How Does Harper Lee Use Social Inequality In To Kill A Mockingbird

On the other hand, Aunt Alexandra faced a different but common obstacle, prejudice. Since prejudice was ubiquitous, Aunt Alexandra demonstrated maturity when she became more accepting of others especially Calpurnia, Boo and Scout. Aunt Alexandra, Scout and Jem’s caretaker, had some difficulties interacting and talking around people who were a different race or a lower social or economic class. When Aunt Alexandra first met Calpurnia, the African-American maid who worked in the Finch’s house, she despised her and all of her actions. No matter what Calpurnia did or what she said, she could not please Aunt Alexandra. However, later on in the novel, Aunt Alexandra developed a more accepting attitude towards Calpurnia. She allowed Calpurnia to serve the children dinner. This shows how much Aunt Alexandra has grown to be more accepting of other races and not be prejudice. Not only does Aunt Alexandra accept Calpurnia for who she is, but she also learns to accept Scout. “She brought me something to put on, and had I thought about it then, I would have never let her forget it: in her distraction, Aunty brought me my overalls” (Pg.264).

As the story begins and we start to analyze the characters, Scout comes off as an being unable to grasp the realities of life due to her childlike innocence. We see this through her thoughts and actions. Walter Cunningham has a misfit with Scout in the beginning of the novel that can be an example of both her innocence and intolerance. It starts when Scout's teacher, Miss Caroline, tells Walter to take her money for lunch and suggests paying her back later. Walter refuses and Miss Caroline gets irritated. In attempt to explain why Walter doesn't take the money, Scout tells Miss Caroline the stigma of the Cunninghams. Scout says that Walter can't pay her back because he doesn't have the money; No Cunningham would ever take anything they couldn't pay back. When Scout gets in trouble for talking back, she blames it on Walter and reacted as follows, "Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt..." (Lee 30). This quote

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.

Aunt Alexandra doesn’t believe that Scout is feminine enough and disapproves of her tomboyish looks. She hates the way Scout dresses, can't believe that Atticus allows her to curse, and disapproves of her friends.

In any form of environment, social inequality and status always comes through as human nature. Throughout the novel, Scout’s prejudice against Walter Cunningham changes. In the beginning she judges and disrespects Walter, by the way he eats ravenously at dinner with Scout’s family; he does so due to poverty. Towards the end of the novel she comes to a mutual understanding of the Cunninghams ways and reasons. Scout tries to convince Aunt Alexandra if Walter can come over for dinner once again. But, Aunt Alexandra refuses, ‘“[t]he thing is that you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem. [b]esides, there is a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren’t interested in that sort of people’” (300). Even though Scout evolves out of prejudice of the Cunningham lifestyle, Aunt Alexandra is not able to change her perspective; she believes that interacting with the Cunningham will affect the behaviour

She explains to Scout that “there’s some folks who don’t eat like us, but you ain't called on the contradict ‘em at the table when the don’t. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny”(18). Scout tells her that Walter does not count as company. Calpurnia teaches her that it does not matter who comes into their home, they still count as company, so she should treat the person with respect. When Calpurnia takes

Alexandra is scouts Aunt and she comes to stay with the Finches to envoke a more feminine attitude in scout. While Alexandra is there she is particularly mean to Walter Cunningham and forbids Scout to play with him because he is of a lower social class. This is very similar to the way that some people treat the homeless.

Scout must stay respectful to them, but may not bring him over. I found this especially surprising because Atticus had permitted Walter Cunningham to dine with the family. Also, they just learned that one of the Cunningham was on Atticus’ side as he defended Tom's innocence to the other members of the jury even though he's a black. Therefore, I'd expect Aunt Alexandra to accept as they are nice people, but she still thinks

“Cry about the simple hell other people give other people- without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give coloured folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too. ”(269) Prejudice is a strong word as well as a nasty act. It is shown throughout the Maycomb County in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Prejudice shows us just how it affects the different groups of people in this novel.

Social Inequality is defined as the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, we see social inequality play a big role in Scout Finch and her brother Jem’s everyday lives . To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates how fear and social inequality are more powerful than intelligence and logic.

Alexandra doesn’t want scout playing with Walter Cunningham because she judges that he’s trash because his family isn’t as wealthy as them. Since Walter’s family lack money, Aunt Alexandra says to Scout that she shouldn’t be around him since he’s too dirty. Since Alexandra is a strong enthusiast of social class distinction, she believes her family is too high class for people like the Cunningham’s.

In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the idea of prejudice is evident in Maycomb County, Alabama. Three main characters from the novel fall victim to prejudice throughout the story. Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson all face challenges that disable them from living a normal life. These character’s stories of social injustice are narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who discovers many ugly truths while growing up in a town full of inequality.

Social Inequality Social Inequality has been here for many years, as long as the 50´s until now. In this book To Kill a Mockingbird you will see a lot of social Inequality. Harper Lee Shows how race and gender were like in the 60´s. In this story I will be talking about race, gender, and social inequality from today.

Miss Caroline does not understand that Walter is A Cunningham, which means he is poor and can not accept anything because they can not pay it back. For example, on the first day of school Walter did not bring his lunch because his family does not have money or food. “The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back…. They don’t have much, but they get along on it” (Lee 26). Scout explains to Miss Caroline about the Cunningham’s situation

Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different from each other. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout and Jem are young children surrounded by the social injustices of the 1960’s. Throughout the novel they experience problems and deal with all of them differently. Through the use of irony and point of view, the author establishes the notion that everyone’s perspective is different even though the situation can be the same.