Question How has the study of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird informed your ideas about the theme of prejudice? Response Harper Lee's critically acclaimed novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," looks deeply into the faults and strengths of humans and furthermore, explores how prejudice can influence people's perspectives and be a barrier to understanding. This text has significantly broadened my view of the different types of prejudice in 1930's and has shown me how the lessons this text instils about prejudice still apply in today's society. Through the eyes of Scout, the reader learns about the racial, social and gender prejudice displayed by the townspeople of Maycomb County. Lee effectively explores these aspects of prejudice through the first person narration of Scout and the symbolism of the mockingbird. Through the first person narration of the child Scout, the reader gets a better understanding of the theme of prejudice. As Scout is merely a child she is not infected with what Atticus calls "Maycomb's usual disease" (racism) and has an innocent and naive view of the world. She does not share the same mindset and fears as most of the people in Maycomb who are typical white Southerners still resentful of losing the Civil War in the 1800's, and believing African-Americans to be beneath them. In the beginning of the novel, Scout has little comprehension of the prejudiced views the majority of Maycomb hold. As the novel progresses however she learns that not everybody shares her beliefs that all people should be treated equal as she sees Tom Robinson being convicted for rape simply because he was a Negro whose word was being held against that of a white woman. She begins to develop a mature understanding of prejudice and how it can blind people to the truth a clear example in the case of Tom Robinson where the evidence capable of acquitting him was insurmountable and yet, he was found guilty because of the, "evil assumption that all Negr