"To Kill A Mockingbird": Appearance versus Reality

Appearance versus reality is a major theme in the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. There are many incorrect perceptions in the town of Maycomb county which include Jem and Scout's opinion of their father, Jem's judgement of Mrs. Dubose, the town's delusion of Boo Radley and the town's outlook of the black community. In the introductory segment of the novel, Jem and Scout look at their father as an embarrassment and they think his age …

…in the town of Maycomb which causes people to confuse themselves between appearance and reality. Jem and Scout's opinion of their father, Jem's judgement of Mrs. Dubose, the town's delusion of Boo Radley and the town's outlook of the black community are because of people who have mistaken appearance for reality. We learn through this novel and this important theme, that mistaking appearance for reality is a major factor of life to be careful about.