Literary Analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay Example

📌Category: Books, To Kill a Mockingbird
📌Words: 610
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 21 June 2022

The United States is universally known for its diverse community and various races but can result in; bigotry, hostility, and brutality.  In Maycomb, the county opens up the lives of southern people and its great poverty due to the surge of the Great Depression.  The human race is also a source of hatred and racism.  In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts the loss of social status, ignorance, and need for acceptance that causes particular individuals to hate others who are different from themselves.

To begin with, Harper Lee depicts the loss of social status and shame as a cause of hatred when Bob Ewell proceeds to stalk Helen Robinson along with the individuals he is willing to hurt.  Around the corner, Bob Ewell is present from the glimpse of Helen Robinson's vision.  “...she looked around and saw Mr. Ewell walking behind her.  She turned and walked on, and Mr. Ewell kept the same distance behind her until she reached Mr. Link Deas’s house" (Lee 334).  Bob Ewell’s motives and efforts to redeem his goal were the causes of shame and the loss of social status.  Because of his race, he looks at himself with more power and integrity over African Americans, which is why he took out his rage and frustration against Helen due to her connections with Tom.  When the curtains unfolded that Tom Robinson was dead, it is better to mention that he is not the only one running through Bob Ewell's mind.  “...That Mr. Ewelll said it made one down and about two more to go.  Jem told me not to be afraid, Mr. Ewell was more hot gas than anything” (Lee 323).  Bob Ewell’s behavior was the loss of social status and shame because of the major drawback he received during the court trial. His plans ended up backfiring towards him, which is why he took another route and took his rage towards the characters in the novel.  

The need for acceptance is another significant cause of hatred depicted in the novel.  This cause is recognized when Aunt Alexandra brings up how Scout dresses and Aunt Alexandra refuses to bring Walter home to their dinner.  Along the way, Aunt Alexandra notices Scout's outfit looks displeasing.  “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire.  I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that require pants” (Lee 108).  Furthermore, Aunt Alexandra is against what Scout usually wears.  She wants Scout to dress up as a lady and behave in a mannerly fashion, compared to her tomboy personality.  She lacks acceptance and does not realize that she is still developing her character.  As soon as Scout invites Walter to come along for dinner, Aunt Alexandra disapproves of her generosity immediately.  "'Jean Louise, there is no doubt in my mind that they’re good folks.  But they're not our kind of folks'” (Lee 299).  After Scout requested to bring Walter home for dinner, Aunt Alexandra ended it off by refusing to let him come along.  She views Walter as trash and someone that will never change over time.  Aunt Alexandra does not display remorse, along with accepting others.

To sum up, not all people are willing to create change, which results in more gasoline poured into the fire.  Human hatred, caused by social status, people's ignorance, and degrading human values and acceptance, can be seen throughout the novel.  The power that most white people possess against the blacks back then is widely known in current society.  Treating others like they are objects instead of human beings.  Hatred will forever continue and never burn down unless we humans can change ourselves.

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