To Kill a Mockingbird Racism Essay Example

During the time of the great depression racism and prejudice was a very common and upfront adversity that many people had to overcome. Harper Lee's To kill a Mockingbird is a bildungsroman book set during the great depression, in Alabama. Alabama is a country in which racism and segregation towards the black community and those who did not live up to society's standards was and still is quotidian. If a person did not live up to the standards of society they would be segregated and prejudiced against. In to kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that many characters did not have the privilege of living in a just and fair society due to the appearance of their skin and their choice of lifestyle. 

In Maycomb county the black community is segregated and excluded from the rest of society. The black community is forced to stay within their own side of the town, use the property designated for them and be around people of the same race. ‘Why you bringin’ white chillun to nigger church’. The colloquial language gives insight to the black community's lack of education due to segregation and racism. Living in derelict conditions and not having access to proper facilities due to the colour of the skin. Though this quote shows that white people (Jem and Scout) are not welcome, it also shows that black people are segregated from the rest of the population, having a church to themselves, and the white community having their own church. Despite having the same religion and the same god, even regarding religion and worship, people find it difficult to come together and unite. Unable to set aside their irrational differences due to physical appearances. Atticus explains the epidemic of racism and injustice to his kids. ‘ When it's a white man's word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They're ugly but those are the facts of life.’ Personifying the facts of life, as if trying to make it more comprehensible for his children. After the court case Atticus realises that his children are at the appropriate age to know the true reality of life. Giving them the true facts of the experiences some people have to go through in their life. Ultimately showing us the racism and injustices people had to face due to their physical appearances and racial differences leading to segregation.

Arthur Radley is a character in the book (most commonly known as Boo Radley by the children) characterised as peculiar due to the way in which he lives his life. His life is completely secret as opposed to everybody else in Maycomb resulting in absurd assumptions and scenarios about his life. ‘He dined on raw squirrels and ate any cats he could find’. Arthur Radleys decision to stay within doors contradicts with the idea of what is perceived as normal by everybody else, leading to people assigning him with animal characteristics. The zoomorphism shows that the way one chooses to live can create negative impressions on their character. Considering that the children have never seen Arthur Radley outside his house the children believe that his only source of food could be raw squirrels and cats. The children envision Arthur as a creature who devours anything within his sight, a malevolent predator that they should stay away from. Whereas the adults see him as an outsider for doing things differently. ‘‘The shutters and doors of the Radley house were closed on Sundays, another thing alien to Maycomb’s ways.’ The adjective ‘alien’ shows that if you did not live the way the rest of the society lives you would be considered different, not necessarily in a good way. If you did not live up to society's standard of what is considered to be normal you could not be part of it.  Being described as an alien shows that Arthur does not fit in with the rest of society, like an alien would not fit in amongst humans. Thus showing that because he is different he is mocked and segregated by society.

Harper Lee shows real life experiences that some must endure through the characters of the black community and the character of Arthur Radley. Both enduring segregation and prejudice due to the differences they have with the superior majority. Excluding those who are different, if you did not live up to society's standard of normal you would be disregarded. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a bildungsroman set during the great depression in Alabama during a time overrun with  injustices, racism, segregation and prejudice.