As a story based on the Great Depression, the period shapes many aspects of life that contrast largely with that of today's society. The 1930s in the South were a time of inequality in many ways. Although several years after slavery was abolished and rights for people of color began to emerge, issues of racism, race, and ethnicity persisted in the South as people failed to let go of their old habits and traditions. Additionally, women's rights were still a new concept at this time, with women's right to vote not becoming law until 1920. Women and blacks were treated as less superior, a conflict widely illustrated in this story of injustice and coming of age. a young girl who discovers the world in which she lives. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the author depicts the theme of prejudice in many aspects of life in Maycomb, including that of race, gender, and class to show the immense inequality of this period. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Race plays a significant role in To Kill a Mockingbird, shown primarily when a black man is convicted of a rape that 'he did not commit because of his race. “In our courts, when it is the word of a white man against that of a black man, it is always the white man who wins”, “as you get older, you will see white men deceiving black men all the days of your life.” This quote describes the results of inequality during this time. Although the truth is clear: Tom is innocent, but people of this era are so controlled by society's ideas about race that they falsely accused him. Because of this mindset, another innocent person, among many others during this period, was condemned to a death he did not deserve. Just like a mockingbird, people of color are killed without consideration. Gender roles were another important part of life during this time and paved the way for many young women to live as servants to others. This concept was not accepted by Scout, who fought the influence of others trying to change her. As a "tomboy", Scout wanted to be treated equally with Jem and not be seen as weak because of her gender. "I wasn't so sure, but Jem told me that I was a girl, that girl was always imagining things, that's why other people hated them so much and if I started acting like one, I could just go away and find some to play with.” This quote shows that from a young age, children learn that men are superior. Because of this, Scout tries her best to show others that even though she is a girl, she still wants to belong to her group of friends equally. Social class plays another important role in Maycomb, and a person's name sets the stage for how one is treated and judged. An example of this is the Ewell family, who are treated above the law because of their social class and name. Each family is treated a certain way in order to keep the peace, and while this can help avoid legal problems, it also creates stereotypes and drama within the town. “But I want to play with Walter, aunt, why not?” » She took off her glasses and looked at me. 'I'll tell you why,' she said, 'Because he's trash, that's why you can't play with him'” (Lee 225). This quote explainshow class and name play an important role in how others perceive people. Aunt Alexandra based her opinions on these ideas, not their true identities, like many others in Maycomb. Overall, prejudice is a concept that has existed forever and will continue to exist as long as people judge others based on their differences. Before Tom Robinson, the habit of judging others based on their race and class was easy because people chose to stick with the status quo. However, when Tom was sentenced, many were able to see the underlying problems in their city and question if it was fair. Although some were pleased with this conviction, those like Jem, Scout, Atticus and the black community were ashamed of the way prejudice had taken over their town and the world. It matters. Ultimately, prejudice remains one of life's greatest conflicts and is the root of many problems, then in a period of internalized and institutionalized racism, as well as today, when people hide a false sense of equality. A mockingbird, prejudice is one of the major themes repeated throughout the book. Many characters are prejudiced against other characters, while others try to fight back. The setting takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. The narrator of the book is a very innocent young girl named Scout. One of the main reasons Harper Lee has a child narrate the book is because there isn't a lot of bias when discussing important topics like bias. The main character Scout only sees people as people, which is very different from how other townspeople act. Other townspeople are prejudiced. The three types of bias presented in the book are race, socioeconomic, and gender. Harper Lee uses three different types of prejudice to criticize society and try to get it to change its ways. The first example of prejudice is racial prejudice. This is demonstrated by what Atticus says in his final argument: "...in the cynical confidence that you, gentlemen, would accept them assuming – the wrong assumption – that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are fundamentally immoral beings, that all niggers lie. We can’t trust the men around our women…’” (Lee 273). This quote shows that Atticus is trying to get the town to move past their prejudices and just look at the facts. It is clear that Tom Robinson did not do what Mayella Ewell claims to have done, but the town believes her because of her racial bias. Atticus wants people to try to overcome their prejudices, because it is terrible to assume that everyone is the same just because of their color or race. The townspeople are blinded by their prejudices, and Harper Lee uses this quote to show that we can overcome our ways of letting our prejudices and opinions prevent us from seeing the truth. Not only do opposite races face prejudice, but people of the same race can also experience its effects. In To Kill A Mockingbird, prejudice is one of the major themes repeated throughout the book. Many characters are prejudiced against other characters, while others try to fight back. The setting takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. The narrator of the book is a very innocent young girl named Scout. One of the main reasons Harper Lee has a child narrate the book is because there isn't a lot of bias when discussing important topics like bias. The main character Scout only sees people as people, thiswhich is very different from how other people in town act. Other townspeople are prejudiced. The three types of bias presented in the book are race, socioeconomic, and gender. Harper Lee uses three different types of prejudice to criticize society and try to get it to change its ways. The first example of prejudice is racial prejudice. This is demonstrated by what Atticus says in his final argument: "...in the cynical confidence that you, gentlemen, would accept them assuming – the wrong assumption – that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are fundamentally immoral beings, that all niggers lie. We can’t trust the men around our women…’” (Lee 273). This quote shows that Atticus is trying to get the town to move past their prejudices and just look at the facts. It is clear that Tom Robinson did not do what Mayella Ewell claims to have done, but the town believes her because of her racial bias. Atticus wants people to try to overcome their prejudices, because it is terrible to assume that everyone is the same just because of their color or race. The townspeople are blinded by their prejudices, and Harper Lee uses this quote to show that we can overcome our ways of letting our prejudices and opinions prevent us from seeing the truth. Not only do opposite races face prejudice, but people of the same race can also face prejudice.effects of prejudice. Jem and Scout encounter prejudice when they go to church with Calpurnia. “Lula stopped, but said, 'You don't have to bring white chilluns here – they have their church, we have ours'” (Lee 158). Jem and Scout didn't really encounter any prejudice until that point. Jem and Scout don't understand why Lula acts this way and are offended. Harper Lee uses this quote to show that there are two sides where both races in the town are wrong because they both act based on prejudice. Harper Lee also wants us to realize that it doesn't have to be this way and that we can treat each other as equals. When Atticus decides to take responsibility for the trial, Jem and Scout encounter even more prejudice. One of their classmates, Cecil Jacobs, said, "'My parents said your dad was a disgrace and 'that nigga should be hung from the water tank!' » (Lee 102). Cecil Jacobs says this because his parents are crazy, and like the rest of the town, Atticus is defending someone they think is guilty. Cecil Jacobs learned to do this from his parents. Harper Lee uses this quote to show us that children absorb what their parents say and repeat it without thinking about what it means. She wants people to be careful about what they say around their children and teach them to accept everyone. She focuses a lot on racial bias in the book to try to get us to open our minds to racial equality. The second example of bias is socio-economic. An example of this is when Jem says, “There are four kinds of people in the world. There are ordinary people like us and the neighbors, there are people like the Cunninghams in the woods, people like the Ewells in the dump and the blacks” (Lee 302). In the book, Jem matures, and as he matures, he also loses his innocence. The city's prejudices begin to influence him and he begins to see through the city's eyes. Scout, on the other hand, only sees people for people's sake. She still has her innocence. Harper Lee uses this quote to criticize the fact that we teach our children to be this way. She thinks we need to change this, look.