The objective of this paper is to try to identify as precisely as possible, what constitutes racist behavior in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, directed by Robert Mulligan. And, to show how does the plot, dialogue, acting, cinematography and setting are designed to make the viewers reject racist behavior on both emotional and intellectual grounds.
The clearest example of what constitutes racist behavior in the film is the very fact that Tom Robinson was declared guilty by an all white jury, even though there were more than enough proves that proved otherwise. Also the use of terms such as “Boy” to make reference to a Negro, or “Niger Lover” to refer to a person who has no racist prejudices whatsoever, therefore sympathizes with Negroes as this person sees them as person not as colors. Also facts such as the unconceivable idea for a Caucasian to understand that a Negro can feel sorry for a White person, this is taken as an insult by pinkies; or the fact that the film takes place in the south of USA by the time when racial segregation was still very well established and openly expressed.
At last, in the film, we can consider as a racist behavior too, not only the fact that negroes are implied to have works in plantations as we can infer because the way the males dress, or the females take on the worn out roles of caring nannies; but even more, the fact that being a racist is taught to the younger, the children are brain washed so that they won’t break the “Severe Code of Society” which says that white race rules, negroes are slaves and the races don’t mix. The children’s innocence is ripped off by creating a wall in their subconsciousness, a wall that divides people according to the way they are genetically and phenotypically constructed. Nevertheless, these racists would feel guilty of physically inking the souls of these children, taking away their pure innocence by making them watch an execution provoked by racial segregation.
Apart from the previously commented, it is important to see how the technical aspects of the film make the viewers reject racist behavior. In concern to the plot, one can see that during the developing of it, for the first thirty minutes or so, the audience is exposed to an almost perfect nuclear family in which the role of the mother is taken by a black female, also the father model has no prejudices at all against any race and appears as a integral and successful person. This makes the audience take his side in advance, before the conflict of the film actually starts, a racial segregation conflict. This is reinforced by the acting of Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch); Atticus is portrayed as a person, who can hardly harm anyone. Atticus Finch is a “Niger Lover,” obviously because he knows what is right and wrong, and also knows what is the right thing to do. Finch is a well educated, humble, idealistic, moral, intelligent, peaceful, family oriented person with very good values that he teaches to his children. Atticus Finch is a person who is in complete power and use of the concept of empathy. And this is why the audience, can easily take his side. The movie, as is previously said in this paper, is set in the south of the United States of America during the 30’s, but more importantly for the purpose of this essay in the fact that in the setting, the lighting becomes darker as the plot gets complex, casting stronger shadows (one could say that there is a touch of German Expressionism), and all the transcendental scenes or turning points of the film take place during the night.
Finally according to cinematographic factors, the important thing to say is that the effect required on the audience is reached by the mise-en-secene elements, the attitudes and movement of the characters, but even more, by the symbolism that is presented in the film. The clearest example is the trial of Tom Robinson, in which we reject the subjective and racist declaration of the jury, but is this is just what the audience feels, but the reasons are the symbolisms written between the lines. In the court room, Tom Robinson and Finch are on the right, representing good, and the racist are on the left representing bad forces of evil. Also the fact that the audience is only shown the Defense Argument on the trial, infers that is unnecessary to hear a bunch of lies from the other side. And finally, the fact that the kids are with the Negroes, let the audience know that innocence is with the Negroes; but more interesting, and this is from a catholic point of view such as the perspective of the movie, is the fact that black people are upstairs, they represents the maximum goodness ever known to men, they represent Heaven, they represent God himself looking down at this mockery and feeling ashamed about it. Downstairs are the Caucasians, the white people representing earth or probably hell, they are the symbol for the bad things, and the forces of evil. This and many other symbolisms can be found throughout the film. These technical decisions were made to make the viewers reject racist behavior on both emotional and intellectual grounds, by teaching them that in a short term it might seem as if it is pointless to struggle, but in the long run, one realizes that is not useless, but just the first step; and a thousand miles journey starts precisely, with this first step.
Moreover, this film states that no matter how deep the racial segregation or social prejudices are, the power of childish pure innocence will always be stronger, therefore, at the end, justice and the superior good always prevails.
The clearest example of what constitutes racist behavior in the film is the very fact that Tom Robinson was declared guilty by an all white jury, even though there were more than enough proves that proved otherwise. Also the use of terms such as “Boy” to make reference to a Negro, or “Niger Lover” to refer to a person who has no racist prejudices whatsoever, therefore sympathizes with Negroes as this person sees them as person not as colors. Also facts such as the unconceivable idea for a Caucasian to understand that a Negro can feel sorry for a White person, this is taken as an insult by pinkies; or the fact that the film takes place in the south of USA by the time when racial segregation was still very well established and openly expressed.
At last, in the film, we can consider as a racist behavior too, not only the fact that negroes are implied to have works in plantations as we can infer because the way the males dress, or the females take on the worn out roles of caring nannies; but even more, the fact that being a racist is taught to the younger, the children are brain washed so that they won’t break the “Severe Code of Society” which says that white race rules, negroes are slaves and the races don’t mix. The children’s innocence is ripped off by creating a wall in their subconsciousness, a wall that divides people according to the way they are genetically and phenotypically constructed. Nevertheless, these racists would feel guilty of physically inking the souls of these children, taking away their pure innocence by making them watch an execution provoked by racial segregation.
Apart from the previously commented, it is important to see how the technical aspects of the film make the viewers reject racist behavior. In concern to the plot, one can see that during the developing of it, for the first thirty minutes or so, the audience is exposed to an almost perfect nuclear family in which the role of the mother is taken by a black female, also the father model has no prejudices at all against any race and appears as a integral and successful person. This makes the audience take his side in advance, before the conflict of the film actually starts, a racial segregation conflict. This is reinforced by the acting of Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch); Atticus is portrayed as a person, who can hardly harm anyone. Atticus Finch is a “Niger Lover,” obviously because he knows what is right and wrong, and also knows what is the right thing to do. Finch is a well educated, humble, idealistic, moral, intelligent, peaceful, family oriented person with very good values that he teaches to his children. Atticus Finch is a person who is in complete power and use of the concept of empathy. And this is why the audience, can easily take his side. The movie, as is previously said in this paper, is set in the south of the United States of America during the 30’s, but more importantly for the purpose of this essay in the fact that in the setting, the lighting becomes darker as the plot gets complex, casting stronger shadows (one could say that there is a touch of German Expressionism), and all the transcendental scenes or turning points of the film take place during the night.
Finally according to cinematographic factors, the important thing to say is that the effect required on the audience is reached by the mise-en-secene elements, the attitudes and movement of the characters, but even more, by the symbolism that is presented in the film. The clearest example is the trial of Tom Robinson, in which we reject the subjective and racist declaration of the jury, but is this is just what the audience feels, but the reasons are the symbolisms written between the lines. In the court room, Tom Robinson and Finch are on the right, representing good, and the racist are on the left representing bad forces of evil. Also the fact that the audience is only shown the Defense Argument on the trial, infers that is unnecessary to hear a bunch of lies from the other side. And finally, the fact that the kids are with the Negroes, let the audience know that innocence is with the Negroes; but more interesting, and this is from a catholic point of view such as the perspective of the movie, is the fact that black people are upstairs, they represents the maximum goodness ever known to men, they represent Heaven, they represent God himself looking down at this mockery and feeling ashamed about it. Downstairs are the Caucasians, the white people representing earth or probably hell, they are the symbol for the bad things, and the forces of evil. This and many other symbolisms can be found throughout the film. These technical decisions were made to make the viewers reject racist behavior on both emotional and intellectual grounds, by teaching them that in a short term it might seem as if it is pointless to struggle, but in the long run, one realizes that is not useless, but just the first step; and a thousand miles journey starts precisely, with this first step.
Moreover, this film states that no matter how deep the racial segregation or social prejudices are, the power of childish pure innocence will always be stronger, therefore, at the end, justice and the superior good always prevails.
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