Themes in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Racism is a theme that is explored throughout the book. Scout grows up in a racist community and reflects that when she tells Dill that it's no big deal, and Tom's only a black person. As the novel progresses, Atticus teaches Scout through his actions and words that you don't have to view someone by the color of their skin. When he defends Tom Robinson, she sees that he is a human being just like anyone else. Unfortunately, her cousin Francis is not able to see this. As a result of a racist family, he tells Scout that Atticus is a "nigger lover."

Although Scout learns to see beyond a person's skin color, the people of Maycomb County obviously have not. This is proven when the jury finds Tom guilty, even though there is no evidence of his alligation. Tom could not even use his left hand, which is the hand that had been used most on Mayella. I believe the jury was just frightened of what everyone else would think, because to say Tom Robinson is innocent, is to say that a black man is better than a white man, and to Maycomb County, that is unspeakable.