Social Categories In To Kill A Mockingbird

How would one feel if their rights were abused based on their race, class, or even gender? The book To Kill a Mockingbird is written by Harper Lee in 1960. This book focuses on a trial in Maycomb that talks about the social categories found there. Race, class, and gender are huge categories that even affect people today in 2016 in America. Therefore, in Maycomb, one can observe the social categories such as race, class, and gender and how they can affect such a small town.
First, race is a key determining factor in Maycomb in how one is treated in their community. In To Kill a Mockingbird, one can immediately observe how one is treated in their community. In Tom Robinson’s trial, Mr. Gilmer acts very disrespectful to Tom in his cross examination
and even calls him boy, all because Tom is an African American man. Even Dill, a young boy can see the racism going on when he says on page 201, “That old Mr. Gilmer doin’ him thataway, talking so hateful to him¬-”. This passage exemplifies how race is a factor in how a community interacts with others. To keep the minority groups in check, specifically the African American population, Jim Crow Laws are set up to segregate black people and white people. If one crosses this boundary, the white population will strike. They would do this by either acting violently against that person such as hanging or beating the perpetrator. Otherwise, another reaction would be taking them to court, where the jury would be predominantly white and sympathetic towards them. Race severely impacts in how Maycomb reacts to minority groups.
Next, class plays a significant role in how people treat each other in Maycomb. An example would be how the community treats the Ewell family. Bob Ewell is a dark figure who has a passion for drinking and wasting all of his money, most of which he gets from government programs trying to help him. An example of this would be how Bob is treated in the courtroom when he talks outlandishly and disrespectfully. “Mr. Ewell, you will keep your testimony within the confines of Christian English usage, if that is possible. Proceed, Mr. Gilmer” (176). In this quote, one can see that Judge Taylor does not appreciate Bob Ewell from acting so uncivilized. Throughout this story, the boundaries set to keep class in check are the people. People will make sure that one who does not belong does not enter a higher class. This is obvious when Scout wants to invite Walter Cunningham to their house for dinner. Aunt Alexandra replies that he can absolutely not have someone like him to their house because he is like trash. If one goes outside their set boundary, they will be ostracized. In summary, class is a major social category that many people are confined and hurt by.
To begin, women during this time period had a limited amount of rights in the 1930’s.
Men controlled the family and finances, but women were expected to stay home and take care of the house. In Maycomb, this can be seen very clearly. Women were supposed to take care of their kids, and one can perceive this when Aunt Alexandra comes to help take care of Jem and Scout. Women were expected to act like the traditional Southern woman which means to act like everybody else and follow the rules. For example Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to wear dresses and play tea instead of wearing jeans and acting like a boy. Another way this is seen, is when Scout and Jem are talking to Atticus about legal rights. Atticus explains to them that women are not allowed to serve on juries and Scout is incredulous. It quotes, “‘For one thing, Miss Maudie can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman-’ ‘You mean women in Alabama can’t-?’ I was indignant” (224). This quote shows how women are not granted all of their rights to them, because during this time period, men could only serve on juries. This angers Scout and one can notice that it is portrayed that women need to be allowed to do this. From this, it is clear that women should not cross their boundary. In fact, it is mainly women who keep each other in check, making sure that they all stay in the social confines constructed for them. The consequence of this is ridicule from women and then that woman will become a social outcast. In conclusion,
gender clearly is a social category in Maycomb.
Therefore, in Maycomb, one can observe the social categories such as race, class, and gender and how they can even affect such a small town in Alabama. Race is a very large and controversial social category in Maycomb and it is very confining. Class is also an enormous social category that sets people apart from one another. Gender is also a category that limits women, but women had more rights than many other. Finally, social categories limit many people in their communities and can hurt trust, friendship, and even split a town in what they believe is right and wrong.