To Kill A Mockingbird Social Inequality Essay

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Life is not always fair for everyone. People can have advantages and opportunities immediately waiting for them, while others can have bad luck and almost no support. Some people have their fate determined simply by their: appearance, ethnicity, and how they are living their lives now, rather than how they want to live in the future. Social inequality can influence the opportunities a person has to achieve an objective in life or in a story. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, protagonist Scout observes the inevitable effects that social inequality has on lives through the members of her community. Harper Lee demonstrates the adverse effects of social inequality through major character Tom Robinson. Tom’s main role in the story …show more content…

Calpurnia plays a large role in the children’s lives, but is disrespected by their Aunt Alexandra when she comes to stay with the family. Aunt Alexandra arrives at the house and states, “‘Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia’” (Lee ). Aunt Alexandra demands that Calpurnia take her bag and talks to her as if she is completely beneath her. She sees Calpurnia as a lowly black servant who is not worthy of her time, as Alexandra is just another example of their racist community. Alexandra does not think that Calpurnia is a good motherly influence on the children because she is black. Scout and Jem still have their childhood innocence however, and do not see her in that way. In reality, Calpurnia is a positive influence on the children; she is a kind person who acts like a mother. She is also somewhat educated and can offer advice to them. Alexandra would never acknowledge this because of the overwhelming amount of racism in the community. Instead, Alexandra feels that Calpurnia is unfit to raise the kids and that it is her place to intervene and live with the family, as she replaces Calpurnia as the their motherly figure. This scene is important as it again displays the theme of social inequality and racism in the story and how these opinions are shared by multiple characters in the

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