To Kill A Mockingbird Poverty Quotes

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To Kill a Mockingbird
Maycomb, a small town in Southern Alabama suffers considerably during the Great Depression. Poverty outstretches from prosperous families, like the Finches, to the Negroes and “white trash” the Ewells, who live adjacent to the town dump. Harper Lee, the author portrays a graphic image of everyday life in this southern town where tempers and discrimination erupt into quarrel. Racism, domestic violence, and poverty are all themes that are associated within To Kill a Mockingbird and are symbolized by many of the main characters to send a message. First of all racism is the main focus portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird, it is symbolized by Tom Robinson and Atticus Finch.
Racism is expressed throughout the entire book, it is the main focus of the book. The …show more content…

Many families such as the Cunninghams were poor during this time. “He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any.” (Lee 26). Walter Cunningham and his family don’t have an abundant amount of money, so Walter didn’t bring lunch to school because they can’t afford it. Poverty influenced their behavior, by making them into better people, they never accept anything that they can't pay back. “One morning Jem and I found a pile of stovewood in the backyard.” (Lee 26). The Cunninghams can’t pay in money so they pay back in supplies. Poverty makes the Cunninghams stronger and more friendly to others. Another character that symbolizes poverty is the Ewell family. “None of them had done an honest day’s of work in his recollection.” (Lee 40). The Ewells are poor, but they still didn’t work to earn money or trade. They lived on the town dump with varmints and trash. All the money they received went straight to alcohol. Poverty made the Ewells lazy and a disappointment to the community. Overall, poverty is throughout the book and is symbolized by the Ewell and Cunningham family. In addition, a particular Ewell, named Mayella is a symbol of domestic

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