Theme of racism - snowman
Racism is explored as a theme in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Racism mainly occurs towards the end of the book and surrounds the court case and Tom Robinson. However, in chapter 8, Harper Lee explores the theme of racism through the symbol of the snowman which Scout and Jem make. The snowman consists of brown mud to begin with and Scout says ‘Jem, I ain’t ever heard of a nigger snowman'. Jem replies with ‘He won’t be black long.' Scout does not realise it, but she is being racist by using the offensive word nigger (see nigger). This also shows Scouts innocence (see theme of innocence) because she is too young to understand what nigger really means and how it is racist. Jem soon covers the snowman in snow to make it white.
Harper Lee may be using the symbol of the snowman to show her views about racism and that deep down all humans are the same. The snowman is black on the inside and white on the outside and this shows that no one should be labelled 'black' or 'white'; we are all the same inside. The snowman also highlights the control the white people had over the black people (the white snow is covering and surrounding the black dirt).
Harper Lee may be using the symbol of the snowman to show her views about racism and that deep down all humans are the same. The snowman is black on the inside and white on the outside and this shows that no one should be labelled 'black' or 'white'; we are all the same inside. The snowman also highlights the control the white people had over the black people (the white snow is covering and surrounding the black dirt).