Maycomb is a typical southern town in Alabama in the 1930s. Segregation of races is the norm and whites dominate the financial, social, and political atmosphere. Loyalty to one's race is an unspoken rule which cannot be crossed with impunity. Not only that, but anyone who is different from the "norm" is treated differently and without respect. Therefore, there are many circumstances in To Kill a Mockingbird, where prejudice and discrimination can be seen.
First, Boo Radley is a very shy man who never comes out of his house. As a result of his different-than-normal behavior, people such as Miss Stephanie Crawford make up tales and expand on old rumors about him. For example, people blame everything weird that happens in Maycomb on Boo Radley. Scout explains as follows:
"Once the town was terrorized by a series of morbid nocturnal events: people's chickens and household pets were found mutilated; although the culprit was Crazy Addie . . . people still looked at the Radley Place, unwilling to discard their initial suspicions" (9).
Thus, when it comes to Boo Radley, he is shown prejudice by being blamed for odd happenings around town just because he behaves differently than the majority.
Next, there's Tom Robinson. Not only is he black, but he also has a crippled arm. Tom overcomes these minority difficulties by going to work each day, attending church, and helping neighbors like a good citizen. But just as a strike of bad luck hits him, he is treated worse than a second-hand citizen. Tom is completely innocent, but just because a white man claims that he raped his daughter, Tom is arrested and charged. As a result, Tom's wife Helen can't get work to feed her three children. She is discriminated against because of the nature of the crime Tom is charged with. When Scout learns about Helen's troubles in chapter 12, she asks Reverend Sykes why she can't get work. Reverend Sykes softens the answers as follows:
"To tell you the truth, Miss Jean Louise, Helen's finding it hard to get work these days . . . when it's picking time, I think Link Deas'll take her" (123).
This proves that Maycomb is not only prejudiced and willing to discriminate against black "criminals," but they will take out their prejudiced feelings against innocent women and children.
Finally, Mrs. Dubose is the queen racist of them all because she is willing to take out her prejudiced feelings on innocent children as well. She disagrees with Atticus defending Tom Robinson and she isn't afraid to let his children know. The worst she says to the children is as follows:
"Yes, indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I'll tell you! . . . Your father's no better than the ni**ers and trash he works for!" (102).
What kind of woman says something so vile to children about their father? A racist one. The sad thing is that Mrs. Dubose represents what most of the people in Maycomb are thinking with regards to Atticus.
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