How Does Miss Gates Show Injustice

Introduction to the Subject">Introduction to the Subject

In Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," the theme of injustice pops up quite often through different folks and situations. One character that stands out when talking about this is Miss Gates, Scout's third-grade teacher. She’s supposed to be teaching kids about right and wrong, but man, does she miss the mark on her own community’s problems! This essay dives into how Miss Gates really symbolizes injustice with her conflicting beliefs and actions. By looking at her character, we get a better grip on just how widespread injustice is in society.

Detailed Analysis">How Does Miss Gates Show Injustice?

At first glance, you might think Miss Gates is all about justice and equality. She talks big when discussing Adolf Hitler with her class. She's like, "Over here, we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced" (Lee 331). Seems like she's genuinely against injustice, right? But hold up — there’s some serious irony here because she totally overlooks the racial discrimination right in front of her nose in Maycomb.

Moreover, while she slams persecution in Germany, she's ignoring the racial inequality happening back home. Remember Tom Robinson? He was a black man falsely accused of rape. Instead of worrying about that mess, she focuses on distant troubles. This double standard shows how hypocritical her views really are.

Miss Gates also shows off some major ignorance about what’s going down in Maycomb. During a chat about Hitler and the Jews, Scout overhears Miss Gates saying something like, "It's time somebody taught them a lesson..." (Lee 331). Yikes! That exposes her racist side and makes it clear she doesn't see how African Americans face similar struggles as Jews did in Germany.

This clash between condemning overseas persecution but making racist comments at home shows just how blind folks like Miss Gates can be when they say they're against injustice. And this ignorance? It just keeps the inequality train rolling without any stops for progress.

Despite knowing what's happening in Maycomb, Miss Gates doesn't do much to challenge it or stand up for what's right. For example, during Tom Robinson's trial — which shakes up the whole town — she's quiet as a mouse. No support for Tom or questioning if he was really guilty. Her silence speaks louder than words about her real character and highlights her as a symbol of injustice.

Her lack of action reflects bigger issues of societal complacency too. Her quietness — and others like her — lets systemic racism keep chugging along unchecked. Through her character, Lee Key Points out how crucial it is to actively fight against injustice instead of being a passive bystander.

Concluding Remarks">Concluding Remarks

Miss Gates from "To Kill a Mockingbird" really embodies injustice with her two-faced beliefs, cluelessness about racial inequality, and lack of action. Looking at her character gives us insights into how deep-seated injustice is in our world today. Her critique of persecution abroad paired with ignorance at home highlights hypocrisy among those claiming to oppose injustice. Plus, not taking action shows why it's vital to stand up and fight against these issues actively rather than just watching things unfold silently around us.

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