Examples Of Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In an article called, “What is Prejudice?”, Kendra Cherry claims that “prejudice is a baseless and usually negative attitude toward members of a group. Common features of prejudice include negative feelings, stereotyped beliefs, and a tendency to discriminate against members of the group.” The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, portrayed the same kind of message as what Cherry stated. Narrated by a five-year-old girl in the 1930’s, the book presents situations that include discrimination and prejudice in the Maycomb County. Thus making me believe that discrimination is the dominant theme in the book. Three different types of discrimination depicted in the book are racism, sexism, and social prejudice. Racism had the Maycomb…show more content…
Feminist movement began in the 1960’s; therefore,women during this time had rules that they need to abide to. Scout, having to grow up surrounded by male influence and no motherly presence, had been struggling to act as a “proper lady”. Hence when Aunt Alexandra moved in with her niece and nephews, she made it her goal for Scout to be feminine. “We [Atticus and Alexandra] decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won’t be many years Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys.” (pg.127) Mrs. Dubose also told Scout earlier in the book, “what are you [Scout] doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady! You’ll grow up waiting on tables if somebody doesn’t change your ways.” The comment Mrs. Dubose informed her was that if she won’t start acting like a proper lady, she would not fit in the society and not get a proper job. This also means that being a lady in Maycomb means wearing dresses and having a proper…show more content…
Maycomb County also has a hierarchy or a caste system. People who were financially challenged and had a bad reputation were called a “trash”. A family that received this treatment are the clan of Cunninghams. In the beginning of the book, Scout had to explain to Miss Caroline that he’s a Cunningham; implying that the Cunninghams “don’t have much” (pg.20) She also says that “it was clear enough for the rest of [the kids]: Walter Cunningham… didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any. He had none today nor would he have ay tomorrow or the next day. He probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life.” The previous quotation means that everyone, even children, were aware of the county’s disease. A major critic for the penniless people in Maycomb, is Scout’s very own aunt, Aunt Alexandra. She is described to be a person who is is focused with the family reputation and a strict person regarding etiquette. She explains to Scout that the Cunninghams are “not [their] kind of people.” (pg.224) Aunt Alexandra tells her that “Walter Cunningham can be scrub till he shines, dressed him in shoes and new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem… Finch women are not interested in that sort of people.” (pg.244) She was implying that no matter what Walter Cunningham do to look proper and rich, he will never succeed because having a Cunningham blood labels him as unfortunate. He is not suited nor even considered to be a
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