The Three Families in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

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Harper Lee’s Novel “To Kill a Mockingbird and the Contrasts between three different families

In Harpers Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee has created three unique families. The Ewell’s were a family who lived like slavish animals, a perfect t mold of a stereotyped redneck. The Cunninghams too, are a poor family but they are very proud, much like a farmer type of stereotype who never took anything that they could not repay. The Finches are the most distinct and well respected by the whole town of Maycomb and have lived their life according to a code of values that they apply equally to everyone. Having said this, the Ewells, the Cunninghams and the Finches were three very distinct families with a differing code of values.

The prospect of the Ewells distinct code of values and slavish, animal nature is amplified by the fact that they live by the dump. This being the case the Ewells, being a separate group of people as apposed to the town by the fact of their nature, as said by Scout to Burris (pg 26-27) “The boy stood up. He was the filthiest human I had ever seen. His neck was dark gray, the back of his hands were rusty, and his finger nails were black deep into the quick” hints at how their life is lived. Furthermore it is also said that the Ewells were very poorly educated as to the fact that they only went to school for 1 day out of the year. This being concluded by Burris when he tell the class that “-I done done my time for this year” which suggests that the family is so poor they need all they help they can get around the house and can not be bothered with school. Concluding the fact was and elder student at the school who told the teacher that “they come fist day every year and then leave”. There is a...

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... I don’t want to lose him and Scout, because they’re all I’ve got” .That fact remains that through the Atticus’ code of values and teachings it has been reflected on Jem and Scout who it turn teach the county the prospect of equal rights. Needless to say the Finch family has always stood out as the third family Lee has created and been the source of role models used by the community to inspire moral democracy.

The fact remains that the Ewells were a drunk and abused family who continue down a path that will lead them into homelessness, like dirty cornered animals. The Cunninghams on the other hand were a very honest and fair much like the farmer stereotype. The Finches are a well respected family with good values that apply to every one they meet. Thus being said Harper Lee has successfully created three unique families, each with their own unique set of values.

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