To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Maycomb County had nothing to fear but fear itself
In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, we are told by the narrator that Maycomb County had nothing to fear but fear itself. We are told this because fear is an important aspect of the novel, it is the cause of many actions of the people of the town. This particular quote also expresses that the only thing that the people of Maycomb County had to fear was their own ridiculous fears, which was mainly the fear of the black community. Ultimately, Harper Lee is trying to convey through this quote that the town’s prejudice is the only thing that the people should have been scared about. The people of Maycomb County suffered from many fears which was the sole cause of their ignorance, hatred and prejudice.
The fear of the black community is a central theme of the novel. Most of the town’s white community showed some sort of prejudice toward black people. This is shown throughout the novel, such as when Mrs Dubose makes the remark to Jem: “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”. Members of the black community are referred to as ‘niggers’ and other derogatory names by the white community. The white community creates the illusion that the black people are completely different to white people, by referring to black people with words such as ‘nigger’ or ‘darky’. This then leads to the illusion that black people are sub-human, and they are to be treated as such. Even children in the novel refer to blacks as ‘niggers’ emphasising that racial segregation was so common that even children were developing these prejudice views from an early age.
Another example of prejudice towards black people is in Tom Robinson's trial when he is being cross examined. In the dialogue that takes place between the prosecutor and Tom Robinson, Tom is asked why he wanted to help Mayella with her chores, Tom explains: “I felt right sorry for her”. To which the prosecutor replies: “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”. The prosecutor emphasised this in
The fear of the black community is a central theme of the novel. Most of the town’s white community showed some sort of prejudice toward black people. This is shown throughout the novel, such as when Mrs Dubose makes the remark to Jem: “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”. Members of the black community are referred to as ‘niggers’ and other derogatory names by the white community. The white community creates the illusion that the black people are completely different to white people, by referring to black people with words such as ‘nigger’ or ‘darky’. This then leads to the illusion that black people are sub-human, and they are to be treated as such. Even children in the novel refer to blacks as ‘niggers’ emphasising that racial segregation was so common that even children were developing these prejudice views from an early age.
Another example of prejudice towards black people is in Tom Robinson's trial when he is being cross examined. In the dialogue that takes place between the prosecutor and Tom Robinson, Tom is asked why he wanted to help Mayella with her chores, Tom explains: “I felt right sorry for her”. To which the prosecutor replies: “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”. The prosecutor emphasised this in