Many people in today's society often live with prejudice in their lives. According to Webster, prejudice is defined as an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand, without knowledge, thought or reason. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," the evils of prejudice as well as the negative consequences that occur in the city of Maycomb because of this intolerance are explored. .
Prejudice about people's social status is demonstrated when Aunt Alexandra does not allow Scout to play with Walter Cunningham. She views his family as poor and as a lower class of white people. In her words, ".they're good folks, but they're not our kind of folks. " Another family, the Ewells, are considered "white trash " because they are poor and uneducated. .
The townspeople of Maycomb have certain beliefs about how people should behave in their community. Boo Radley becomes the target of this type of prejudice. Because of the stabbing that occurred one day while he was scrapbooking, Boo Radley is called a "monster ". Because no one knows why Boo chose to act that way, the townspeople are prejudging Boo without knowing all of the facts. Jem, Scout and Dill also show prejudice towards him. This happens when they are playing a game that consists of acting out a scene about the Radley family. Because they only act out what they have heard about this family and not witnessing this incident first hand, they are only relying on the gossip and rumors that they have heard. When Atticus sees and hears what they are doing, the children stop playing the game. .
The third and final incident that creates prejudice against Boo is based on the rumors that have been created about what he does at night. The townspeople think that Boo eats squirrels and peeks into windows. Many people in the community do not accept him for who .
he is, even those who he considers to be his friends. At the end of the story Atticus speaks to these people, and, as a result, Boo receives some acceptance.
