When Scout describes the lives of the Ewells, when Robert is called to testify in court, a certain passage caught my eye in which I believe where the book's message and theme is rooted in:
"All the little man on the witness stand had that made him any better than his nearest neighbor was, that if scrubbed with lye soap in very hot water; his skin was white."
"...[H]is nearest neighbor.." invokes Tom Robinson, and the rest of the quote exemplifies the inequalities and injustices of racial segregation and discrimination in the 1900s southern United States. It's key that Harper Lee diminishes Robert Ewell as a "little man", deeming him an outsider, powerless, and maybe even worthless. The image I picture when I read this quote is that of a standing Robert Ewell, inside a bathtub, scrubbing his skin from all the muck, grit and dirt, exposing a layer of pristine white skin under a layer of black tar. This statement also foreshadows the events and results of the Tom Robinson case; but the question remains: Will the Ewells' white privilege cloud the all-white jury's judgment, or will the jury apply radical morals and ethics to overcome desensitized and perpetual segregation?
When reading the novel this quote did not evoke such a powerful message, but after review of your analysis, I agree with the significance that this impactful comment has on the piece as whole. The theme of racism is clearly developed, which supports my post that details the struggle of innocent children to understand the division of color. I believe that this quote also provides insight onto humanity, as it implicitly states that one should be judged by their character not the color of their skin.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your question. Although typical novels have a "happy ending," I believe that the jury's judgment will be in favor of white privilege. However, the resolution to the plot will be made significant by the theme that is developed.
I really like the quote you chose and also links very well to the piece we read in class. Harper has indeed put the focus on how the color of you skin determined the type of life one lived. And due to the time this story was set the verdict is probably going to be guilty and like the author has mentioned several times throughout the book that this would be tough case for Atticus.
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