Social Issues In To Kill A Mockingbird
Maycomb is a small Southern town. The stereotypical Southern town for the time it’s in. Everyone knows everyone’s business, which can brew up drama harmless or dangerous, it also makes the community closer socially. In the beginning of the book it shows the closeness of the community and how they were all one family in some way, when Scout and Jem were young that’s what the believed their small town of Maycomb was. In a way they are right Maycomb is small, safe, and peaceful community. Although when they get older and wiser they see the other darker side of the town. The highly illogical social status which is based on wealth, history and one of the biggest issues race. The community doesn’t agree with change and greatly dislike others who
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disagree with the system. This theme of small Southern town covers almost every theme found in the book and shows it as a community. Showing the Good and Evil. The town can represent another person in the story with the same traits as some characters.
As soon as the story begins in the first chapter the theme shows its face, One of the more noticeable pieces to the theme is how the kids Jem, Scout, and Dill believe the town stories. Boo Radley being the subject of the town gossip, Boo who is rumored to be evil and that the other neighbors are good. In the second chapter the economic differences between the communities begins to show and the status of these people based on their money. In Chapter 8 when Miss Maudie’s house catches fire and eventually burns to the ground all of the community was there showing the goodness that is possesses. In the ninth chapter nine students at the school start saying that “Atticus defends *******.” Scout asks why and Atticus tells her that he will lose the case but he is doing it for his integrity. Both Scout and Jem start to see the prejudice of and hatred that the town has and they are losing sight of what the thought was once such a nice town.
When Calpurnia invites Jem and Scout to the all black church almost all of the members welcome them with open arms except for one woman.
Lula gets angry that Scout and Jem are there. This passage from the book shows that racism and prejudice cut both ways. The afternoon that Tom Robinson got convicted Jem tells Miss Maudie he used to think the people of Maycomb were the best people in the world. She says the trial was a step in the right direction and that there are still good people in the town. It’s not just people that deserve dignity. Maycomb does just as well. Most of the citizens would rather go for safety than moral inequality. At this point in the book the town is slowly changing and some are fighting the good fight. Bob Ewell spit on Atticus’s face and threatened him the gossip spread insanely fast showing the small town theme in the book. In Chapter 24, Aunt Alexandra invites company, and tells Scout to help Calpurnia serve. At the event, Mrs. Grace Merriweather talks about helping the poor oppressed people of Africa, then turns around and blames "some people" for her maid's "sulkiness" since the Tom Robinson trial. Miss Maudie shames the woman for talking badly about Atticus while enjoying his hospitality. Mrs.Merriweather greatly shows the hypocrisy of the town. She talks about helping the people of Africa but she would never treat them as equals. This shows how racist and hypocritical the people of Maycomb are. During Chapter 26 when Scouts class is discussing Nazi Germany, Scout asks Jem why her teacher, Miss Gates, would say persecuting the Jews was so awful when she was so happy that Tom got convicted. This passage shows the blindness of the community who thinks they are so perfect and how they are in a way following the Nazi
way.
Taking a few steps back in Chapter 13 when Calpurnia, Scout, Jem return from Church they discover Aunt Alexandra has moved into the Finch household to provide a Feminine influence for Scout. This action is able to show the gender prejudice and that the people of the town believe they have an idea of the “right” way to live.
This theme of a Small town southern life is shown in many ways. The people of the town almost assume that they are above everything and their way is the right way. They want to force values and beliefs on others and if that person doesn’t agree they are discriminated. This can be shown by how the townspeople treat Atticus for him defending Tom Robinson. They have a prejudice against Blacks and are outraged when a white man defends him. The towns blindness is also shown as I mentioned in an earlier paragraph. To conclude the Town of Maycomb is a very stereotypical southern town but as Scout and Jem grow up they come to realize that the way of thinking is horrible in the way of treating others.
disagree with the system. This theme of small Southern town covers almost every theme found in the book and shows it as a community. Showing the Good and Evil. The town can represent another person in the story with the same traits as some characters.
As soon as the story begins in the first chapter the theme shows its face, One of the more noticeable pieces to the theme is how the kids Jem, Scout, and Dill believe the town stories. Boo Radley being the subject of the town gossip, Boo who is rumored to be evil and that the other neighbors are good. In the second chapter the economic differences between the communities begins to show and the status of these people based on their money. In Chapter 8 when Miss Maudie’s house catches fire and eventually burns to the ground all of the community was there showing the goodness that is possesses. In the ninth chapter nine students at the school start saying that “Atticus defends *******.” Scout asks why and Atticus tells her that he will lose the case but he is doing it for his integrity. Both Scout and Jem start to see the prejudice of and hatred that the town has and they are losing sight of what the thought was once such a nice town.
When Calpurnia invites Jem and Scout to the all black church almost all of the members welcome them with open arms except for one woman.
Lula gets angry that Scout and Jem are there. This passage from the book shows that racism and prejudice cut both ways. The afternoon that Tom Robinson got convicted Jem tells Miss Maudie he used to think the people of Maycomb were the best people in the world. She says the trial was a step in the right direction and that there are still good people in the town. It’s not just people that deserve dignity. Maycomb does just as well. Most of the citizens would rather go for safety than moral inequality. At this point in the book the town is slowly changing and some are fighting the good fight. Bob Ewell spit on Atticus’s face and threatened him the gossip spread insanely fast showing the small town theme in the book. In Chapter 24, Aunt Alexandra invites company, and tells Scout to help Calpurnia serve. At the event, Mrs. Grace Merriweather talks about helping the poor oppressed people of Africa, then turns around and blames "some people" for her maid's "sulkiness" since the Tom Robinson trial. Miss Maudie shames the woman for talking badly about Atticus while enjoying his hospitality. Mrs.Merriweather greatly shows the hypocrisy of the town. She talks about helping the people of Africa but she would never treat them as equals. This shows how racist and hypocritical the people of Maycomb are. During Chapter 26 when Scouts class is discussing Nazi Germany, Scout asks Jem why her teacher, Miss Gates, would say persecuting the Jews was so awful when she was so happy that Tom got convicted. This passage shows the blindness of the community who thinks they are so perfect and how they are in a way following the Nazi
way.
Taking a few steps back in Chapter 13 when Calpurnia, Scout, Jem return from Church they discover Aunt Alexandra has moved into the Finch household to provide a Feminine influence for Scout. This action is able to show the gender prejudice and that the people of the town believe they have an idea of the “right” way to live.
This theme of a Small town southern life is shown in many ways. The people of the town almost assume that they are above everything and their way is the right way. They want to force values and beliefs on others and if that person doesn’t agree they are discriminated. This can be shown by how the townspeople treat Atticus for him defending Tom Robinson. They have a prejudice against Blacks and are outraged when a white man defends him. The towns blindness is also shown as I mentioned in an earlier paragraph. To conclude the Town of Maycomb is a very stereotypical southern town but as Scout and Jem grow up they come to realize that the way of thinking is horrible in the way of treating others.