To Kill a Mockingbird essay 1
Emma Wilczek 10PA
Prejudice
“How does Harper Lee use minor characters in To Kill a Mockingbird to explore some
of the main concerns of the novel?”
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, minor characters are utilised to explore major themes
throughout the novel. One of the major themes discussed throughout To Kill a Mockingbird is
prejudice. Characters within the text all experience prejudice in their lives; some are prejudiced and
some are recipients of prejudice. Dolphus Raymond is a constant recipient of prejudice and is used to
communicate the ideas of prejudice to the reader. Aunt Alexandra is one of the most prejudice
characters included in the novel, and is not only prejudiced against one group of people but many.
Mayella and the Ewell family are crucial characters in the exploration of prejudice as they are both
prejudiced and are recipients of prejudice.
Dolphus Raymond demonstrates the theme of prejudice throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a
Mockingbird. Dolphus Raymond is a white man married to a black woman with mixed race children.
For this, he is regarded by the majority of the Maycomb community as an evil man and they perceive
that he is a senseless drunk. The population see him this way due to prejudice; they assume that he
must be senseless and evil as he lives with black people whom the majority of Maycomb are
prejudiced against. Mr Raymond is a very interesting character as he accepts the prejudiced views of
the community, as shown in the quote: “Some folks don’t - like the way I live.” […] “I try to give ‘em
a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.” […] “they could never, never
understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.”’ (221). This emphasises that the
population of Maycomb are very prejudiced and are firmly set in their ways. The quote also displays
how Dolphus understands how the community thinks. He uses this knowledge to his advantage, he
appeals to their preconceptions so he can live the life he chooses to lead. He is willing to compromise
his status to fit into society in the minds of Maycomb’s population. Dolphus Raymond is used in the
text to display how unwavering prejudice in a community can be as well as the sacrifices that victims
of prejudice make to find harmony within their lives.
The theme of prejudice is also channelled through the minor character of Aunt Alexandra. Atticus’s
sister Alexandra is a haughty, vain woman who throughout the novel makes comments, gives advice
and makes decisions due to prejudiced ideas. Aunt Alexandra holds prejudices against races, social
stature and gender. Aunt Alexandra is constants making remarks to Scout that suggest that she has
preconceived ideas about what the role of a woman is. She suggests that Scout, and ladies in general,
should wear dresses, attend tea parties, and speak only when spoken to. As Aunt Alexandra is
prejudiced against black people she makes the decision to disallow Scout and Jem to visit the home of
their nanny; Calpurnia. She also believes that because of the colour of Calpurnia’s skin she should be
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To Kill a Mockingbird essay 2
Emma Wilczek 10PA
retired from her position, and is constantly suggesting the notion to Atticus. Aunt Alexandra’s
decisive ‘advice’ to Scout about avoiding Walter Cunningham, who is extremely poor, demonstrates
she is also discriminative in relation status. ‘“Because – he - is - trash, that's why you can't play with
him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what.”’ (248). This
quote highlights the true roots of Aunt Alexandra’s judgment. She has never met Walter, she only
knows his last name and because of this assumes he is of bad character and she forbids Scout from
playing with him. Aunt Alexandra is used, very effectively, to explore the theme of prejudice as she
embodies the views and beliefs of the majority of white population living in the South during that
time.
Mayella Ewell and the Ewell family are very important in the exploration of prejudice throughout the
novel. Mayella and her family are not only prejudiced but also subject to prejudice. The Ewell family
is very racist and even though Mayella was willing to kiss a black man, she only did so as no man
would accept her due to her family. The Ewells are forever harassing the black community whom they
neighbour and are constantly calling them derogatory names. “‘That nigger yonder took advantage of
me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin'
cowards.'" (207). Not only does Mayella use the most offensive, derogatory term to describe Tom
Robison, she is lying about being attacked and assuming that the jurors are as racist as her family is
and will convict him based on his skin colour alone . Although Mayella and her kin are extremely
prejudiced they are also subjected to prejudice. This is obvious when Scout writes: “Atticus said the
Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations” (33). Though the Ewell family
rightfully deserve their reputation, from this statement it is obvious that as long as a person is a Ewell
they are a disgrace. Another indication that the Ewells succumb to prejudice is in the courtroom when
Atticus addresses Mayella as ma’am and Miss Mayella to which Mayella takes offence. This implies
that no one has ever addressed her politely before, even though most women her age would have been,
which illustrates she is regarded as inferior by all of Maycomb. Mayella Ewell and her family are very
effective communicators of the theme of prejudice as they are both prejudiced and recipients of
prejudice.
Minor characters throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Micking Bird are used to explore the theme of
prejudice. Dolphus Raymond is a suffer of prejudice, Aunt Alexandra is extremely prejudiced against
many groups of people and Mayella and her family are subject to prejudice as well as prejudiced
themselves. All characters within the novel are exposed to prejudice in some way, much as we are in
life, it is how they deal with it that sets them apart.
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