Two major people in To Kill A Mockingbird are prejudged; Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. One man is the victim of prejudice; Atticus Finch. These men are mockingbirds. For a mockingbird has never hurt anyone, and neither has Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, nor Tom Robinson. Boo Radley is prejudged because he chooses to stay in his domicile. While Tom Robinson is prejudged because of his color.

Atticus Finch becomes a victim of prejudice due to his valiancy to help an innocent black man; Tom Robinson. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson and prejudged; but because prejudice is so inclusive, even those who help the “mockingbirds”, Atticus, become victims of prejudice.

Maycomb people gossip about Boo Radley because he chooses to stay in his house, while Tom Robinson is stereotyped by Maycomb because of his skin color. Rumors are spread about these men because most of Maycomb is guilty of prejudice.

Boo Radley is generally gossiped about by Miss Stephanie Crawford. Miss Stephanie recounts to Jem about rumors spread about Boo Radley. “So Jem received much of his information from Miss Stephanie Crawford…”( Lee, TKAM 11 ). Miss Stephanie explains an erroneous rumor about Boo. “As Mr. Radley passes by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg…” ( 11 ).

Tom Robinson is prejudged by many people, some include Scout, Mr. Gilmer, and Bob Ewell. For example, when Scout says, “Well, Dill, after all he’s just a Negro” (199). Maycomb people are the sin of all prejudice in Maycomb. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are mockingbirds.

Both of these men are victims of prejudice. To take advantage of these men would be a sin, just as it would kill a mockingbird. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…that’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird (90).” Tom Robinson is taken advantage of by the Ewell family. Tom had nothing against anybody, especially the Ewells’.

He would help Mayella with her chores, and the part of it that made him a mockingbird is that he did not want anything in return. “Were u paid for these services…No suh, not after she offered to give me a nickel the first time (191).” What makes Boo Radley a mockingbird is that he has never really never hurt anybody, he minds his own business while watching over his children.

The Ewell family and many other people in Maycomb have sinned, distinctively Bob Ewell, because they took advantage and prejudged to innocent men; Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. People who help the mockingbirds also become victims of prejudice.

Atticus Finch tries to defend Tom, but in doing so, Atticus becomes a victim of prejudice. People in Maycomb lose respect for Atticus because he is defending a black man. In Maycomb, it was erroneous to defend a black man against a white. Atticus is also gossiped about, essentially by Mrs. Merriweather.

“I tell u there are some misguided people in this town…folks who think they’re doing right…not for me to say who…but all they did was stir ’em up (232). ” Therefore, those who help the people that are prejudged, become victims of prejudice.  Many people in Maycomb prejudge Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.

In TKAM, Harper Lee shows how widespread prejudice is, using from Atticus’ standpoint to a Tom Robinson and Boo Radley standpoint. Tom and Boo are not given a chance.

Tom died because he was not given a chance, because of his skin color, and also because he was prejudged. He was convicted guilty of rape, and ended up shot. Tom was a mockingbird though because he showed intrepidity. Boo was not given a chance either.

Boo is hated for not coming out of his house, but Boo had the intrepidity to watch over his children and save their lives. The courage to help the “mockingbirds” is really what conquers prejudice.

author avatar
William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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