"To Kill a Mockingbird": Racism and Its Impact on the Novel's Characters

Introduction

In the book 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, racism is an ongoing theme that significantly impacts several characters, including Tom Robinson, Jem, Scout, and Atticus Finch. The narrative contains numerous instances where racism plays a substantial role and affects various aspects of the story. For instance, Tom Robinson is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Due to his race, he is wrongfully convicted, highlighting how racism influences certain elements of the narrative. To explore the detrimental effects of racism in 'To Kill a Mockingbird', this essay will analyze three key events in the novel: the trial's outcome, Jem's changing attitude, and the characters' actions.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Racism

Racism exerts a significant influence on the trial's outcome for several reasons. Despite Tom Robinson's obvious innocence, he is found guilty and sentenced because of his race, facing an all-white jury. Atticus, Tom's lawyer, puts forth his best efforts to prove Tom's innocence. Addressing the court, Atticus states, 'There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire' (204). Atticus is clearly attempting to sway the trial's outcome, but racism prevents justice from prevailing. Disrespect is pervasive throughout the trial, exemplified by Mr. Ewell's statement: 'I seen that black n-word yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!' (173). This quote demonstrates Mr. Ewell's derogatory language and disrespect towards Tom Robinson. It serves as evidence of racism's significant role in the book, as Mr. Ewell's racist remarks are directed at a white judge. Racism profoundly impacts the story, especially in terms of the trial's outcome, ultimately leading to Tom's tragic demise.

Furthermore, racism profoundly affects the characters' behavior and speech, evident throughout the novel. This is discernible through the use of racial slurs such as the N-word. For instance, when Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to the black church, some individuals express their displeasure and confront them. Another instance occurs during Tom Robinson's trial, where white individuals refer to him using racial slurs instead of his name, highlighting their disrespect. One quote that exemplifies this is when Lula says, 'You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here — they got their church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?'. Lula's statement demonstrates her racism, as she opposes Scout and Jem attending the African American church due to their differences. This quote supports the claim that people's behavior changes in the presence of racism. Additionally, another quote supporting this idea is 'Cal's not leaving this house until she wants to, Alexandra'. Aunt Alexandra holds prejudiced beliefs and dislikes black women, implying that they are inferior. This example reinforces the claim that racism affects characters' actions and speech based on skin color. Racism remains a pivotal aspect of the story, and one of its major negative consequences is how it shapes the characters' behavior and language towards individuals of different races.

Racism affects various aspects of the novel, including the trial's outcome, characters' words and actions, and notably, Jem's attitude throughout the story. Jem undergoes significant changes, predominantly influenced by racism. As evidence, Jem vehemently declares, 'I never want to hear about that courthouse again, ever, ever, you hear me? You hear me? Don't you ever say one word to me about it again, you hear? Now go on!'. This quote illustrates Jem's aversion to discussing courthouses due to the recent events involving Tom Robinson. It substantiates the claim that if the Tom Robinson incident had never occurred, Jem's reaction would have been different. However, given Tom's unjust conviction and subsequent death because of his race, Jem finds it even more distressing to broach the topic. Another quote depicting Jem's emotional state is when Scout states, 'It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd'. This quote reveals Jem's sorrow over Tom's conviction and how he bursts into tears upon leaving the courthouse. It supports the claim that Jem's attitude is visibly affected by the trial's outcome, primarily driven by racism. Racism's negative effects can be far-reaching, and in this story, they significantly impact Jem, as evident from the notable changes in her attitude and demeanor.

Conclusion

Racism plays an immense role in this novel, as emphasized in the preceding paragraphs. It influences multiple aspects of the story, including the trial's outcome, characters' behavior and speech, and Jem's attitude. Racism profoundly affects the trial's outcome, ultimately determining its result. Furthermore, it shapes the way people act and speak about individuals of different races, particularly with the pervasive use of racial slurs. Lastly, racism significantly impacts Jem's emotional state and character development throughout the narrative.