Prejudice (Linda & Cassandra)

[MsElliott]

Prejudice (Linda & Cassandra)

[lindadate]

To Kill a Mockingbird raises important questions about prejudice and the impacts of it throughout the community of Maycomb. Discuss.

> Race
- The white people are seen as superior. "When it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins."
- Atticus is looked down upon for supporting a black man, Tom Robinson. When Scout asks Atticus if he is a "nigger lover", he replies with "I'm simply defending a black man... His name's Tom Robinson."
- Mr Raymond pretends to be a drunk so that the people of Maycomb would be able to make some sense of his behavior, as he is married to a black woman and his children are half black. This lifestyle is completely against the laws of the society. "Secretly Miss Finch, I'm not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I love the way I do because I want to."

> Class
- The Ewell's are seen as the lowest white family in the community, and live off the county's welfare money. "the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations"
- The hierarchy in the court room depicts how the Judge and other white members are higher than Atticus because of who he's defending. "He's already answered the question three times Atticus. He didn't call a doctor".
- Even as young children they are taught prejudice about their community. "There are four kinds of folks on the world. The ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, the Cunninghams, the Ewell's and the Negroes."

> Gender
- Scout is expected to behave like a lady and is not supposed to pick fights, wear overalls and play with the boys. "You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady"
- Scout doesn't have any friends that are girls, which may suggest that she does not like to play with girls, or she is afraid of losing her brother's affection and respect. "Jem told me I was being a girl and that girls always imagine things. If I started behaving like one I could find someone to play with."
- Scout is the only female child in the novel, which raises the question about why she's seen this way; perhaps because she sees being a girl as difficult and boring. "By watching her, I began to think there was some skill involved in being a girl."