Examples Of Social Class In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s by Harper Lee and is a novel filled with imagery linking the two worlds of the white majority and the black minority in a sleepy Alabama town, as well as the inevitable confrontation between innocence and corruption and the ultimate human battle between good and evil. As this battle rages, the similarities between three of the main characters, Scout Finch, Jem Finch, and Tom Robinson emerge and evolve. These characters are all unique in their own ways. Scout, Jem, and Tom, while different in their races, and social class share a common trait of innocence. The very symbolic image of the mockingbird that Lee uses in the title comes to represent several major characters in the novel, and ties …show more content…
Social Classes defined who you where in society. You are placed in social classes based on occupations as well as race. Scout and Jem are in the highest social class because their father is a lawyer. In addition to Atticus being a lawyer, the Finch family was also white, which has a strong impact on place in society. Tom, on the other hand is in the lowest class because he is a laborer and an African American. Belonging in the highest social class required you to be nice to all. The wealthy must be respectful and hospitable to those in lower classes. An example of this taking place in the novel is when Walter Cunningham is invited over by Jem for dinner. Scout notices Walter using a lot of gravy during dinner so she becomes towards him and as a result is punished by Calpurnia. The reason for this is because Walter is of a lower class and was invited to eat with the Finch family. Scout and Jem are expected to be honorable children in their society. These children are given more respect than the adults of lower classes. Tom Robinson is in the lowest class in society. Tom was a hard-working, Black man who went out of his way to be kind and helpful to others some of whom did not deserve his help. He helped Miss Mayella because he felt sorry for her. Bob Ewell, a white drunk, who was a problem for the town, accused Robinson of raping his daughter Mayella. Atticus tried to make it clear to the jury that Tom was innocent. Atticus fought that it was Mayella who made sexual advances towards Tom. However, despite the undeniable facts of the case, the all white jury found in favor of the Ewells and sentenced Tom Robinson to death. Tom was sentenced to death because of prejudice and lack of variety in social standings. Tom was someone who, if not black, would have had a better