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Issues of prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (draft, Nur Asyikin binti

Rusimin)

Prejudice is a real problem in the world. It is an assumption or opinion against

something that formed without proper knowledge. Based on the novel To Kill a

Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the prejudices found in a small American town in the

1930s. Race, social class and gender are example of it. There are basically four types

of prejudice that occur in the novel which are prejudice towards the black, prejudice

within the society, prejudice of men toward women and prejudice of something unknown

(towards Boo Radley).

Prejudice runs rampant in Maycomb County. Prejudice against the black is one

of it and this is seen in the trial of Tom Robinson. The evidence presented by Atticus,

that Bob Ewell is left handed and Toms left hand is useless even though it is obviously

shown that Tom Robinson is innocent. However, since the jury is not unwilling to take

the word of a black man over that of a white one because they essentially believe the

white, Tom Robinson was found guilty. Atticus tried to help him by opting himself to

defend him in the court, justice for black man like Tom Robinson is not served. The

whites believe that they are superior to the blacks.

In the novel, Bob Ewell represents all that is wrong with the society and Atticus

represents justice and all that is good with society. Atticus is the moral voice of

Maycomb while Bob Ewell is the evil and all that is wrong with the society, drunkness,

hatred and violence. Atticus stands up for what is good and he took the case of Tom

Robinson, knowing he is innocent and a black man. He knows that he wont get a fair

trial but he still determined to do the right thing, even though the majority of people in

Maycomb are prejudice.

Prejudice against women also played through the novel especially Scout. Scout

thinks that being called a girl is about the worst thing possible. It is an insult for her

being called a girl. Girls were not allowed to play outside, swearing nor pretty much

does anything fun and girls should wear pink dresses. In the novel, Scout described as

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a tomboy and she spends much of her time with her older brother Jem. Throughout the

novel, Scout impacted by gender discrimination, along with other women in Maycomb.

Aunt Alexandra tells Scout a few times that she could not hope to be a lady if she wore

breeches. She also expects Scout to play with stoves, tea sets and necklaces. Aunt

Alexandra is not the only person who discriminates women. Even Atticus, who does not

judge anyone, also discriminates again women. On the page 296 (chapter 23), Atticus

tells Jem that women are not allowed to serve on juries in Alabama. Atticus even jokes

that the court would never get a complete case tried with women on the jury because

women would interrupt to ask questions. Scout even agrees with Atticus on this by

saying Perhaps our forefathers were wise.

Prejudice toward against Boo Radley can be seen through the children attitudes

about Boo. It represents the beginning of racial prejudice and superstition. No one

bothers to find out about the real Arthur Boo Radley. He may seem a little scary but the

town neglects and ignores him from the society. All the children have been raised to

fear him as the town freak. He was described monstrous by Jem in the novel (chapter 1,

page 16). If they took the time to see the world from his eyes they might not be so

prejudiced to his situation.