To Kill A Mockingbird Social Inequality Analysis

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird it follows the story of a small town family known as the Finches. One father Atticus, a son Jem, and one daughter Jean Louise “Scout”. Throughout the story events unfold until one black man is accused of rape by a white woman. Atticus being a defense attorney is appointed to defend the black man in prison. After a racially biased trial, an innocent man was murdered for a crime he did not commit. Harper Lee is trying to tell readers that social inequality is problem in society due to racism, sexism, and unknowing of a person’s character. To begin, racism is a key part in social inequality. In To KIll A Mockingbird the time is set to a segregated era where black and white people lead very separate lives. Tension was still present between the two races, and while some began to bury the hatchet, others began to swing it. In the story, a character named Mayella Ewell lied to law enforcement that a black man, Tom Robinson raped her. “He chunked me on the floor an’ choked me’n took advantage of me”(241). This quote depicts Mayella explaining to the judge about how Tom Robinson allegedly raped her after she offered him a nickel for work.

While reading the story, the audience finds out that Mayella’s own father is the man who beat and raped her. Bob Ewell is known in Maycomb for being a drunk and terrible father. To explain, there is a part in the story where the true events unfold. “The right side, Mr.Finch, but she had more bruises--you wanta hear about ‘em?”(93) This quote is Atticus uncovering that Mayella’s face was bruised on the right side. This would have been more capable of a left handed person like Bob Ewell. Tom Robinson has a shriveled left arm. Bob Ewell used being a male to take advantage and lie to court about his actions towards his own