Prejudice as Seen in Harper Lee's to Kill a Mockingbird and Through the Movie Gattaca

All throughout history, prejudice has been a part of society. Discrimination and intolerance are built into human nature. Less than 100 years ago, Blacks were still in the bonds of slavery. However, Blacks were not the only ethnical group that was ever mistreated. During the First World War, Germans in the United States were looked down upon by nearly all of the other citizens. Only a few years later, during World War II, the Japanese that happened to be in America were put into camps due to the incident at Pearl Harbor. During the mass immigration to the United States in the early 1900s, the Irish were met with signs in the workplace stating, "No Irish Need Apply." Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on two prejudices throughout here novel. The most obvious of the prejudices deals with skin color. Set during slavery times, Whites believe they are far superior to Blacks. The other injustice that occurs throughout the novel is the prejudice that children feel. Due to the fact that Arthur Radley is a recluse and is rarely seen, Jean Louise (Scout), her brother Jem, and their friend Dill, all think of him as something less then themselves. Andrew Niccol's Gattaca deals with futuristic prejudice. In the movie, geneticists have the power to eliminate all of the flaws of mankind, making a superior being. The naturally conceived are looked down upon by society as they contain flaws and imperfections; hence they are given the name "Invalids." The "Valids," or genetically superior human beings, have every advantage in life. Jobs are not given based on resume or experience, but instead are given to the genetically superior without question. Vincent tells the viewer, "For the genetically superior, success is easier to attain" (Gattaca). Though To Kill a Mockingbird and Gattaca are set in different time periods, deal with different issues, and have completely different characters, they are linked by the common theme of prejudice, proving that no matter the time period