To Kill A Mockingbird: Stereotypes
The story, To Kill a Mockingbird is a very fine novel which exemplifies the
life in the south and the human rights and values given to everybody. The book
especially took the case of prejudice to a serious extreme. From the title, a
mockingbird through the eyes of Harper Lee, is a person who has fallen victim
to vicious stereotypes. The title To Kill a Mockingbird explains itself quite
clearly in the end of the novel when Tom Robinson, one of the mockingbirds, is
killed due to the stereotypes dumped upon him. Often, the use of stereotypes
just breaks down the real truth of a person.
When stereotypes of Boo are used, the truth is often obscured. "You'll get
killed if you touch that tree"(pg 38) This quote reveals that the two siblings
felt that Boo was a harmful person because of false rumors. Stereotypes are
easily picked up, and used to horrible extreme when a large majority of people
use them. This was the case with Scout and Jem when they picked up on the
stereotypes going around the neighborhood about Boo. "When I got there, my
breeches were all folded and sewn up"(pg 63) When Boo sewed Jem's breeches
together, this was a sign from Boo to let the children realize what a kind and
pleasant man he really was. Also, Boo was considerate enough to save Jem from a
couple of whippings, because after all, if Atticus were to see the torn pants he
would have known Jem was the culprit in the Radley's yard. "You were so busy
looking at the fire, you didn't notice Boo behind you"(pg 76) This was also a
symbol which Boo shared to let the kids slowly realize the truth about him, that
he was an innocuous caring person hiding behind a fading shadow. Boo just
wanted to be seen as the real him instead of the horrid stereotypes which
deformed his image.
Misconceptions are results of prejudice in Jehovah's Witnesses' case. When
they come strolling up people's street, the first reactions to the neighborhood
is to... [continues]
The story, To Kill a Mockingbird is a very fine novel which exemplifies the
life in the south and the human rights and values given to everybody. The book
especially took the case of prejudice to a serious extreme. From the title, a
mockingbird through the eyes of Harper Lee, is a person who has fallen victim
to vicious stereotypes. The title To Kill a Mockingbird explains itself quite
clearly in the end of the novel when Tom Robinson, one of the mockingbirds, is
killed due to the stereotypes dumped upon him. Often, the use of stereotypes
just breaks down the real truth of a person.
When stereotypes of Boo are used, the truth is often obscured. "You'll get
killed if you touch that tree"(pg 38) This quote reveals that the two siblings
felt that Boo was a harmful person because of false rumors. Stereotypes are
easily picked up, and used to horrible extreme when a large majority of people
use them. This was the case with Scout and Jem when they picked up on the
stereotypes going around the neighborhood about Boo. "When I got there, my
breeches were all folded and sewn up"(pg 63) When Boo sewed Jem's breeches
together, this was a sign from Boo to let the children realize what a kind and
pleasant man he really was. Also, Boo was considerate enough to save Jem from a
couple of whippings, because after all, if Atticus were to see the torn pants he
would have known Jem was the culprit in the Radley's yard. "You were so busy
looking at the fire, you didn't notice Boo behind you"(pg 76) This was also a
symbol which Boo shared to let the kids slowly realize the truth about him, that
he was an innocuous caring person hiding behind a fading shadow. Boo just
wanted to be seen as the real him instead of the horrid stereotypes which
deformed his image.
Misconceptions are results of prejudice in Jehovah's Witnesses' case. When
they come strolling up people's street, the first reactions to the neighborhood
is to... [continues]
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"To Kill a Mockingbird: Stereotypes." StudyMode.com. 10, 1999. Accessed 10, 1999. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Kill-Mockingbird-Stereotypes-2008.html.
