Theme Of Equality In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee brings up the topic of equality with court systems in her novel. Atticus Finch, father of the main character states that “our courts are great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (274) Atticus is right by saying this. In Lee’s story scout defends her father’s thought by adding more evidence. To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of life in the 1930’s from Scout Finch’s point of view. In any story there are problems and situations that nee to be dealt with. Atticus, being a defense attorney, shows Scout a first hand view of what really goes on in the little town of Maycomb, Alabama. This sparks her curiosity in her father’s newest case, which is Tom Robinson a middle aged black man with a wife and kids. He was arrested under the accusations of beating and raping Mayella Ewell a white female of the age of 19. Many don’t realize that segregation was beginning to heat up in the South during the 30’s, but that is the cause of tense controversy in Tom Robinson’s case.
All men and women are created equal at the start. Everyone starts out as an innocent person with the same rights and opportunities. It’s up to individuals to make good decisions and actions to keep themselves an innocent person. It’s when they decide to do something stupid that takes their equality away from them. Scout shows her opinion that “some people are smarter than others…”(274). Her thought goes on to say, “some men make more money than others…”(274). Scout sees the differences in the people of Maycomb, but in court, money and intelligence wont change the fact of the crime