scout one winter is very symbolic. There was not enough snow to make a snowman entirely out of snow, so Jem made a foundation out of dirt, and then covered it with what snow they had. One could interpret this in two different ways. First of all, the creation of the snowman by Jem can be seen as being symbolic of Jem trying to cover up the black man and showing that he is the same as the white man, that all human beings are virtually the same. Approval of these views is shown by Atticus when he tells Jem, "I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on I'll never worry about what'll become of you, son, you'll always have an idea." The fire that night that engulfed Miss Maudie Atkinson's house can be seen as the prejudice of Maycomb County, as the fire melted the snow from the snowman, and left nothing but a clump of mud. The fire depicts the prejudice people of the county saying that blacks and whites are, certainly, not the same. Another way of looking at the symbolism of the snowman would be to say that Jem's combination of mud and snow signifies miscegenation, marriage or sexual relations between persons of different races. The fire at Miss Maudie Atkinson's could, once again, be seen as the prejudice of Maycomb County showing that the mixed child is, in fact, no better than a pure black child, and that the two are, actually, one and the same. Jem and Scout's encounters with Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose are also filled with symbolism. Mrs. Dubose and her insults, which included, "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" not only show us her own views, but they also represent the views of the rest of Maycomb County.In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there was tolerance and intolerance from the people of Maycomb County towards different races. Harper Lee shows us the type of intolerance in the novel. She also shows us signs of hope in the plot and characterization.
There were types of intolerance in the novel that were clearly stated. For an example, there was intolerance between the white and black people. The main quarrel that stands out in my mind is between Mr. Ewell and Tom Robinson's family. Mr. Ewell clearly did not like the black people. This is proven in what he did to Tom. He accused Tom of raping and beating his daughter, Mayella Ewell, when it was actually he. In addition, after they had the trial, Mr. Ewell killed Tom Robinson. He was also hateful towards Tom's wife; threatening her that she had better not walk in front of his house or he would kill her. Another issue of intolerance was towards the Finch family. No one liked them or cared for them in the town because they supported black people. The only people that talked to them were their close neighbors.
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