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Social class inequality in to kill a mockingbird
Social class inequality in to kill a mockingbird
The racism in killing a mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel that covers many different well known issues with prejudice. Not only is racism a big problem in this book, but judgement based on social class is also evident. Economic class in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is shown in many ways from how people are treated and talked about, to how people assume that they live their lives. In chapter two of the novel we follow Scout through her first day of school. Whenever lunch time rolls around a boy named Walter Cunningham has no lunch to eat. Miss Caroline, their teacher, tries to offer him money to go buy a lunch. When Walter continuously refuses the money, Scout feels like she should explain things some. “Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.” Scout says, expecting this to be a good enough explanation for her teacher. Scout’s attempt to help, is referring to Walters family’s economic situation. “...The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back…” She adds. This event in the book shows that there are some definite social classes within Maycomb county and even the children recognize it. …show more content…
Jem stops the fight, and figures that the best thing to do would be to invite Walter over to have a meal with them. Scout begins to make fun of the way Walter eats, and Calpurnia calls her to the kitchen. Cal explains that company is company and they can eat however they would like to. “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham-” Scout begins, but gets cut off by Calpurnia. Cal says that you shouldn’t disgrace people just because you think you are better than them. At this point in the novel we begin to see how people around Maycomb see others that may not have as much as them. These people that are lower economically are talked about and treated as if they are not as good as higher class people within
It is acknowledged by many readers that there are many different social classes in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. One of the most obvious social class distinctions is between skin colors, which can be seen through this novel. Since most readers’ focal point of this novel is on the distinctions between skin colors, they are unlikely to pay attention to the difference in social class within the white community. Lee wants to illustrate a contrast in white society and how characters behave differently through the uses of character foil, characterization, and the theme of society inequality in order to emphasize the differences in social classes.
Cunningham demonstrated that he could remain as a good-hearted individual regardless of how poor he is, while still sustaining a role of a responsible parent to his son Walter Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham still however has his own opinions and beliefs towards things like the Tom Robinson situation; he is apart of the mob that tries to lynch Tom before the trial. However when Scout approaches Mr. Cunningham talking to him about Walter, his first action is to go back and leads the mob to do so as well. He was in front of the Maycomb’s jailhouse and cleared the men from harming Tom Robinson by saying “ Lets clear out,” he called. “ Lets get going boys” (Lee 154). Mr. Cunningham conveniently had the option to lynch Robinson in jail and follow through with his own beliefs towards him, however when he acknowledges the consequences regarding Walter, right away he put his beliefs aside and puts his son before them. Scout helps him realize that he should not make the choice of punishment to Tom Robinson. It is obvious that Mr. Cunningham raises Walter very well based on the way that he acts to others even without money or much to offer. It would be expected for him to accept help right away however Walter does not accept anything without feeling like he has earned it. At school, not being able to buy a lunch, the teacher offers him a quarter to have one however he does not accept her charity because he would not be able to pay back. Walter had an option to obtain a lunch, something he did not have and obviously would want because he is unable to afford it, however he put his honor and self respect before taking something away from others, because that is how well mannered he is by his father. Not having a lunch would leave him hungry for the day however that did not matter if he did not demonstrate respect or responsibility to earn it. Walter’s good character came before anything else. Everyday, Walter manages to come to school in fresh clean clothes although he does
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee sheds light upon the controversy of racism and justice in his classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The notion of equality in accordance with the law and the pursuit of justice are hindered by racial discrimination. The essence of human nature is pondered. Are we inclined to be good or in the wrath of evil? The novel reflects on the contrasting nature of appearance versus reality.
Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and the innocence that occurs throughout the book. She shows these themes through her strong use of symbolism throughout the story. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s, the powerful symbolism this book contributes to our society is tremendous. This attribute is racist (Smykowski). To Kill a Mockingbird reveals a story about Scout’s childhood growing up with her father and brother, in an accustomed southern town that believed heavily in ethnological morals (Shackelford).
One of the values of Maycomb is racism. However, there are a few that does not believe in this value, including Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a white man married to a black woman and has mixed children. He does not believe in society’s ideology regarding racism and knows that some citizens of Maycomb antagonize him. However, he does not care, as he prefers the colored people over white. He knows how unfair society is, from the way he gets treated. Moreover, Jem realizes the falsities of society, due to the injustice he sensed. After Tom’s verdict, Jem’s first clear sense of injustice provided a new perception on the world. When he was young, he believed that the people of Maycomb are the best folks, but the outcome of the trial changed this thought. Furthermore, Scout’s realization of the falsehood in society is with the hypocrisy of Miss Gates. She was taught by Miss Gates how Americans do not believe in persecution. However, Scout saw Miss Gates talk about the African Americans in an adverse way. Learning about the falsehood in society is part of
The story, To Kill a Mockingbird is a very fine novel which exemplifies the life in the south and the human rights and values given to everybody. The book especially took the case of prejudice to a serious extreme. From the title, a mockingbird through the eyes of Harper Lee, is a person who has fallen victim to vicious stereotypes. The title To Kill a Mockingbird explains itself quite clearly in the end of the novel when Tom Robinson, one of the mockingbirds, is killed due to the stereotypes dumped upon him. Often, the use of stereotypes just breaks down the real truth of a person.
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It is set in the 1930s, a time when racism was very prominent. Harper Lee emphasizes the themes of prejudice and tolerance in her novel through the use of her characters and their interactions within the Maycomb community. The narrator of the story, Scout, comes across many people and situations with prejudice and tolerance, as her father defends a black man.
There is no doubt that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a famous novel known for its themes, most of them containing wise life lessons, racial inequality being an obvious and important one. Firstly, racism illustrates the lack of justice and people’s views on prejudice in Tom Robinson’s case. Secondly, the novel touches base on diction notably the racial slurs used. Finally, with racism being a theme of the novel, it affects the characters’ personalities. Harper Lee uses life lessons, diction and characters throughout the novel because it develops the main theme of racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
However, their lack of money was a result to Mr. Cunningham not wanting to accept assistance from anyone out of fear of causing them an inconvenience (Lee 20). Walter Cunningham is referred to as having hookworms and not having shoes (Lee 19). He is discussed between Scout and Miss Caroline when she realizes that he did not have a lunch and offers to loan him money (Lee 19,20). Scout explains, “‘The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back-no church baskets no scrip stamps. They never took anything off of anybody, they get along on what they have. They don’t have much, but they get along on it’” (Lee 20). By this encounter, Scout hoped to educate Miss Caroline on the status of Walter’s family and states “‘That’s okay, ma’am, you’ll get to know all the country folks after a while” (Lee 20). Walter Cunningham, is also discussed between Scout and her Aunt Alexandra, later in the novel, after the encounter with him and Miss Caroline (Lee 223,224).Scout had hoped to defend Walter and is pleased with herself for the action she took (Lee 223). She thinks she should invite him to spend the night with them sometime, but quickly realizes that Aunt Alexandra has other views of the Cunninghams (Lee 223). Aunt Alexandra states, “‘But they’re not our kind of folks….you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like
The novel TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee has numerous accounts of racism and prejudice throughout the entire piece. The novel is set in the 1930's, a time when racism was very prevalent. Although bigotry and segregation were pointed in majority towards blacks, other accounts towards whites were also heard of, though not as commonly. There are acts that are so discreet that you almost don't catch them, but along with those, there are blatant acts of bigotry that would never occur in our time. Lee addresses many of these feelings in her novel.
Miss Caroline is not only a inexperienced teacher, but she is also new to Maycomb. In her eyes everyone is equal and status is not based upon wealth. In Maycomb that's not the case, your family is based upon your wealth. Since Miss Caroline is new she does not know how things are run, Scout knowing this decides to explain it to her, while Miss Caroline insists walter takes some money for lunch since he doesn't have one. Scout begins to tell her how the Cunninghams never take what they cant pay back. This doesn't set well with Miss Caroline, she then proceeds to hit Scout with a ruler and make her stand in the corner. Scout is confused and angered because she was just trying to help her learn about their society. Later, While Miss Caroline was
The Negative Effects of Social Status “An individual’s or group’s position within a hierarchical social structure. ” This is the definition of socioeconomic status, a concept that affects almost every aspect of your life. Wherever you are, there exists a social scale that impacts you. As a student and young woman who is not of the Caucasian race, I have experienced and seen many problems with the ranking pyramid our communities are based upon.
The movie “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a good example of how socio-economic class differences clash into non reality. There are a variety of different economic classes throughout this movie that relates to life as it was in the south during the 1930s. The major aspects that disperse the people in the movie into different social classes are race, gender, and profession. For example, Atticus and his kids are a part of the highest social class because Atticus is a well respected lawyer which makes him part of the the highest profession in the community. Being the highest social class in the community, Atticus and his kids must treat others of lower class with integrity. A good example of this is when Walter Cunningham is invited to dinner by Jem, assuming the Cunningham’s were of a lower class based on the fact that Mr. Cunningham paid Atticus with a sack of goods instead of money. When Walter was eating and soaked his food in syrup, scout was rude to Walter and was punished because for being disrespectful to people of a lower class. Mrs. Dubose would be an example of a middle class citizen. The main reason she is not of a highest class is because of the way she treats the people around her .If she were in the same social class as Atticus then she would respect the people in her community. The Cunningham family would represent the lower social class because they borrow money and recompense it back with farm substances instead of cash. The Ewell’s would classify as the lowest social class because they are poor, rude, and have no aspiration to work. Even though Calpurnia has all good aspects of a decent lady and is well respected throughout the community, she is still considered to be part of this class as well because she is African American. Calpurnia would most likely be considered part of Atticus’s social class if she were
When Walter Cunningham stays over for lunch Scout gets very upset on the way he eats, Calpurnia takes Scout aside and sternly tells her “There’s some folks who don’t eat like us, she whispered fiercely but you ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table when they don’t. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the tablecloth you let him, you hear”(page 32). Calpurnia is teaching Scout that just because Walter Cunningham, their guest is eating differently than Scout would normally. But doesn’t mean that she should judge him. Calpurnia explains to her that she must learn what Walter’s life at home is because not everyone is as privileged as Scout and her family. Later in the book Calpurnia gets upset with Scout again for disrespecting Walter again. She says “ Yo‘ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em if you can’t act fit to
Scout Tells Mr.Cunningham he goes to school with his son Walter.”I go to school with Walter”... “ a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time but he was real nice about it. Tell him hey for me, won’t you?” Scout’s politeness brought out the good in Mr.Cunningham and compels him and his gang to leave. Mr.Cunningham is a friend to Atticus Finch, he is shown to be a farmer, a poor one at that. They never take money because they know they can never pay it back. Scout goes to