To Kill A Mockingbird Social Hierarchy Essay
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee makes it evident that there is a distinct social hierarchy in Maycomb, and everyone in Maycomb inevitably judges those who are not a part of their “class”. Specifically, in the novel many wealthier white families look down upon those who were of African American descent, whether the wealthier families were racist or not. In the book, Jem is raised by Atticus to be accepting, yet without purposely trying, Jem shows forms of ignorance toward others because of the barrier that has essentially surrounded him during his adolescence. When Calpurnia takes Jem to her church, he is shocked by the difference in the way people speak and what is taught. He states, “ That’s why you don’t talk like the rest of em… the colored
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Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader mostly sees Scout as one who notices and disapproves of the prejudice that exists in the world; however, this quality is also contradicted by Scout’s obliviousness to the world around her and the lack of knowledge about people who have ideals contradicting own. In the beginning, Scout gets into an altercation with Walter Cunningham, a son of a fairly poor farmer whose father does business with her own. Unknowingly, Scout comments and nearly mocks Walter for his behavior at the dinner table because it does not meet her own expectations. She states, “Walter poured syrup on his vegetables and his meat with a generous hand. He probably would have poured it into his milk glass if I had not asked what in the Sam Hill he was doing” (Lee 24). It is made apparent from this quote that Scout is appalled by Walter's actions because she has never experienced anything quite like it before. Previously, Scout has learned from those who were Maycomb’s more privileged and successful, so when she is around someone who is on the poorer end of the spectrum Scout denounces them not realizing how her criticism may come across at the time.This ongoing judgment of those who exemplify actions or principles one is not used to is made clear here and throughout the rest of the
Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader mostly sees Scout as one who notices and disapproves of the prejudice that exists in the world; however, this quality is also contradicted by Scout’s obliviousness to the world around her and the lack of knowledge about people who have ideals contradicting own. In the beginning, Scout gets into an altercation with Walter Cunningham, a son of a fairly poor farmer whose father does business with her own. Unknowingly, Scout comments and nearly mocks Walter for his behavior at the dinner table because it does not meet her own expectations. She states, “Walter poured syrup on his vegetables and his meat with a generous hand. He probably would have poured it into his milk glass if I had not asked what in the Sam Hill he was doing” (Lee 24). It is made apparent from this quote that Scout is appalled by Walter's actions because she has never experienced anything quite like it before. Previously, Scout has learned from those who were Maycomb’s more privileged and successful, so when she is around someone who is on the poorer end of the spectrum Scout denounces them not realizing how her criticism may come across at the time.This ongoing judgment of those who exemplify actions or principles one is not used to is made clear here and throughout the rest of the