IntroductionRacial discrimination encompasses any form of discrimination directed towards individuals based on their skin colour, race, or ethnic origin (OHCHR, 1965). In the United States, this bias against African Americans based on their skin colour persists even today (Monk, 2015). It is not limited to America but prevalent worldwide. Throughout history, racial or ethnic groups have faced discriminatory laws, practices, and actions in America and other countries. Minorities have been systematically denied rights and privileges, while white individuals, particularly European Americans and affluent white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, have often benefited from legally sanctioned advantages such as immigration, citizenship, voting rights, land ownership, and criminal justice procedures (Wikipedia contributors). This issue of racial discrimination has long been intertwined with American literature, with numerous novels and short stories addressing this theme (Race and Prejudice in American Literature | Encyclopedia.com). Among them, Harper Lee’s works, namely, To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman , shed light on the topic of racism.Nelle Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, a small town in Alabama which replicates the fictional town ’Maycomb’ in the novels. Atticus Finch is said to have been based on Lee’s father, newspaper editor and humanitarian lawyer Amasa Coleman Lee. In 1919, in his lone criminal case, he unsuccessfully defended two African American men accused of murder. This case was the inspiration for the narrative of To Kill a Mockingbird (Foca and Fine, 2023). The novel was written in 1930s America. At that time America was going through the years of “Great Depression”. The same setting, characters are there in her another novel Go Set a Watchman . In fact, both the novels uphold the racial tension between whites and blacks in pre-war and post-war America. The novel Go Set a Watchman includes treatments of many of the characters who appear in To Kill a Mockingbird . The stories in the novel run in a linear manner. Lee has presented two different Scout; one is 7 years old in To Kill a Mockingbird and another one is 26 years old Go Set a Watchman . She realizes the changes and differences in his father who once used to be a negro lover now turning into a racist person. This may be shocking. But in societal pressure, this was very common in those days. The whitewashed society did not like the black people and did not want white man to support them.This research paper aims to explore and analyze the theme of racial prejudice in 1930s-1950s America as depicted in the renowned novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman , written by Harper Lee. The paper delves into the instances of colour-based discrimination, highlighting the social dynamics and racial tensions prevalent during that era. By examining the characters, events, and societal attitudes portrayed in the novels, this research aims to shed light on the ways in which racial prejudice manifests and its lasting impact on individuals and communities.To Kill a Mockingbird , published in 1960, explores the story of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, a young white girl who witnesses the trial and experiences the pervasive racism and inequality that shape the lives of African Americans in her community. Through Scout’s perspective, Lee depicts the deep-seated biases and systemic discrimination faced by Tom Robinson, who is denied justice solely due to the colour of his skin.The research paper aims to analyze the character of Atticus Finch, Scout’s father and a respected lawyer who defends Tom Robinson in court. Atticus represents a moral compass and the embodiment of justice in the novel, challenging the prevailing racial prejudices of the time. However, the paper will also examine the complexities of Atticus’s character and the societal pressures he faces, which ultimately affect his ability to dismantle the racist structures of Maycomb. By critically examining Atticus’s role, this research aims to delve into the challenges and limitations of challenging deeply ingrained racial biases within a predominantly white society.Furthermore, the research paper will explore the ways in which Harper Lee presents the transformation of Atticus Finch’s character in her later novel, Go Set a Watchman , published in 2015 but set two decades after the events of To Kill a Mockingbird . Go Set a Watchman revisits Maycomb, with Scout, now known as Jean Louise, returning to her hometown as an adult. The novel reveals a different side of Atticus, as Jean Louise discovers his involvement with a white supremacist group. This shift in Atticus’s mindset reflects the changing political landscape of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the rise of racial tensions during the Civil Rights Movement. By examining this transformation, the paper seeks to delve into the complexities of racial attitudes and the ways in which individuals, even those initially perceived as heroic and just, can harbour deeply ingrained prejudices.Through a close reading of both novels, this research paper aims to demonstrate the ways in which Harper Lee skilfully depicts racial discrimination and challenges prevailing societal norms. The analysis will examine the social, political, and historical context of the novels to shed light on the systemic racism faced by black individuals and the challenges encountered by those who seek to combat it.The research paper will adopt a qualitative approach, analyzing the narrative techniques, character development, and thematic elements employed by Harper Lee. Primary sources will include the novels themselves, supplemented by critical analyses, scholarly articles, and historical references that provide insights into racial discrimination in America during the period under consideration.
