First of all, there is direct and indirect characterization. Direct characterization is when the author explicitly informs the reader about the traits or qualities that a character possesses. Indirect characterization, on the other hand, is either demonstrated by the things a character says or does, or when traits and qualities must be inferred by the reader because the author merely implies or suggests certain information. With that said, Harper Lee uses both direct and indirect characterization to reveal prejudice or inequalities through her characters; and it ranges from the major characters to the minor ones as well. For example, one way Lee shows inequality through indirect characterization is on the day of the trial when the white folks are filing into the main floor of the courtroom. Some old men are hanging out before entering and some black folks attempt to climb the stairs to the balcony, as in the following passage:
"The Negroes, having waited for the white people to go upstairs, began to come in. 'Whoa now, just a minute,' said a club member, holding up his walking stick. 'Just don't start up them there stairs yet awhile" (163-164).
These characters are so minor that their names aren't even mentioned, but their behavior indirectly shows prejudice and inequality all in one moment. The white man with the cane is prejudiced because he won't even allow the black community to ascend to the balcony until he sees fit. By holding up his stick and telling them not to go up the stairs yet, the reader infers what the man implies, that the black people are unequal to him. The practice of segregation during the trial, too, shows inequality and prejudice as well.
Another example of a character showing prejudice and inequality is Miss Gates, Scout's third grade teacher. During a current events lesson, Cecil Jacobs brings in an article about Hitler taking away the rights and property of Jews and sending them to prison. After a lengthy discussion about the difference between democracies and dictatorships, Miss Gates says the following:
"When you get to high school, Cecil, you'll learn that the Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country. It's one of the most terrible stories in history" (245).
The irony about this whole scene is that not once did Miss Gates make the similar connection to the African Americans who were taken from their country and brought to America to be slaves. She clearly does not make the effort to discuss how African Americans are also persecuted and denied rights in America, which just happens to be a democracy. Through indirect characterization, the reader can either assume that Miss Gates is a hypocrite, or just plain short-sighted and unintelligent. Fortunately, Scout doesn't fall for Miss Gates' game. Scout goes home and asks Jem about it, as in the following passage:
"Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates...she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home--" (247).
What Scout says is more of a direct characterization about Miss Gates because she sees the discrepancy between what Miss Gates said in school about Hitler and the Jews compared to her prejudiced comments after the trial. Scout can sense the inequality in the situation, but she's still a little too young to put a name on it--hypocrisy. Through indirect characterization, it takes the whole scene at school, then Scout discussing it at home, to come to the conclusion that Miss Gates is a hypocritical bigot. Had Lee simply written what Miss Gates was, then that would have been called direct characterization.
On final example of Lee portraying prejudice and inequality through characterization is with Mrs. Dubose. Scout comes right out and directly says that Mrs. Dubose is mean, but she solidifies it by saying she sits with a Confederate revolver under her skirts. This gives the reader an image of a crazy woman with a gun, but it gets worse because of her mouth. Mrs. Dubose is characterized not only as hostile by the things she dares say to other people's children. She also shows how prejudiced she is when she tells Jem and Scout, "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (102). The things people say definitely show their true character sometimes. By saying this, Mrs. Dubose not only shocks the kids, and possibly the reader, she also shows her prejudice and unequal feelings towards African Americans.
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