Maycomb’s Usual Disease
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, three important themes prove that it is often innocent people who suffer the most. However, someone who was once a victim can become a hero. The first important theme is prejudice, which the town of Maycomb is “plagued” by. The second theme is growing up, which Scout and Jem do mentally and physically. The final theme is courage, and courage is the “glue” that binds the novel together. The courage exhibited proves how almost anyone can be a hero. Prejudice, growing up, and courage combine to make this novel a true classic.
The town of Maycomb has a “disease” that doesn’t allow the majority of the population to look past the color of a person’s skin and see their true character. An average person is driven by the same hatred as the antagonist of the story, a hatred called prejudice. Prejudice is a name given to an irrational feeling of dislike towards someone because they are different or unusual and is a main theme in this novel. An example of prejudice is when the two major protagonists, Scout and Jem, have their aunt, Aunt Alexandra, come to help take care the kids. Aunt Alexandra forbids Scout from being friends with a boy in her class, Walter Cunningham, because she sees his family belonging to a lower “class,” a poor kind of people. However, Scout, is raised by a father with non-biased views who sees Walter as a playmate, not just an amount of money. Perhaps it shows that prejudice is taught, not inherited at birth. Another example of a victim to prejudice is Boo Radley. Boo is a “phantom” that is cast away by society. He is made out to be a hideous monster, who kills cats, and is evil to all. In reality, Boo saves Scout’s and Jem’s lives, and proves to be a hero. The final example of prejudice is the trial of Tom Robinson. In Mr. Robinson’s case, every bit of evidence points to the fact that Tom is innocent. Yet, the jury, made only of white men, find him guilty. Tom didn’t have a fair trial because of the color of his skin, and his life is sacrificed because of it. A clearly innocent man, who works, has a wife, and has never harmed anyone, is killed. Tom and Boo are “mockingbirds”, and prejudice is the bullet that shot them.
Another important theme is growing up. In the beginning, Scout uses violence, rather than words, to express herself. Scout’s views drastically change throughout the novel and she matures mentally and physically. At first, Scout sees Boo Radley as a circus animal. She thinks Boo is a monster, because that is what she was told all her life. Although Scout sees Boo as someone bad, she realizes the stories are just myths, and Boo has only done nice things for her. “I think im beginning to understand why Boo Radley stays shut up in his house all this time…its because he wants to stay inside.” (pg.259) Growing up is a process that takes years of maturing until one realize what’s right and what’s wrong; it only take Scout 8 years! As Scout goes into third grade, she realizes Boo is just a person, and she no longer fears him.
The final major theme is courage. Scout, Jem, and Atticus are three important characters who show tremendous amounts of courage. First of all, Atticus shows courage when he defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in court. Atticus, a calm and collected man, risks his reputation to defend Tom, even though he knows Tom won’t win. Also, he stands between Tom and a lynch mob. Atticus holds Tom’s life in his hands, yet, he is willing to do what ever it takes to protect him. This is an important fact because it shows how even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth. Atticus knows Tom has just as much of a right to be judged fairly just like any other man.
Scout and Jem also show courage, and their bravery helps save their lives. Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem, the protagonists of the novel. First, Scout and Jem hear footsteps, coming from someone lurking behind them. Next, they hear a murmur and the sound of rustling pants. Of course, for children, this is quite terrifying, especially because this all happened at night. Yet, they showed courage by staying calm and trying to find the familiar oak tree. Suddenly, Scout is attacked, but Jem doesn’t run away. Instead, he stays and trys to wrestle her free from her costume. With the help of Boo Radley, Scout and Jem survive and get home. The children’s courage along with Boo Radley, the town “monster” or “phantom” is a kind person at heart. Without courage, the novel wouldn’t be as important as it is today.
Prejudice is like a piece of glass that is covered in condensation. You can see through it, yet you can’t quite see clearly. Prejudice shields your eyes from really being able to see who someone is. Not until someone grows up do they realize all people are created equally. Growing up takes courage, and understanding, so, to expel all prejudice, you must grow up, and to grow up, you must show courage. Harper Lee uses these key ingredients to create a realistic and complex novel that will forever remain powerful throughout time.
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, three important themes prove that it is often innocent people who suffer the most. However, someone who was once a victim can become a hero. The first important theme is prejudice, which the town of Maycomb is “plagued” by. The second theme is growing up, which Scout and Jem do mentally and physically. The final theme is courage, and courage is the “glue” that binds the novel together. The courage exhibited proves how almost anyone can be a hero. Prejudice, growing up, and courage combine to make this novel a true classic.
The town of Maycomb has a “disease” that doesn’t allow the majority of the population to look past the color of a person’s skin and see their true character. An average person is driven by the same hatred as the antagonist of the story, a hatred called prejudice. Prejudice is a name given to an irrational feeling of dislike towards someone because they are different or unusual and is a main theme in this novel. An example of prejudice is when the two major protagonists, Scout and Jem, have their aunt, Aunt Alexandra, come to help take care the kids. Aunt Alexandra forbids Scout from being friends with a boy in her class, Walter Cunningham, because she sees his family belonging to a lower “class,” a poor kind of people. However, Scout, is raised by a father with non-biased views who sees Walter as a playmate, not just an amount of money. Perhaps it shows that prejudice is taught, not inherited at birth. Another example of a victim to prejudice is Boo Radley. Boo is a “phantom” that is cast away by society. He is made out to be a hideous monster, who kills cats, and is evil to all. In reality, Boo saves Scout’s and Jem’s lives, and proves to be a hero. The final example of prejudice is the trial of Tom Robinson. In Mr. Robinson’s case, every bit of evidence points to the fact that Tom is innocent. Yet, the jury, made only of white men, find him guilty. Tom didn’t have a fair trial because of the color of his skin, and his life is sacrificed because of it. A clearly innocent man, who works, has a wife, and has never harmed anyone, is killed. Tom and Boo are “mockingbirds”, and prejudice is the bullet that shot them.
Another important theme is growing up. In the beginning, Scout uses violence, rather than words, to express herself. Scout’s views drastically change throughout the novel and she matures mentally and physically. At first, Scout sees Boo Radley as a circus animal. She thinks Boo is a monster, because that is what she was told all her life. Although Scout sees Boo as someone bad, she realizes the stories are just myths, and Boo has only done nice things for her. “I think im beginning to understand why Boo Radley stays shut up in his house all this time…its because he wants to stay inside.” (pg.259) Growing up is a process that takes years of maturing until one realize what’s right and what’s wrong; it only take Scout 8 years! As Scout goes into third grade, she realizes Boo is just a person, and she no longer fears him.
The final major theme is courage. Scout, Jem, and Atticus are three important characters who show tremendous amounts of courage. First of all, Atticus shows courage when he defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in court. Atticus, a calm and collected man, risks his reputation to defend Tom, even though he knows Tom won’t win. Also, he stands between Tom and a lynch mob. Atticus holds Tom’s life in his hands, yet, he is willing to do what ever it takes to protect him. This is an important fact because it shows how even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth. Atticus knows Tom has just as much of a right to be judged fairly just like any other man.
Scout and Jem also show courage, and their bravery helps save their lives. Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem, the protagonists of the novel. First, Scout and Jem hear footsteps, coming from someone lurking behind them. Next, they hear a murmur and the sound of rustling pants. Of course, for children, this is quite terrifying, especially because this all happened at night. Yet, they showed courage by staying calm and trying to find the familiar oak tree. Suddenly, Scout is attacked, but Jem doesn’t run away. Instead, he stays and trys to wrestle her free from her costume. With the help of Boo Radley, Scout and Jem survive and get home. The children’s courage along with Boo Radley, the town “monster” or “phantom” is a kind person at heart. Without courage, the novel wouldn’t be as important as it is today.
Prejudice is like a piece of glass that is covered in condensation. You can see through it, yet you can’t quite see clearly. Prejudice shields your eyes from really being able to see who someone is. Not until someone grows up do they realize all people are created equally. Growing up takes courage, and understanding, so, to expel all prejudice, you must grow up, and to grow up, you must show courage. Harper Lee uses these key ingredients to create a realistic and complex novel that will forever remain powerful throughout time.