What do we Learn about Maycomb Society in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?

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William Bowles

What do we Learn about Maycomb Society in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?

As the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird' unfolds, Harper Lee develops a vision of the society of Maycomb. Maycomb exhibits many of the values and attitudes of traditional Southern culture. As well as racial prejudice, people's attitudes convey social injustices and ingrained ideas about 'family'. Maycomb's society has rigid segregations and social status is dependant on family background. In a community so deprived from any but its own prejudices, those who don't fit in, those who think or act in a way which is considered to be different or out of line, suffer the pain of isolation as a consequence. In Southern communities such as Maycomb there is no acceptance for those who do not conform.

Harper Lee outlines the social status using characterisation. Scout's fresh and pure mind regards Bob Ewell as filthy and uncivilised: 'The name Ewell gave me a queasy feeling.' Yet his white skin gives precedence to any respectable Blackman in the eyes of the Maycomb society: 'Maycomb had wasted no time in getting Mr. Ewell's views on Tom's death and passing them along through that English channel