To Kill a Mocking Bird

Courtroom Stereotyping

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author shows how stereotyping leads to racism and judgement and can be avoided by seeing through someone else's point of view. Scout got very angry with Mrs. Caroline because she did not want her to read at home with Atticus. Atticus explains to her that she should not be judging anybody until they are in their skin, which is the lesson the author is trying to teach the reader. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 39). Atticus is trying to teach Scout about judgement. He explains to her that you will never fully be able to understand someone until you are in their position. Atticus believes that part of the reason why there is stereotyping is because people do not understand each other. In fact, many people in Maycomb who are misunderstood are discriminated against by the townspeople, including Boo Radley, the Ewells, and all black people.Additionally Atticus (a white man) defends Tom Robinson (a colored man), he wasn't concerned about the color of his skin he just wanted to make sure he got the justice he deserved.