To Kill a Mockingbird: An Analysis of Discrimination - Essay Example

According to history, during the Depression era the blacks were marginalized amd were not allowed to mingle with the whites much more intermarriage is considered a taboo. In the novel, one white family breaks this social prejudice and stands in the gap to bridge the whites and the blacks (http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/major-themes/). Interestingly, the way the characters are represented gives a hint about the way the blacks are positioned in such a way that they appear to accept and are contenetd with their roles such as: Calpurnia, Arthur “Boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, Nathan Radley, and the mistress of Mr.

Dolphus Raymond, Capurnia is the black cook of the Finches. She is described as intelligent and a tomboy. She is also a strict disciplinarian. Although the position of a cook is very crucial and may be delicate in any family both for the whites and blacks, it is still a low position. This role implies that blacks have their expected place in the white man’s household and that is to do the menial and manual tasks. To appear balanced, the author describes her as intelligent, however this seems to emphasize that her own race does not usually possess such qualities.

In other words, the rest of the blacks can be termed as illiterate and unlearned. To add more insult to injury, her odd position in the white man’s place is heightened by her being a tomboy. A tomboy is considered a deviant especially durig the time of the novel’s setting. To entrust one’s household especially with a young girl like Scout can be courting harm. She is also described as disciplinarian, this is because she has stood as the constant adult female companion of the children. Actually, the Finches are considered one of the “odds” or the only deviants of the society for allowing a black cook to befriend the children and even discipline them.

This condition has been deepened when Atticus Finch chooses to defend Tom Robinson in court against a charge