In Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the antagonist is the racist and discriminatory society of Maycomb, Alabama, which is personified through a number of characters and institutions.
One of the main antagonists is Bob Ewell, a white man who is portrayed as being ignorant, hateful, and violent. Ewell is the father of Mayella, the young white woman who falsely accuses Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping her. Ewell's racist and violent behavior is exemplified by his attack on Atticus Finch, the novel's protagonist and Tom Robinson's defense lawyer, as well as his threat to harm Scout, Atticus's young daughter.
Another antagonist is the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist organization that terrorizes the black community in Maycomb. The Klan represents the institutionalized racism that is deeply entrenched in the society of Maycomb, and their presence serves as a constant reminder of the injustices faced by black people in the South.
The judicial system also serves as an antagonist in the novel, as it is biased against black people and fails to deliver justice in the case of Tom Robinson. The trial of Tom Robinson is a clear example of the inherent racism in the legal system, as the evidence clearly points to his innocence, yet he is still found guilty due to the prejudice of the white jury.
Overall, the antagonist in To Kill a Mockingbird is the prejudiced and discriminatory society of Maycomb, which is represented through the actions of individuals like Bob Ewell and the presence of institutions like the Ku Klux Klan and the judicial system. Through the portrayal of these antagonists, Harper Lee highlights the deep-seated racism and injustice that existed in the South during the 1930s.
"The World Made Straight" is a novel by Ron Rash that tells the story of Leonard Shuler, a young man living in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina in the 1970s. The novel is set against the backdrop of the region's tumultuous history, including the Civil War, the timber and tobacco industries, and the ongoing struggles of the working class.
At the beginning of the novel, Leonard is a high school dropout who is struggling to find his place in the world. He is drawn to the illicit world of marijuana farming, and begins working for a local dealer named Carlton Toomey. Leonard is drawn to the easy money and the sense of belonging that the drug trade provides, but he also struggles with feelings of guilt and the fear of getting caught.
As Leonard becomes more involved in the drug trade, he is forced to confront the harsh realities of the world around him. He witnesses the brutality of the drug business and the corruption that pervades every level of society. He also begins to understand the deep-seated injustices that have shaped his community, including the exploitation of the working class and the ongoing effects of the Civil War.
Despite these challenges, Leonard is able to find hope and redemption through his relationships with the other characters in the novel. He forms close bonds with his mentor, a former Vietnam War veteran named Travis, and with a young woman named Maddy, who helps him see the world in a different light. With their help, Leonard is able to confront his own demons and begin to build a better life for himself.
Ultimately, "The World Made Straight" is a powerful and moving story about the struggle for identity and the search for meaning in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving. Through the experiences of Leonard and the other characters, the novel offers a poignant commentary on the human condition and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.
