How far do you think Harper Lee has effectively shown social class and family groups to be important at that time?

Authors Avatar

How far do you think Harper Lee has effectively shown social class and family groups to be important at that time?

The rigid class structure and social stratification of Maycomb County had a profound effect on the events in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The impact of this class structure was especially evident in the trial of Tom Robins on, a Maycomb Negro. The extreme prejudice of the town eventually led to the unjust conviction of Robinson for a crime he did not commit.  Family groups were also seen to be important. This is evident when a fire breaks out in Maycomb and the whole community comes together, just like one big family. They put all their differences aside in order to help one of the much loved citizens of Maycomb, Miss Maudie. However, when there is no uproar or unusual circumstances, the people of Maycomb County tend to stick to their own morals and own ways of life.

The society of Maycomb County had a definite structure. This structure contained four classes. The first and upper class consisted of white/Caucasians who were considered "rich" in the post-depression years. Characters who fit into this class were Atticus Finch, a well-off, highly respected lawyer and citizen in town, and Judge Taylor, the justice of Maycomb County and judge at the Robinson trial. Other character’s who belonged to this upper class were Miss Maudie Atkinson, an open- minded, kind woman, and Miss Stephanie Crawford, the renowned gossip of the town.

Join now!

The second class in Maycomb County included the lower class, white workers, and primarily farmers who struggled to make ends meet. The Cunninghams, Dolphus Raymond, and the mysterious Radley family represented this group. The third class of Maycomb County was the " white trash". The Ewells, who lived at the dump, and relied on welfare for survival, were members of this group. It is important to note that the difference between the second and third class was not a financial one. Both were "poor". The difference, however, was in the way they interacted in the society. The Cunninghams, unlike ...

This is a preview of the whole essay