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Themes of prejudice throughout Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

Prejudice is any preconceived opinion or judgment, favourable or unfavourable, formed without knowledge, thought, reason or evidence. Harper lee's 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' addresses a range of themes and issues faced in a 1930's Southern Alabama fictional town, highlighting various forms of prejudice. Lee conveys prejudice socially through the character of Boo Radley and racially through the character of Tom Robinson. Lee also uses the surrogate mother character of Calpurnia to demonstrate ways in which prejudice is avoided especially through language.

Boo Radley is a mysterious character that Lee uses to demonstrate one of Maycombs ethical problems - gossiping. Many Maycomb citizens easily and naturally immerse themselves into spreading rumours and gossiping. Through this victims of negative prejudice, especially the character of Arthur (Boo) Radley, do not receive fair judgement. Most in Maycomb would write off Boo Radley as an isolated murderer, a ferrel beast or even a "malevolent phantom" (page 9). Miss Stephanie Crawford is seen to be one of Maycombs best gossipers, a 'neighbourhood scold' (page 12), who claims to know all, and share all with Scout and Jem. Not only do the children listen to Miss Stephanie's stories, but they believe and even play games about the wild stories with Dill. Lee has cleverly depicted Boo as a growing and changing written caricature throughout the novel. It is not until the very end of the novel that Scout (the narrator) uncovers and dismisses the outrageous gossip and exaggerated stories surrounding Boo. She also learns how to discern and determine the truth about each misrepresented character not only Boo but also Miss Dubose and Mr Dolphus Raymond, both unfairly judged and prejudiced against. The major problem with gossip, Lee communicates through caricature and symbolism using the Mockingbird, is that people rarely stop to check whether they've got their facts right. They often relegate false, misleading information and gossip that can harm a person's reputation, as unpacked above through the character of Boo.

Lee effectively uses Scout Finch's innocence to raise important ideas of racial prejudice concerning the character of Tom Robinson. The 'black' farm worker who has a crippled hand is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewells daughter, a white girl. “I see that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella” - (Bob Ewell, 190) Lee uses this form of language to clearly demonstrate the level of direct racism that is shown towards not only Tom, but to others in the 'negro' community as well. Judge Taylor asks Bob "to keep your testimony within the confines of Christian English..." (Page 191). This confirms that his language was found to be offensive and appalling by many in the courtroom. Most certainly unacceptable language for the women and children to hear. Lee uses language to represent characters personality and identity within society. While Tom is on the stand, he is treated atrociously by Mr Gilmer, in all Dills innocence he can't help but cry at the pure unjust situation Tom has been coerced into. Scout tries to cheer Dill up by saying "Well Dill, after all he’s just a Negro.” (Page 220). Scout is an innocent character and to hear this from her is a surprise, as she seems to have subtly complied with Maycomb's prejudiced ways. Lee uses the technique of emotive language to gain sympathy from the reader towards Tom, "As he raised his right hand, the useless one slipped off the Bible and hit the clerk's table" (page 209) . Tom is not only prejudiced against for being 'black', but also one of his hands is crippled and "useless". Lee uses the character of Tom Robinson as symbolism for the mockingbird, for one knows that "it is a sin to kill a mockingbird'. Tom does die in the novel and this portrays the sinful nature of Maycomb citizens, for they allowed him, "the mockingbird", to die.

Phil McGraw, best known as Dr Phil once said "we all wear social masks..." Calpurnia's social mask is evident when Scout and Jem notice that Calpurnia speaks differently at church than when she is at the Finch household. They ask her about it when they are walking home. Cal says, "Well in the first place I'm black-," but this isn't a sufficient explanation for Jem who protests that she doesn't have to talk "that way" because she knows better. Cal continues that if she spoke differently from her friends at church "They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses". Scout still didn't understand: "But Cal, you know better." Calpurnia knows she knows better, but she wears her 'black mask' around her "coloured folk" (page 138), because she tries to avoid all forms of prejudice that anyone in her black community could conceive about her. she believes that if she used her education and standard English around coloured folk, it would be considered unladylike, and people less educated than her would be aggravated. Going to church with Calpurnia made Scout aware for the first time that Cal "led a modest double life". Lee uses dialogue to give the audience a glimpse of Calpurnia's character and unprejudiced ways and to compare other 'higher' classes in society's prejudices.

Although published 30 years onwards, Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird has successfully exposed a number of prejudice issues faced in the 1930's. This novel demonstrates what 'deadly' effects prejudice can have on people.