The Courthouse Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

In his newspaper, “Field Newspaper Syndicate”, Carl T. Rowan writes: “It is often easier to become outraged by injustice half a world away than by oppression and discrimination half a block from home.” Rowan implies that people are often blind to what is right in front of them. People will let injustice infect the community without even trying to end it. They want to fix the issues in the world, but cannot see the ones right in front of them. Similarly, in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, discrimination and injustice flow through the streets without people batting an eye. The courthouse symbolizes injustice and the rabid dog symbolizes racism. Therefore, the rabid dog and courthouse show that discrimination and prejudice have deadly effects upon a community. 

The rabid dog, Tim Johnson, symbolizes the discrimination in the community. For example, when Calpurnia warns the neighborhood about the dog, the people don’t bother to help: “ Every wood door within our range of vision was closed tight” (Lee 10.107). When hardships arrive in Maycomb, the people do not want to deal with it and just leave it alone. The citizens refuse to interact with the dog because of their ideals and perceptions. Even if they know it is wrong, most individuals will take the easy way out. The situation shows that when it comes to touchy subjects, most citizens would rather stay silent  than discuss or take action. Additionally, the rabid dog poses a threat when dead. For example, after Atticus shoots the dog, he tells Jem: “Don’t you go near that dog, you understand? Don’t go near him, he’s just as dangerous dead as alive” (10.111). The dog shows how discrimination can still be an issue even if the problem is handled. The disease of racism flows through Maycomb because no one deals with the problem properly. It will cause people to choose sides. These ideals then become normal for the community and people think ill of the ones who go against their view. Furthermore, the people of Maycomb leave their messes without cleaning them up. For instance, when it is time to clean up the dog, Zeebo is called to handle it: “We saw Zeebo drive up. He took a pitchfork from the back of the garbage truck and gingerly lifted Tim Johnson” (10.112).  There is a divide between the white community and the colored community. The white community does not want to handle or fix the racism in the neighborhood and because of that, the colored community is affected. The colored community is pushed out to live near the dump and is seen as lower. They are expected to do the work. Tim Johnson represents how people deal with racism in the neighborhood. People will shut their doors and not discuss it while they let other people handle it. Thus, the rabid dog shows how when people become blind to discrimination, the community is affected. 

Similarly, while the rabid dog represents racism, the courthouse represents injustice. For example, when Scout goes to the courthouse, she describes it as old: “But for the south porch, the Maycomb County courthouse was early Victorian, presenting an unoffensive vista when seen from the north. From the other side, however, Greek revival columns clashed with a big nineteenth-century clock tower housing a rusty unreliable instrument…”(16.185).  The courthouse having an ancient look to it shows that the people are stuck in the past and in the old ways of life. The people of Maycomb do not want to look at things from a new perspective. Some people are harshly affected by the old views and will suffer all because of someone else's viewpoint. They may have the ability to change the way something works, but will not because it makes their life more comfortable.  Additionally, there is a divide between people in the courtroom. For example, the white community is sitting at the bottom, while the colored community is at the top: “The Colored balcony ran along three walls of the courtroom like a second-story veranda, and from it we could see everything”(16.187). The courthouse is meant to be a place of equality, yet the people are still segregated in the courtroom. There is a different perspective in the courtroom. The colored community is sitting at the top and is able to see the unfairness and cruelty that they are being treated with, while the white community cannot see it. The element of irony is shown here because the colored community is aware of the injustice that is happening, while many white people are unaware of their wrongdoings. It is the wrong people that are witnessing the truth about their community. Furthermore, the Tom Robinson case took an unexpected turn. For example, Tom Robinson was convicted guilty of raping Mayella Ewell: “Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Gulity…guilty… guilty… guilty…’”(21.240). Despite all the evidence proving that Tom was innocent, he was convicted as guilty. When it is a white man's word against a black man, the white man will always have the advantage, no matter the situation. It is unjust to base something on the color of someone's skin, yet that is what they do. The courthouse is meant to be a safe place where everyone is equal and people can judge based on facts and evidence. But what happens in this courthouse is quite different. Some people are favored over others which causes an imbalance of power. Therefore, the courthouse represents the injustice seen in the community. 

Thus, the rabid dog and the courthouse show the outcome that prejudice and racism have on society. The dog causes people to look the other way and not take action. The people of Maycomb want to have other individuals take care of the issues and for them not to deal with it. The courthouse divides the people even further. The ones who do not see the injustice that is happening sit at the bottom, while they should be sitting at the top. The courthouse is supposed to be a place of equality, however, it is anything but. History is known to repeat itself if people do not learn from it. The racism and injustice seen in this time period are still continuing today. People as a whole need to not shy away from the topic and instead do something about it. No one is the same as someone else. Everyone goes through different experiences that shape us, yet it is important to be one and stand together as one to face the challenges that society will throw at people.