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To Kill a Mockingbird: Racism, Courage and Innocence

            In today's world racism is not as common as it was in the 1900's. In the early 1900's racism was very common, and most of the white Americans were racist to the Minorities. Although racism was common in the 1900's it is now frowned upon and not very common at all. Minorities are now not rejected in today's world, and are accepted like any other person. .
             Racism in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is very common, and it is an important part in the story. Racism is shown by the Caucasian's in Maycomb against the African-Americans in many different ways like when the jury convicts Tom Robinson guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. The details of Tom Robinson raping Mayella Ewell are very vague and do not show enough evidence that Mayella Ewell was raped. When the jury of all Caucasian men decide to vote if Tom Robinson is guilty or not, they all vote guilty only because Tom Robinson is black. "I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: GuiltyGuiltyGuiltyPg 211", this quote shows that the jury did vote Tom Robinson 100% guilty. Another quote from the book that proves the racism and prejudice is "They said if he'd had two good arms he'd have made it, he was moving that fast. Seventeen bullet holes in him Pg. 235". This quote shows that the racism in the book is very heavy and even the police officers will keep their emotions guiding their actions and not their brain.
             Innocence in "To Kill A Mockingbird" is shown throughout the book various times. Dill shows his act of innocence in many different ways like when he asked Scout to marry him because Scout was the only girl Dill knew and he loved her. Both of Scout and Dill are too young to understand what marriage actually is, so they both go along with it and pretend they are married. This part of the story shows how young minded and innocent Dill and Scout are throughout the book. An example of Scout showing her innocence in the book is when she says "I don't have to go to school! Burris Ewell, remember? He just goes to school the first day Pg.


Essays Related to To Kill a Mockingbird: Racism, Courage and Innocence

1. Social Barriers in To Kill a Mockingbird

Despite people's views and opinions of these mockingbirds, they are all the epitome of kindness and courage, and innocence who were misunderstood due to prior prejudice and bias. ... Throughout Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley emerge as mockingbirds, symbolizing the prejudice and discrimination of Maycomb County. ... Like a mockingbird, he radiated innocence and purity and did not do anything to hurt anyone. ... Throughout Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird," Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley represent mockingbirds who we...

  • Word Count: 1674
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography

2. Themes of To Kill a Mockingbird

Essay: To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee expertly incorporates a variety of themes into To Kill a Mockingbird. ... Among the themes presented, racism, education, and bravery stand out as the fundamental themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Racism is the most prominently significant theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... Education is also a key theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. ... The themes of racism, education, and bravery all play an important role in shaping To Kill a Mockingbird into the literary success it has become. ...

  • Word Count: 591
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Analyzing Themes of To Kill a Mockingbird

Analyzing Themes of To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee's first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, displays the life of a small southern family struggling through the depression in Maycomb, Alabama. ... Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, the major themes of courage, innocence, and prejudice are instrumental in the portrayal of life in a small southern community. ... It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because the bird is a sign of innocence. ... It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because it willfully obliterates innocence. ... In To Kill a Mockingbird, the characters of the novel deal with rac...

  • Word Count: 1545
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird In the novel to kill a mockingbird, Scout learns valuable lessons on prejudice in the town Maycomb, on the nature of courage, and on the dangers of judging others "before climbing into their skin and walking around in it." ... At the end of the story, both Jem and scout have better perspectives on racism and human dignity. They learn about prejudice, courage, and judging others. Though racism is a big problem in their town, Jem and Scout managed to create their own ideas on the subject. For example, throughout the trial of Tom Robinson, they kept their beliefs of his in...

  • Word Count: 555
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

5. how is courage demonstrated in to Kill a Mockingbird

To kill a mockingbird demonstrates that courage can be seen in many different forms. ... Atticus shows courage by defending a Negro, when he knows that there is so much racism between the whites and black's. ... Tom was an honest man who told the truth, but it was hard for our society to accept the innocence of the black man. ... Atticus thought that Jem had killed Bob Ewell, when it was really Arthur. ... Courage means different things to different people. ...

  • Word Count: 800
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Overview of To Kill a Mockingbird

Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird has remained enormously popular since its publication in 1960. ... To Kill a Mockingbird has endured as a mainstay on high school and college reading lists. ... Major Themes The central thematic concern of To Kill a Mockingbird addresses racial prejudice and social justice. ... The concept of justice is presented in To Kill a Mockingbird as an antidote to racial prejudice. ... " To Kill a Mockingbird explores themes of heroism and the idea of role models as well. ...

  • Word Count: 2287
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. To kill a Mockingbird

To Kill A Mocking Bird Essay In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee addresses many themes such as prejudice, innocence, courage and coming of age, although racism seems to stand out the most. ... The sheriff later kills Tom when he tries to run while in custody. ... An example of racism comes from the neighbor Mrs. ... Another example of racism is when Tom Robinson is wrongly accused of a rape he did not commit. ... Examples of racism are shown throughout the book. ...

  • Word Count: 640
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. To Kill a Mockingbird

The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, tells a story about a young girl named Scout who learns a valuable lesson on the evil of prejudice, true courage, and not to judge others. ... At the end of the story, both Jem and Scout have better perspectives on racism and human dignity. They learn about prejudice, courage, and judging others. ... Many themes are contained in the novel, such as morality, innocence, and growing up. Her symbolism of the mockingbird in the book depicts people such as Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. ...

  • Word Count: 937
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Final Test Not Beauty But Power - John Hersey

William Shakespeare's Macbeth and Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird are both literary classics that prove Hersey's statement to be true. ... The themes in To Kill A Mockingbird are part of what makes the novel the powerful work of literature it is. ... "To kill a mockingbird" was considered a sin. ... The symbol of the mockingbird is very effective because it represents the innocence found in the real world and the terrible things that are sometimes done to that innocence. In analyzing Macbeth and To Kill A Mockingbird, John Hersey's statement is proven true. ...

  • Word Count: 1104
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

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