To Kill A Mockingbird Social Class Analysis

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel that covers many different well known issues with prejudice. Not only is racism a big problem in this book, but judgement based on social class is also evident. Economic class in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is shown in many ways from how people are treated and talked about, to how people assume that they live their lives. In chapter two of the novel we follow Scout through her first day of school. Whenever lunch time rolls around a boy named Walter Cunningham has no lunch to eat. Miss Caroline, their teacher, tries to offer him money to go buy a lunch. When Walter continuously refuses the money, Scout feels like she should explain things some. “Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.” Scout says, expecting this to be a good enough explanation for her teacher. Scout’s attempt to help, is referring to Walters family’s economic situation. “...The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back…” She adds. This event in the book shows that there are some definite social classes within Maycomb county and even the children recognize it. …show more content…

Jem stops the fight, and figures that the best thing to do would be to invite Walter over to have a meal with them. Scout begins to make fun of the way Walter eats, and Calpurnia calls her to the kitchen. Cal explains that company is company and they can eat however they would like to. “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham-” Scout begins, but gets cut off by Calpurnia. Cal says that you shouldn’t disgrace people just because you think you are better than them. At this point in the novel we begin to see how people around Maycomb see others that may not have as much as them. These people that are lower economically are talked about and treated as if they are not as good as higher class people within

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