A STUDY OF STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE AND RACIAL INJUSTICE IN LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Abstract

The study includes johanGaltung’s structural violence Theory (1969) introduced in influential article “violence peace and peace Research.Structural violence means systemic indirect harms to individual but it is done through legal ways. Structural violence refers to social structure or institutions harm individuals by preventing them from meeting basic needs. It is indirect, built in to systems like poverty, racism, or inequality, often appearing invisible yet deeply damaging (Galtung,1969). The objective of this study is to examine the way literature shows invisible forms of social injustice. The Novel was set in 1930s Alabama, dispensed a concrete picture of indirect violence through racism, injustice and institutional failure. The story focuses on a trail of Tom a black man blamed of raping White women. He is innocent despite evidence in the favor of him he dies brutally. Tom’s death indicates implanted racial bias within the judiciary system.The Novel explores structure system law, education and social norms advocate inequality and oppressed the disempowered people. The structure violence is evident Tom character in novel to kill a Mockingbird. Novel explores deep themes of racial injustice and moral growth through the innocent eyes of scout Finch. Harper Lees uses the trial of Tom Robinson to highlight the entrenched racism in southern society and the importance of empathy and integrity. This qualitative textual analysis highlightes inequality and sufferings. Society’s treatment toward Tom character showes the racism and social status, moral values. The significance of this research is as it talks about indirect violence, inequality, social injustice and racism.