Effects Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Prejudice is a common theme seen throughout life and has a major effect on many people in today’s society. However, a half century ago prejudice was seen even more than it is today. People who experience prejudice are similar to a mockingbird because they are harmless yet they have a target on their back for no reason. Like shooting a mockingbird is a sin, so is judging other people. This theme is commonly referred to in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee’s characters of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird are compared to mockingbirds to display the negative effects prejudice can have on a community.
Atticus Finch is one character easily compared to a mockingbird due to the prejudice he faces for having different views and values than majority of the community. Atticus discusses with his children about the trial he is taking on where he must defend a black man and how it affects his moral values, “There’s been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man… If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head in town” (Lee 86). In Maycomb, Atticus has been taking some heat for wanting to do what he thinks is the right thing to do. He has the unpopular opinion in town about whether Tom Robinson, a black man, should have a good white lawyer to defend him. Simply having a different opinion than the other people in town causes Atticus to face some prejudice and judgement. Atticus knows prejudice is a relevant issue …show more content…
Prejudice negatively affects society and has no benefits. The people who face prejudice mirror a mockingbird due to the way they are treated. People are commonly misrepresented because of their opinions, race, or social status. The rumors that accompany harmless people facing prejudice are rarely true causing them to be a mockingbird in

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