Misunderstanding. It brings fear and anger to many people when they inherit this horrible disease. It causes them to argue although they are talking about different things. It causes them stress and frustration because they do not want to stop and talk. It causes breakdowns of society in places technological and primitive alike. This common feeling of misunderstanding pervades every corner of human society and every corner of the human brain. Our prejudices and thoughts create misunderstandings, which create discomfort, hate, fear, and bloodshed. We know that we all as a society must purge or lessen the effects of these misunderstandings, but we cannot remove what is natural to our societies and minds. We all communicate using speech and body language and these signals and messages may get confused or misunderstood. It is unavoidable. These attachments to society and effects of misunderstanding allow Harper Lee the opportunity to use this disease as the main theme in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
             Most of the misunderstandings in Maycomb are directed by fear, lies, and prejudice towards Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. In the trial Tom Robinson is accused because of prejudice by Mr. Ewell. "He stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. "--I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella"(Lee 173)! The use of the phrase "black nigger" forces the reader to believe that it is not a simple misunderstanding caused by seeing Tom and Mayella, but that there is racial prejudice involved. Prejudice and hate only worsen the effect of these misunderstandings and To Kill a Mockingbird shows this perfectly.
             Still, Tom Robinson was not the only person who was grossly misunderstood. Boo Radley, a person who no one has seen for years, is usually the speculative imagination of both children and adults. There is great prejudice on what they say he has done and what he is today, as best viewe...