Prejudice in

“How does To Kill a Mockingbird show the different forms of Prejudice that existed in the Southern States of America?”

Prejudice is a problem still faced by people today, it is the victimisation of people who are different to the majority in some way. These people are discriminated against and treated unfairly. In the 1930’s, when this book is set prejudice is extremely evident. These were times of great depression resulting in sweeping changes. Some people starved trying to find work, while others did all they could to just hang on a little longer. Across America, all had tough times. The stress brought on by the depression took its toll on family members in poor households. Throughout the book there are strong references to the many forms of prejudice that were and still are present, such as classism and racism. The book demonstrates how the people at this time were hypocritical when it came to racism. It shows people’s ignorance and ability to pigeonhole others. It illustrates attempts to break prejudicial barriers and the effects of prejudice on the community. Prejudice is directed at various characters during the book, each time new forms and effects are clear.

The first sign of prejudice in the novel is when

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It shows the children being prejudice without realising it and demonstrates how society still affects them. It illustrates the way the next generation are affected by society’s prejudices and that there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the groups targeted, which makes the community fearful and weary of them.

However in Maycomb, the majority of the society feel that when it is a case of a black man’s word against a white man’s, the white man is always right.

“There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time. Pre-ju-dice,’ she enunciated carefully.

The book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ explains the prejudice present in 1930’s Alabama. Mayella Ewell describes how she asked Tom to help her. ’ So women especially had little else to do but gossip, this meant rumours were often spread and people like Boo were subjected to being used as a scapegoat for wrong doings in the town. The narrator Scout is also a vehicle to demonstrate how prejudice affects people over time. ”

This is an example of the racism present at this time in America and how the majority always won.

“Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor might have his reasons for naming him. This also links with racism, the form of prejudice against Negroes. Local Lawyer Atticus Finch decides to defend him. ”

The children treat him with little respect and great fear when they creep up to his house.

Approximate Word count = 1653
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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