Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, many different prejudices are revealed. The most prominent being the racial prejudice between the white people and black people in Macomb, Alabama during the sass’s. However, there are many more subtle and discreet prejudices against other people In Macomb, also. One of the first prejudices to become known is against the Cunningham. The Cunningham are a very poor farming family who were hit hard by the Great Depression. “… The Cunningham never took anything they can’t pay back- no church baskets and no scrimp stamps.
They never took anything off anybody, they get along on what they have. They don’t have much, but they get along on it. ” Scout explains to Miss Caroline, their first grade teacher, on page 20. The Cunningham were hit hardest by the Depression and because of their level of poverty the Cunningham are discriminated against. “ The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Gem. ” Aunt Alexandra explains to Scout on page 224. Aunt Alexandra does not want Scout associating with Walter Cunningham simply because of his class.
Aunt Alexandra Is discriminating against the Cunningham because they are below the Finches on the social strata. Probably the most prominent prejudice in the novel is the racial prejudice. Tom Robinson was a black man who was accused of raping Male Lowell, a white girl. When Tom was put In Jail lathing trial, Attic’s, his lawyer, went down one night and sat outside the Jailhouse. A mob showed up that night with the intent to beat Tom Robinson but with Attic’s there, the mob was stalled and eventually left. This mob was consumed with racial prejudice against the black people.
Even California, the lack housekeeper for the Finches, Is discriminated against. Although California Is treated fairly, it is obvious California is considered to be on a lower social level than the Finches. California calls Scout ma’am and Gem sir, although these are titles usually reserved for elders. An example of this is on page 207. California addresses Gem after they have been missing at the trial all day with “ Hush your mouth, sir! When you ought be hanging’ your head in shame you go along laughing’. If Mr.. Finch don’t wear you out, I will – get in that house, sir! Though It seems that the blacks are the ones who are prejudiced against, when Gem ND scout are taken to Scaloppini’s church, (their black house-keeper) the black people show hostility towards Gem and Scout. Lull, a black woman at the church confronts California on page 119. “ You anti got no business bringing’ white chilling here—they got their church, we got ruin. ” Because the whites shun the blacks the blacks are prejudiced In return. Another prejudice Tanat comes to Elgin Is teen prejudice gallant Dollops Raymond. Dollops is a wealthy white man but is a victim of isolation because of his relationship with a woman who is black.
When Scout meets Mr.. Dollops Raymond during the trial Scout becomes aware that Dollops is a victim of prejudice and has become an outcast. Dollops pretended to be a drunk so he didn’t have to explain the fact that he was simply in love with a black woman. The alcohol, Dollops said, gave the people an excuse to say that Dollops didn’t know what he was doing. On page 200, Dollops says to Dill and Scout “ When I come to this town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dollops Raymond in the clutches of whisky—that’s why he wont change his ways.
He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives like he does. The people of Macomb are intolerant of the way Dollops chooses to live. Dollops is discriminated against because he lives his life with a black woman. This is thought to be wrong in society in Macomb. Yet another prejudice in Macomb was that against Arthur Raddled. Arthur Raddled could see the segregation of the people of Macomb and the prejudice. Therefore Arthur isolated himself; Arthur didn’t want to be a part of Macomb’s intolerance. By doing this Arthur became one of the outsiders and was still a victim of the prejudice, as Arthur was different.
There were wild rumors circulating the town and the hillier made up stories and games about Arthur. Because he was virtually unknown, Arthur Raddled was discriminated against. The theme of prejudice is explored many ways throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The different kinds of prejudice explore how deep people’s hatred of each other can go. It gives the reader good insight as to what makes people intolerant and why people shouldn’t be prejudiced Just because others are different. From discriminating against the poor to racial prejudice to silly rumors fueling intolerance, very few realize that everyone is different but also equal.
