To Kill A Mockingbird Social Injustice Essay

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The theme of social injustice is central to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and the lessons the novel teaches about compassion and understanding are still relevant today. Harper Lee used the setting of a small town in rural Alabama in the 1930’s as a backdrop to explore several different forms of social injustice, among them racial prejudice and social ostracism. Racial prejudice was best illustrated through the character of Tom Robinson, a black man who was on trial for the rape of a white woman. The injustice of social ostracism was exemplified through the character of Boo Radley, a recluse who had been misunderstood and taunted by the community. The theme of racial prejudice is touched upon in many areas of the novel, but it stands out most clearly in the character of Tom Robinson and his trial. Tom Robinson, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white girl. Tom was a kind-hearted man who was just trying to help someone in need, but because he was black most of the white people in Maycomb believed him to be guilty. The attempt by some of the …show more content…
Tom Robinson’s story illustrates not only the great unfairness of racial prejudice but also the destructive power it has on those who hold those prejudices. Boo Radley is a gentle human being who is excluded from society. People ridiculed him without even knowing him. It was not until Boo saved Scout did she come to know him and respect him as a person. Scout learned you should know someone before judging them. The novel challenges the reader to treat people fairly and not judge them based on appearances, whether it is the color of their skin or an appearance based on idle gossip and rumor. The reader learns that they should be compassionate and understanding of others and that one truly cannot understand a person until they step into their shoes and see the world through their
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