The Theme of Prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird :: Kill Mockingbird essays

The theme of parti pris in To Kill A Mockingbird is untold more than just a case of black and white. The entire novel is about prepossession in its many forms, the most prominent case of prejudice is the hate between the blacks and whites. The whole town of Maycomb is based on stereotypes of its inhabitants, that be passed down from generation to generation. Rumors run rampid and very little truth is usually in them. So Jem received most of his information from Miss Stephanie Crawford, a neighbor scold, she said she knew the whole thing. According to Miss Stephanie, Boo was sitting in the livingroom undercut some items from The Maycomb Tribune to paste in his scrapbook. His father entered the room. As Mr.Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parents leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities. (Chapter 1, page 11) I dont see how you cant expect to have prejudice in a small town like that, after all isolation is a maj or factor in why prejudice and racism arise. Men hate each other because they fear each other, and they fear each other because they dont know each other, and they dont know each other because they are often separated from each other. -Martin Luther King The stereotypes in this novel are fairly common but the fact that they are accepted and used so openly in public is what astonishes me. I think people in the community, even if they do disagree with what is being said or done, they will place or do nothing because they are afraid of going against the majority of the community and become a victim of prejudice themselves. Atticus was one of the few who actually stopped and listened to himself without being biased by the views and opinions of the rest of the town. He then had the courage to stand up and take prejudice himself for trying to overcompensate the prejudice against a black man, and prove his innocence. Scout, you arent old enough to understand some things yet, but theres been some high talk around town to the onus that I