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To Kill a Mocking Bird-Racism

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, was set in 1935, a period where prejudice and racism were encountered in everyday life. The small county town called Maycomb was very old and private. The people there were not subjected to anything different to their traditional ways and did not experience things that were beyond the boundaries of their town, and was therefore very narrow-minded. The town was bounded by generations of tradition which provided an essence for prejudice and discrimination. The attitudes, treatment and judgment of people such as Tom Robinson, Calpurnia and other black people clearly reflect the racism that exists within Maycomb County.

Brought into the Finch household to teach and act as a female role model for young Scout, Aunt Alexandra begins by demonstrating to Scout Calpurnia’s inferior position. For Alexandra, Calpurnia will not do as a role model for Scout. From the beginning, Alexandra shows Scout who posses the power and what higher class is,

“Put my bag in the front bedroom, Caplurnia.” (Lee 127)

From the moment Aunt Alexandra is introduced in the novel, one clearly sees that she has no respect for Calpurnia, because she’s black. She never once says ‘please’ or ‘t

. . .

People such as Aunt Alexandra and Mrs. He quickly told them he had heard a ‘nigger’ in his yard. When people heard this noise, they came out and asked what had happened. Later, after Tom Robinson was put in jail after losing this case, he was shot several times when trying to escape the county jail. “Then you ran?”

“I sho’ did, suh”

“Why did you run?”

“I was scared, suh. ”

(Lee 137)

Atticus directly dismisses Alexandra’s wish to get rid of Calpurnia, showing the high value he puts on Calpurnia.

Mayella Ewell stepped over the boundaries of communicating with black people when she kissed Tom Robinson. Even though Tom did no such crime as to raping Mayella, Bob Ewell, along with herself, blamed Tom Robinson for the bruises and scars in which were left on Mayella’s body after her father had beaten her.

Not only is Tom’s left arm useless, but Tom Robinson was one of the most respectful black people in Maycomb.

Approximate Word count = 1178
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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