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Social Inequality
Quick revise
The social inequality in the novel is explored using the town of Maycomb and its complicated hierarchy.
The Finch family are well off within the town largely due to Atticus’s employment. As a result most of the town’s people are beneath them.
The country farmers, the Cunninghams lie below the town’s people due to their ignorance whilst the Ewells are below the Cunninghams because of their immoral behaviour.
The black community in Maycomb lie even further below the Ewells in spite of their admirable qualities and good will.
It is this social hierarchy which allows the innocent Tom Robinson to be punished by the evil Bob Ewell.
These social divisions make up a large part of the adult world which Jem and Scout see, and these divisions appear to be irrational and destructive.
Social division ultimately epitomises the prejudice and ignorance of human nature.
