To Kill a Mockingbird Final About Race

Myrella Angrisani

March 24, 2015

To Kill A Mockingbird

Reading

After much analyzing of the book To Kill A Mockingbird I have come to the conclusion that the main theme is race. This topic occurs very often throughout the book because of the Tom Robinson trial and the constant mistreatment of African-Americans throughout this book. The time and place of this novel makes an incredible impact on the racial theme and the storyline of the book.

I believe that the theme of this story stayed constant throughout the book. An example that comes in the very first chapter is when Scout explains who Calpurnia is. Scout briefly points out that Calpurnia is their cook. During this time period it was very common for African-American people to become servants to “white-folk”. Racial remarks come into the story numerous times. Another example in which something racist was mentioned was on page 110 when Francis, Scout’s cousin, exclaims, “He’s nothin’ but a nigger-lover!” when he is talking about Atticus. From my reading I know that Atticus is called this crude name multiple times in To Kill A Mockingbird because he defends negroes, one of them being Tom Robinson. From my reading I know that race carries on even in the last few chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird. In chapter 26, on page 329, Miss Gates states her opinion on Hitler persecuting the Jews and how horrible she thinks it is. On page 331 Scout is talking to Jem and reveals that Miss Gates was being hypocritical. Scout says,”Well, she was coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was-she was goin’ down the front steps in front of us, you musta not seen her-she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I hear her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-”. According to the text, Miss Gates was being...