The text, "To kill a mockingbird" broadens our understanding of people and the world around us. It does that by presenting to the reader a number of important issues which are relevant to us today. These issues include racism, prejudice, and the co-existence of good and evil.
Racism is an important issue that is still present in today's society and relevant to the community. This is also one of the most important theme presented in the book. Racism is seen when Scout is ridiculed by her cousin, who said "Your dad is nothing but a nigger-lover!' Level of language is used here to show contempt. This is accentuated by contrasting the fact that its spoken out of the mouth of a child, which symbolises purity, with the influence of racism, showing the reader how widespread racism is in society. Another example of this would be Tom Robinson, who was destroyed as a result of racism being present in the society.
Screenshot of To Kill a Mockingbird(an American mo...
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A wine juryHis case, which had evidence clearly in favour his innocence received the verdict of Tom being guilty, as the consequence of him "feeling sorry" for a white woman. This action caused an uproar in the jury, and he was convicted not based on the evidence, but because he assumed that he was on equal levels with a white person. The unfairness was made more clear by the juxtaposition of the evidence that would definitely prove him innocent, and the verdict which was handed down. This broadens our understanding of people and the world, as it depicts accurately what the human community was like at that time, and lets the reader learn from it.
Prejudice is another significant issue that broadens the understanding of the reader. It is one of the most commonly seen events in the book. This...