How Does Lee Use Social Inequality In To Kill A Mockingbird

Social inequality is an uncivilized ranking scale which was created by simple minded people who held the fear being surpassed. The argument made by Harper Lee in her work To Kill a Mockingbird is that social inequality is a hierarchy that is complex and affects everyone. More specifically, the author argues that the racial boundaries put between the black and white during the 1930’s caused great stress. This is proven in the novel multiple times. The people of Maycomb judge one another based on the background and wealth of their families. Not only do they judge each other within the community, they discriminate against anyone different than them. Social inequality does not only exist in the form of racism, there are many forms; some of the major ones appear in this book. Social inequality based purely on family background, social inequality based on the wealth of the individual and family, and racism. These are three of the major forms of social inequality that appear numerous times in the book.

However, Atticus knows since Tom is a black man he will not get a fair trail since the jury is all white and since people back then didn’t favor or teach color people this is why Atticus had to defend Tom which was a man who was wrongly accused for raping a white woman which her name was Mayella Ewell ; she was a very poor white woman the oldest of many children which was in her family .

The time period that the story took place was a huge influence on the final say of the verdict. Black people were treated unfairly and were often accused of crimes they never committed. In this case Atticus proved Tom Robinson could never have performed the crime. "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Lee 295). The prejudice of most white people at that time was unacceptable and the jury was prejudice towards black people. Atticus proved Mr. Ewell committed the rape but because of the prejudice towards black people at that time he was not accused of rape.

Inequality is a theme that runs throughout all of history. Harper Lee uses the theme of inequality in her book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson must deal with inequality when he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit because no one will trust a black man over a white man. The Cunningham family must face discrimination because of their lack of money. Scout even faces inequality when she tries to play with Jem and Dill. The theme of inequality is a strong one in Lee’s book, and her use of inequality doesn’t only define racism, but also discrimination based on wealth and gender.

Firstly, Tom Robinson is just one character that is prejudged in the novel. He is accused of raping a white girl named Mayella and it is a problem to the jury that a black man is trying to defend himself in court. Atticus realizes how Tom is being treated unfairly and that it is uncommon for African Americans and white people to associate with each other. During Atticus’s speech, Mayella is accused of lying in her testimony when “she kissed a black man [which is] something that in our society is unspeakable” (Lee 272). The black man who Atticus refers to is Tom. He is ridiculed and judged by several people in the book and he gets all this

Lastly one other social inequality is pointed to one person in general. That would be Boo Radley, he is a prime example of social inequality. Boo’s mental instability makes him shut away from the outside world in his home. Also he is constantly blamed for any odd occurrence in Maycomb. With this the kids thing that he is some sort of freak-show and they try to get to him. His situation is similar to Tom Robinson’s case they are both in some form of a skirmish with the law in a way. Even though Boo’s is portrayed as some weird person who stays in captive in his home. He’s actually a nice person, one notable reason is when he comes up to Scout and puts a blanket around her in the cold night of when miss Maudie’s house burns down. Although Scout does not notice this it still shows that Boo is a nice

Some of the examples of social inequality include Scout being told to act like a girl, the African-American people being segregated, and Tom Robinson being convicted unfairly. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout, daughter of Atticus, is always being told to act like a girl. She was always judged about the clothes that she wore because people thought that it wasn’t what girls were supposed to wear. Harper Lee states, “But the only time I ever heard Atticus speak sharply to anyone was when I once heard him say, ‘Sister, I do the best I can with them!’

The historical novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a well known written work. The setting takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the early 1900s during the Great Depression. There are many different themes in this novel, and one of them is social inequality. The theme of social inequality mostly focuses on the differences in wealth statuses. Social inequality is part of the Great Depression, and it has many forms of affecting people.

ocial inequality is a major issue in today’s world. It is the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society (Mahault et al. 6). Racism is not the only form of social inequality, it can also be because of an individual’s background and or wealth. These three forms of social inequality appear numerous times in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In this novel, the argument made by Harper Lee is that social inequality is a ladder that is complex and affects everyone.

The Effects of Social Inequality in To Kill A Mockingbird According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, inequality is defined as “an unfair situation in which some people have more rights or better opportunities than other people.” Set in Maycomb County, Alabama during the early 1930s, prejudice and inequality towards others was becoming prevalent. In To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, social inequality is a common theme in the novel that shows separation between specific groups in the neighborhood. Social inequality focuses on the words people say and the actions they commit that create separation.

Harper Lee was born in Alabama around 1930, her father was a lawyer, To Kill A Mocking Bird was developed my Harper Lee’s experience and made into a fiction book. The book was published in 1957 around the time of Civil rights movement and Martin Luther King. While Harper Lee was writing the novel, things like Rosa Parks not giving up the seat to a white man happened; this boosted the perspective, that Harper Lee wanted the people to see that’s why she used the innocence of a child to narrate her perspective. Scout is a perfect character for this, she is very intelligent you can see that when Mrs Caroline disapproves her ability to read better than other kids.

It is no coincidence that much of To Kill a Mockingbird parallels history. The trial of Tom Robinson is based on the prosecution of the Scottsboro Boys. The gratuitous use of the n- word would have been common in the deep South in the 1930’s. The reason To Kill a Mockingbird made the impact that it did was because it was a “reality check” for many people. Atticus Finch once said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (3. 33) This is an ongoing theme throughout the book that Scout learns to appreciate as she matures. The only way for people to truly appreciate one another’s lives is to live through the ups as well as the downs. Readers “walk in Scout’s shoes” and see what she saw in her hometown of Maycomb. Lee shows the readers how Scout’s perspective of Maycomb changed as she matures. One can only appreciate the messages Lee intended to tell the world by experiencing the triggers that Scout would have. The rape trial, swearing, domestic abuse and violence were all imperative to Scout’s journey from childhood to

Social inequality is the marginalised, segregated groups of society whom do not share equal social status or class due to race, wealth or other discriminative agenda. Tom's conviction in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a prime example of social inequality. Demonstrating that it isn't always about who you are, it's about where you came from and the colour of your skin, the superficial reasoning. " …Cry about the hell white people give coloured folks, without even stopping to think they're people, too. " - Mr Dolphus Raymond.

Atticus really wants to try to defend Tom Robinson successfully. “Atticus aimed to defend him.”, (Lee, 218). Due to Atticus doing what he thinks is right he will actually try his best to defend Tom Robinson. Though most of the town doesn’t agree with his decision to actually try to defend Tom Robinson and win Atticus does so anyway. “‘Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him. That’s what I don’t like about it.”’, (Lee, 218). Atticus believes Tom Robinson so he actually wants to defend Tom Robinson even though a lot of people don’t agree with his decision, just because Tom isn’t white. Even though Mayella says Tom Robinson took advantage of her, Atticus still believes Tom Robinson and defends him. “...’and took advantage of you.’...’...that’s him right yonder.’’’, (Lee, 248). Even after Mayella the ‘victim’ said Tom Robinson had taken advantage of her, Atticus still stayed with what he believed and did his

The trial of Tom Robinson was largely influenced by race. Since he was a black man, Tom Robinson had a bias against him during the trial, and that’s why he was falsely convicted. As Atticus is trying to defend the innocent man, he accuses Mayella Ewell of doing something that was inconceivable back then. “‘She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man.