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To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

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Quotes Illustrating Racism and Prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary:

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Bob Ewell's racism is evident through his derogatory language and actions, notably during Tom Robinson's trial and his harassment of Helen Robinson. He uses racial slurs frequently and shows no respect for black individuals, as seen in various confrontations with Atticus Finch and others. Atticus, in contrast, condemns racism, emphasizing the injustice of racial prejudice in his discussions with his children. Calpurnia, meanwhile, addresses class prejudice, advocating for empathy and equality. The trial of Tom Robinson highlights the pervasive racial biases in Maycomb, with many townsfolk expressing prejudiced views.

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What are four quotes illustrating Bob Ewell's racism and rudeness in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The Ewells are white, but very poor.  They live on the fringes of Maycomb society, not literate or employed.  Bob Ewell, the head of the family, is a drunk and an abusive father.

The first evidence that Bob Ewell is racist is that he accuses Tom Robinson of rape.  Although he uses very colorful language when testifying, some of the same racist language is used by Mr. Tate quoting Mr. Ewell.

Mr. Tate said, “It was the night of November twenty-first. I was just leaving my office to go home when B—Mr. Ewell came in, very excited he was, and said get out to his house quick, some nigger’d raped his girl.” (Ch. 17)

It was not uncommon in this time to refer to blacks with that word.  However, the way Bob Ewell used it and meant it was unquestionably racist.  He had no respect for Tom Robinson and thought nothing of accusing him of rape.  He was just another black man.

During the trial, Ewell also makes a derogatory comment about where Tom Robinson lives.

“Why, I run for Tate quick as I could. I knowed who it was, all right, lived down yonder in that nigger-nest, passed the house every day. Jedge, I’ve asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they’re dangerous to live around ‘sides devaluin’ my property—” (Ch. 17)

It is clearly racist to say that the blacks living near him should have been cleaned out, and to refer to their homes as a “nest.”  It shows that he is racist, and confirms that he considers himself above them even though he lives in a pigsty.  His children could have the advantages of whites, but he denies them those by choice.

When the jury convicts Robinson, it is not enough for Ewell.  He targets Atticus on the street, angry that he has made a fool of his family and angry at him for taking the case in the first place.

Mr. Ewell was a veteran of an obscure war; that plus Atticus’s peaceful reaction probably prompted him to inquire, “Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin’ bastard?” (Ch. 23)

Atticus is very polite to Ewell, and does not take it seriously when he is threatened.  He should have.  Bob Ewell is a racist and a coward, and he has nothing else in his life but his pride.  What little he had, Atticus took from him.

Ewell’s reaction to Tom Robinson’s death is not hard to imagine.

Miss Stephanie told Aunt Alexandra ... that Mr. Ewell 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. (Ch. 25)

Ewell attacks Jem and Scout, but Boo Radley rescues them.  Ewell is killed and that's the end of it, but the Robinsons' lives will never be the same.  Tom Robinson is dead, and his family is outcast.  Bob Ewell took everything from them.

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What quotes show prejudice from Atticus, Bob Ewell, and Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus Finch 

In chapter 11, Scout is having a conversation with her father concerning Mrs. Dubose's derogatory, racist comments. When Scout asks her father if he is a "nigger-lover," Atticus responds by saying,

"Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything—like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody" (Lee, 112).

In chapter 23, Atticus has a conversation with Jem about the outcome of the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus then explains to Jem that the jury's decision to convict an innocent man was simply based on Tom's race. Atticus proceeds to tell Jem,

"As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash" (Lee, 224).

Bob Ewell

In chapter 23, Bob Ewell reveals his racist character when he confronts Atticus at the post office. Bob attempts to entice Atticus to fight him by saying,

"Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin‘ bastard?" (Lee, 221).

In chapter 27, Bob once again reveals his racist nature by attempting to frighten Helen Robinson on her way to work. Whenever Link Deas threatens him, Bob says,

"I ain’t touched her, Link Deas, and ain’t about to go with no nigger!" (Lee, 257)

Calpurnia

In chapter 3, Calpurnia addresses class prejudice, which is expressed by Scout's rude comments concerning Walter Cunningham Jr.'s eating habits. Calpurnia chastises Scout for her lack of empathy and blatant prejudice by saying,

"Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo‘ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo‘ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em" (Lee, 25).

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I need quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird which concern prejudice with Tom Robinson and his trial. Please include page numbers. 

Tom Robinson is an innocent, vulnerable black man who was wrongly accused of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell on the evening of November 21st. Atticus Finch is Tom's attorney, and he plans on valiantly defending his client in front of a racist jury and audience. Given the prejudiced makeup of Maycomb's small town, the majority of white citizens are upset that Atticus is defending a black man. Numerous citizens use racial slurs to describe Tom Robinson, and Atticus's children are forced to defend their father on a regular basis before the trial. In chapter 9, Cecil Jacobs uses a racial slur to describe Tom Robinson when he tells Scout,

My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an‘ that nigger oughta hang from the water-tank! (Lee, 41).

In chapter 11, Scout and Jem walk past Mrs. Dubose's home, and she offends them by saying,

Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers! ...Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for! (Lee, 55).

In addition to the racial slurs the prejudiced citizens use to describe Tom, the prosecuting attorney Mr. Gilmer reveals his racist personality by speaking down to Tom and by openly disrespecting him during his cross-examination. When Tom testifies that he felt sorry for Mayella, Mr. Gilmer pauses and repeats Tom's words by saying,

You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her? (Lee, 105).

Mr. Gilmer knows that it is unheard of for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman and uses Maycomb's prejudiced social conventions in his favor. Mr. Gilmer also disrespects Tom by continually calling him "boy," and both the Ewells use the racial slur "nigger" to describe Tom during their testimonies. Tragically, Tom Robinson is wrongly convicted of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell and is sent to the Enfield Prison Farm, where he attempts to escape and is shot dead. Following Tom's death, Scout recalls the prejudiced community's thoughts and feelings regarding Tom Robinson by saying,

You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer’s mighty thin. Nigger always comes out in ‘em (Lee, 128).

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