Three characters who effectively challenge prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird include the following: Calpurnia, when she is confronted by Lula in chapter 12; Scout, when she helps to turn back a mob in chapter 15; and Atticus, when he refuses to fight Bob Ewell in chapter 23.
First, in chapter 12, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church because their father is held up at the state legislature. Calpurnia is not allowed to attend the children's church because she is black, so she has no other option than to take them to hers. Most of the congregation accept the children as guests; however, Lula feels differently. Lula confronts Calpurnia by saying the following:
"I wants to know why you bringin' white chillun to nigger church. . . You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here--they got their church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?" (119).
Calpurnia responds to Lula calmly by saying that the children are her guests. She also answers by asking, "It's the same God, ain't it?" Because Calpurnia responds peacefully, she is then able to soften the situation while not giving into the prejudiced attack. As a result, the children peacefully attend Calpurnia's church and without any further argument.
The next example of effectively challenging prejudice is found in chapter 15 when Scout softens the hearts of those in the Cunningham lynch mob. Scout talks to Mr. Cunningham about being friends with his son and how her father has helped him with entailments in the past. She also reminds him of what is most important in life--family and friends. Consequently, Mr. Cunningham orders the mob to go home. As a result, Atticus and the children don't get hurt in an attempt to lynch Tom Robinson. Scout doesn't understand what is really going in this scene; but because of her kindness and child-like ways, she is able to challenge the prejudices felt by the members of the mob and influence them not to carry out a lynching.
Finally, Bob Ewell has prejudiced feelings against Atticus for honestly defending a black man during the recent trial. As a result, Ewell verbally attacks Atticus in public. Atticus effectively challenges Bob Ewell's prejudiced feelings in chapter 23 by not responding to Ewell's invitation to fight. By not giving Ewell the satisfaction of fighting, Atticus immediately ends the conflict. This shows that acknowledging someone's prejudiced feelings gives them power; therefore, not responding to them is one of the best ways to handle such situations. In fact, Atticus responds to Ewell's provocations to fight by saying that he's too old to engage in fighting. When discussing the matter later at home, Atticus explains the following to his son:
"Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out there" (218).
Thus, Atticus effectively challenges prejudice by not responding to it. Secondly, he teaches his son that there are many issues behind people's behavior and their prejudices. If a person chooses not to give those prejudices power over their own behavior, then the negativity can end there.
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