There are several examples of people fearing what they do not know or understand throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The most obvious example of individuals fearing the unknown is the way the children view the mysterious Boo Radley at the beginning of the novel. They believe the negative rumors that portray Boo Radley to be the "malevolent phantom" who commits small crimes throughout the community. In reality, Boo Radley is simply a reclusive, shy individual who has fallen victim to his father's religious fanaticism.
During Atticus' closing remarks of the trial, he speaks about the "evil assumption" that all black men are essentially immoral beings, which is the predominant view held by Maycomb's citizens. The citizens of Maycomb fear the black community because they do not understand that race has nothing to do with a person's character or morals. They hold prejudiced beliefs and stereotype the entire black community instead of attempting to understand the differences in each other's culture.
In Chapter 24, Mrs. Grace Merriweather displays her fear about foreign cultures and tribes in Africa. She is culturally ignorant and does not understand the Mrunas' society, values, and beliefs. She concludes that there is nothing but sin and squalor on the continent of Africa, instead of approaching the Mrunas' culture with an open mind.
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