To Kill a Mockingbird - Prejudice

April 25, 1999

Prejudice has a large impact on life in Maycomb. A significant impact on the children is evident through both their perceptions of the different races and classes and their knowledge of how their behavior has such an impact on others. Scout at first thinks the way their class system works in everyday life is normal. Though she is curious, she is not aware of how wrong discrimination is and that to act in such a manner towards her fellow neighbors is not right. She learns from the positive influences around her. She has many role models who show respect as well as remorse towards other classes and races. She has positive influences such as Atticus and Miss Maudie, who believe that people are good for who they are and do the best they can:

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view" (30) 

She has negative influences such as Aunt Alexandra and Francis, who believe that good breeding and the right race and class are what makes a person. Francis is not necessarily a role model, but like the other children, has a deep influence on Scout's thinking. Scout must over time learn for herself what is "wrong" or "right," but she does feel confused about whom to follow. Jem is growing up, but she just wants the old Jem back. This shows the influence that people her age have on her.

Her run-ins with the prejudiced ways of her neighbors make Scout's confusion evident. However, she does grow in her perception at least a little when she gets to the point of noticing the little things and wondering why, such as her Aunt Alexandra's perception of "gentle breeding" as the only way a person could be truly decent and respected.

"Somewhere I had received the impression that fine folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion ... the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was." (130) 

Scout's perception would grow, but then be pushed back down by the ways of the people around her. She made that long and difficult journey in the end, and realized that she could do something about everything if she just put her mind to it.

Scout realized the great prejudice in Maycomb mainly at the trial, where she saw that they could not have won, even though the allegations were proven impossible. Because of his race, Tom Robinson was already doomed to a fate that was inevitable, but Scout admired her father for trying his hardest anyway: 

"What was the evidence of her offense? Tom Robinson, a human being. She must put Tom Robinson away from her..." (203) 

She also realized her father's great spite for discrimination:

"... the assumption ... that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber" (204)

Scout sees his uphill battle, which she knows he knows he is bound to lose, as fighting to know he tried his best. Nobody could say that he did not do all he could to fight the prejudice that caused the injustice.