Classism In To Kill A Mockingbird

How often do stereotypes about families or races make their way into everyday conversation? In To Kill A Mockingbird racism and classism are one of the main issues in Maycomb County, the setting of the story. These issues lead me to believe that one theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is race and social class play a large part in human interaction. Some people who share this idea are Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Aunt Alexandra.

Atticus Finch shares a few insights into Maycomb’s racism and classism with Jem and Scout. After the trial, Jem and Scout start questioning the law and social customs in Maycomb. Atticus has to explain to them how the racism in Maycomb works and why: “‘When it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always

wins. They're ugly but those are the facts of life’” (295). Atticus shares the extent of the intense racism in Maycomb and how it affects the people and interaction between people of different races. Further down the same page, Atticus continues his speech on racial issues in Maycomb, but throws in his own views versus just the town's views. “‘Whenever a white man does that [cheats] to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.’” (295) He goes on to explain that taking advantage of the ignorance of a black man makes them the worst kind of person. This insight into anti-racist views that aren't shared by the rest of the town shows the extent of the racism while giving a slight view of the social caste system where black people are at the bottom for the majority of the population. In all, Atticus Finch's words and explanations of Maycomb’s views share the idea that race and social class play a large role in human interaction

Another person who demonstrates that race and social class play a large part in social interaction is Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. Mrs. Dubose is an old lady who follows old social rules and believes that a person is only as good as the family they come from and said person has to uphold the family legacy. While talking to Jem and Scout, Mrs Dubose always has something to say about their manners, clothing, father or other things she considers flaws. She takes family and race very seriously and does believe in a totem pole for the families in Maycomb. When she sees that Jem and Scout are not holding up parts of their families legacy Mrs. Dubose has something to say about it. “‘A finch waiting on tables at the O.K. Café- hah!’” (135). Mrs. Dubose knows that the finch family is a very old and fine family and the O.K. Café is not a place for people of such a fine family to work. By saying this to Jem and Scout she reveals the hard focus on social class and its importance to the other members of the town. Mrs. Dubose is also racist like the rest of the town. Further down in the same section she says this, “‘not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for ni--ers!’” (135). In addition to the previous one the views of a lot of the town through Mrs. Dubose in regards to racial and social issues are shared quite simply. Mrs. Dubose previously regards the people eating and working at the O.K. Café as nothing but trash and her wording in this quote makes Atticus’ defense of Tom Robinson, a black man, sound worse than the people at the O.K. Café.

Aunt Alexandra, while not a Maycomb native is still a good example of the towns’ classism.

She comes from the highly established Finch family and only comes to stay with Atticus and children because she thinks he isn't doing a good enough job instilling the family values in the children so they can carry on the family legacy. “Aunt Alexandra was one of the last of her kind: she had river boat, boarding school manners” (172). Aunt Alexandra's personality and upbringing as well as her family name all contribute to her ability to fit into the society as easily as she does. This ability also shares how much influence class can have on social interaction. While specific to Maycomb, Aunt Alexandra shares information about the families in the town that relate to their social class: “The longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was.”(173). Whether a family was rich or poor, if they have class and a long lineage, they are a honorable family in Maycomb. This plays a large part in social interaction because many of the older families will try to exclude the newer or lower class families because they don't relate on a social level. “They took for granted attitudes, character shadings, even gestures, as having been reappeared in each generation and refined by time.” (175). Scout was explaining how the stereotypes work in Maycomb and how they play into daily life. Each family has a “streak” or habit in Maycomb whether it has to do with posture, drinking, or

other peculiar behaviors. These habits have been passed down through the generations and while new habits may seem strange, the higher class, older families with old habits are not seen as peculiar and are more accepted into society.

In conclusion, Maycomb County suffers from racism and classism which affect daily life.

Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Aunt Alexandra help share this idea that racism and classism play a large part in day to day life and conversation. In everyday modern life people still experience stereotyping in normal conversations. For most of the book Scout was fighting for equal rights for everyone and to beat the stereotypes that prevailed in the town as her father, Atticus taught her to. It's crazy that a 7 year old can grasp this concept while people much older and “wiser”

cannot.