Examples Of Cowardice In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel threaded with many powerful themes, morals and ethics. These controversial themes resonate with the setting of the American South in the 1930’s. The most prominent themes in the novel are cowardice, courage and prejudice. These themes recur consistently and are highlighted through context in the novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird is written from the perspective of a 8 year old American girl in the 1930’s. The novel unfolds a story about an innocent black man accused of rape in a white Southern American County. The young naive girl Scout, recognizes the injustice of the towns accusations and sees the biased prejudices. By writing in the perspective of the young girl Scout, it allows the reader to have no prejudiced opinion. Instead the book is read through
A ‘coward’ is by definition a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things. Many citizens of Maycomb County by nature fall under this definition. This is particularly highlighted throughout Tom Robinson’s trial. Even though there was irrefutable evidence proving Tom’s innocence, members of the jury turned a blind eye and cowardly succumbed to societies prejudice. "Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed."(Scout Finch) Mayella is a lonely 19 year old girl who is extremely segregated from society due to her class. Uneducated about intimacy and relationships, she tries to seduce a black man, abruptly kissing him without consent. From the window Mayella’s father (Bob Ewell) witnesses the event. Ashamed of his daughter and concerned for his pride, Bob Ewell seeks out the authorities and covers his daughter’s scandal with lies. “What did your father see in that window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it?” Atticus