Preview

Theme Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
246 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Theme Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird is a retelling of a story of how Scout, the narrator, believes her brother broke his arm. The story first tells of the reclusive Radley family, and their outlandishness in comparison to the rest of the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the early twentieth century. As siblings Jem and Scout, and friend Dill go about trying to lure out Boo Radley, who is regarded as a mad man, the group slowly starts to debunk the stereotypes and gossip for what they really are. This remains true as the kids followed the trial of an innocent black man, with their father acting as the lawyer defending him. By association, their family is tormented by the less open-minded townsfolk, even by their own aunt, who is unapproving of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the story, To Kill A Mockingbird, there is a town called Maycomb, that experiences racial prejudice, I know this because of what some of the characters say or experience.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a parallel story about two young children who grow up in a racist southern town and learn that life is not all fun and games. In the beginning of the book the main characters Scout and Jem spend their days playing together and exploring their hometown of Maycomb, Alabama. They are especially intrigued with their mysterious neighbors, the Radley's. Later on in the novel, Scout and Jem’s father Atticus is appointed to defend a black man and the children realize how unfair and prejudice the townspeople of Maycomb really are. The trial of Tom Robinson and the mysterious Radley house come together in an action packed ending.…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Stereotypes are generalized traits that people assume about a group of people. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird stereotypes are used frequently with how different families act, and also how different races appear to others. In the book stereotypes are important when Harper Lee makes the Ewells portray the stereotype for “white trash”. During the trial for the raping of Mayella Ewell this becomes very clear when she writes, “ No truant officers could keep their numerous offspring in school; no public health officer could free them from congenital defects, various worms, and the diseases indigenous to filthy surroundings.”(Lee 227). Lee made this family the stereotypical “white trash” family because it shows the true…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prejudice can be described as an opinion of a person based usually on race or religion before all the facts are known. Prejudice is an occurring problem during the twentieth century and is especially emphasized in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In the novel, Harper Lee shows us the effects of prejudice on the ideas of the citizens in Maycomb County, more specifically social prejudice in some of the main characters: Arthur Radley and Atticus Finch.…

    • 1018 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stereotyping is an act that many might do out of ignorance or intentionally. It plagues society today, for it causes many individuals to hate others based on a personal opinions. In Webster’s New World Dictionary, the word “stereotype” is defined as “a way of thinking about a person, group, etc. that follows a fixed, common pattern, paying no attention to individual differences”. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” there are many examples of stereotyping between Whites and Negroes. In the book, Lulu, a fellow negro, says, “You ain't got no business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church ain’t it, Miss Cal?” (136) Certain races might have conflicts between each other, causing them to have a negative thoughts…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Harper Lee’s, full name Nelle Lee’s, novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, published in 1960, there are many instances where characters challenge stereotypes or work to help defy them. Jem, for instance, is a character who does not act how a typical boy is supposed to, challenge the stereotypes of males. Another example is Atticus, a lawyer and the father of the narrator. Lastly, Boo Radley, a man prejudged by the entire town, ends up being the biggest hero in Harper Lee’s book. In summary, Jem, Atticus, and Boo Radley are all people who contribute to the novel’s theme of challenge stereotypes and prejudice.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prejudice towards different people is a huge part of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird novel. Nearly every little mishap in the book has been somehow linked or caused by prejudice. Naturally, the town of Maycomb is affected by it, and the effect isn’t for the best. Prejudice is a destructive force in Maycomb, bringing nothing to the town. The cause of Maycomb being destroyed is prejudice spreading hatred throughout the town, separating the people, and excluding and enabling members of the town to fully get what they need.…

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird has had a large influence on English Literature and is most definitely Harper Lee's greatest masterpiece. Many topics of human morals have been touched in this novel. To be more specific, the topic of prejudice towards African-Americans in the southern states is a very prominent one. This book reflects reasons why prejudice exists, the inner strength of the black community, and what should have been done to correct this problem. These fit ideally into the theme "beauty and the beast".…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stereotypes are labels put on people that are often harmful and almost always based on a trait that person has that they can’t control, usually relating to appearance. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The three biggest stereotypes that characters face are the stereotype of women, poor white families, and of course, people of color, particularly males.…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    The objective of this thesis paper is to delve into the work of Harper Lee and examine her uses of prejudice. This research defines the different uses of prejudice the novel and in the world. The research reflects upon the racism, sexism, and social classing of the 1930s through the primary sources of articles and books. Throughout the research, it has been found that the prejudices mentioned in Lee’s book have extensive histories that date back hundreds of years. Through showing the history of prejudice, this research pinpoints the political and social aspects of Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    The book To Kill a Mockingbird is based out of the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The residents in Maycomb are extremely racist and see minor inequalities as major differences and reasons to segregate. The families of Maycomb have their own hereditary social classes and are pretty much stuck in their class based on occupation and race. People in Maycomb are born into significance or are born into less fortunate situations. Many of the characters use these social classes to boost their self esteem. Due to the social classes and stigmas surrounding these classes the citizens have limited their ability to develop fully as humans.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Stereotyping has lasting negative impact. Past studies have shown that people perform poorly in situations where they feel they are being stereotyped.” Performing a task or assignment in a toxic environment can cause an individual to lose confidence and be very unfocused. Overall, stereotypes are harmful, and not just towards the people they are directed at.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Any good parent wants to protect their children, but how can Atticus Finch protect his own from “Maycomb’s usual disease” (Lee 117; ch. 9)? The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb, a small Alabama town, during the Great Depression era. Amidst the frenzy surrounding the trial of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout Finch grow up and learn some uncomfortable truths about their beloved hometown and its residents. Prejudice is an unavoidable fact of life in Maycomb, no matter how well it is hidden away. This prejudice hurts both those who hate and the hated, and is motivated by race, gender, and socio-economic status.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prejudice cannot see the things that are because it is always looking for things that are not. This is emphasized as one of the main themes in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. Set in the South during the 1930’s in a small town known as Maycomb County, the one of the most important morals, the one that all humans are created equal, is justified. Prejudice can be shown on a scale from most extreme down to least: genocide, expulsion, slavery, segregation, assimilation, and assimilation. The theme of the wrongs of prejudice is brought forth through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl. Prejudice is shown in many different forms throughout the novel, but also show similarities in how they are all connected to one universal idea. Prejudice…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Prejudice is defined as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, the adolescent characters, Jem, Scout, and Dill, all learn about prejudice through the different experiences they face. They experience racial prejudice during the trial of Tom Robinson. They learn about class prejudice through the ways different people are treated in their small town. And, they learn about gender prejudice when people stereotype Scout and the way she acts and dresses. Throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird” prejudice is a very strong topic because it changes how people treat each other. This theme of prejudice affects people of different races, classes, and…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays