Today’s stubborn mindset has influenced many of us to view the word tolerance with the definition of being able to allow actions which one disagrees on, but as explained in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, tolerance also means to be able to understand someone and see their perspective on certain events, which when integrated to one’s personality, promotes integrity and discourages discrimination. Because of the discrimination in Maycomb, Tom Robinson faces unfairness in court, and residents of Maycomb that oppose such discriminatory views become supporters of equality, and their integrity helps African Americans with problems that they face. Atticus’ beliefs in equality and his defenses for Tom Robinson eventually make Scout and Jem face the “adult world” while learning the importance of tolerance. Scout’s use
…show more content…
Harper Lee’s use of discrimination, tolerance, and integrity show the readers the morality of certain actions, which helps them know how to act morally in reality.
As most of the characters of To Kill a Mockingbird view African Americans and people of a lower class as inferior, characters such as Bob Ewell discriminate against others, showing their immorality. Although the witnesses, Bob Ewell and Mayella Ewell, redescribe the events of the Tom’s crime with clear evidence of lying, Tom Robinson’s case results in Tom’s conviction and his eventual death because “when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” (Lee 220). Tom’s conviction reveals Maycomb’s common belief that African Americans should not receive a fair trial, even when the only difference between a white and an African American is their skin color. Because of the juries unjustifiable judgment on Tom and the Ewells unethical actions in court, Tom wrongly dies due to an nonexistent crime, and his death affected the lives of his family especially his wife. Helen, Tom Robinson’s wife, not only loses someone
Harper Lee’s use of discrimination, tolerance, and integrity show the readers the morality of certain actions, which helps them know how to act morally in reality.
As most of the characters of To Kill a Mockingbird view African Americans and people of a lower class as inferior, characters such as Bob Ewell discriminate against others, showing their immorality. Although the witnesses, Bob Ewell and Mayella Ewell, redescribe the events of the Tom’s crime with clear evidence of lying, Tom Robinson’s case results in Tom’s conviction and his eventual death because “when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” (Lee 220). Tom’s conviction reveals Maycomb’s common belief that African Americans should not receive a fair trial, even when the only difference between a white and an African American is their skin color. Because of the juries unjustifiable judgment on Tom and the Ewells unethical actions in court, Tom wrongly dies due to an nonexistent crime, and his death affected the lives of his family especially his wife. Helen, Tom Robinson’s wife, not only loses someone