Examples Of Social Discrimination In To Kill A Mockingbird

Only one year after its release, Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird earned the glamorous Pulitzer Prize. This book encompasses various themes strung throughout, including the theme of social discrimination by class--often to the poor or black. Plainly, one can notice this subject in the court case regarding the accusation of Tom Robinson, the defendant, by Mr. Ewell, the prosecutor. In addition to falsely accusing an innocent black, Mr. Ewell treats African-Americans as trash. Social class also evidences itself in the disgust of people like the Cunninghams by the higher-up classes. High class citizens often are respectable, well-mannered, and courteous, performing proper mannerisms and generally treating others respectfully. This essay will discuss the traits and discrimination of low-class society, high-class
During this decade, the 1930s, the high-end citizens of Maycomb County lived in a clique of polite, courteous people. Because of this, few upper-class citizens interacted with the less attractive group of people such as the Cunninghams and Robinsons. However, not all of the titled families despised or rejected the petty people. Atticus demonstrates this well. He defended Tom Robinson, whom Bob Ewell accused of harassing his daughter. Atticus’ care especially toward the black community is outstanding. On the other hand, Aunt Alexandra illustrates the prideful side of the upper class: perfect, persnickety, and polite. The culture's idea of both dress and demeanor influence her greatly, as demonstrated by Scout concerning Alexandra’s regulations on Scout’s attire:“I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants” (83). In her mind, everything must be perfect; mannerisms hold prominence, and it significantly affects her