Themes of Prejudice and Tolerance in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It is set in the 1930s, a time when racism was very prominent. Harper Lee emphasizes the themes of damage and tolerance in her novel through the use of her characters and their interactions within the Maycomb community. The fibber of the story, Scout, comes across many people and situations with prejudice and tolerance, as her father defends a black man.Racial prejudice is widespread in the county of Maycomb, and a crown example is the Tom Robinson case. Tom, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella, a clean-living woman. genus Atticus puts forward all evidence from his witnesses that clearly proves Tom was innocent, Jem tied(p) says, ?and we?re gonna win Scout. I don?t see how we bed?t? (pg 206), but Tom still ownd a ? guilt-ridden? verdict. Atticus tried removing the prejudiced thoughts of the jurors by reflection, the self-reliance - the evil assumption - that all Negroes lie, that all Negro es argon basically immoral existences. (pg 208). Atticus? saying insinuated the point that all of God?s children were created equal. To the jury, the only important complaisant occasion was that Tom was black and the accuser was white, he never stood a chance downstairs those conditions. These racial tensions between blacks and whites had do their way into the courtroom, a place where everyone should receive a fair trial no matter what race or colour, but an unjust verdict was reached. The prejudice that was felt towards Tom made him lose all hope of freedom, and as a result, he died upon an get off attempt. Tom was victim of racial prejudice and loss of hope.The novel non only explores racial prejudice, but also prejudice against gender and social status. Maudie is a victim of prejudice agains... ... situation from their perspective, and in this case, Atticus reveals Mrs Dubose being a morphine addict. She wanted to die without having to rely on the dose and her escapades were what it easier. Jem and Scout understood the situation and acquiret the importance of tolerance.The themes of prejudice and tolerance are conveyed strongly through the characters and their dilemmas. Jem and Scout learn of the prejudice of the town Maycomb to Atticus defending a black man, Tom Robinson. However, Miss Maudie, Calpurnia and several others lay down that not everyone in Maycomb are so judgemental. Jem and Scout also learn how to deal with situations sensibly from their father, they learn how to be tolerant. Thus, the novel?s characters turn up both prejudice and tolerance.Works CitedLee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York City, NY J.B.Lippincott Company, 2008.