When Tom Robinson was leaving the courtroom, declared guilty by the Judge for a crime he undoubtedly did not commit, the only ones truly shocked about the verdict were two children. Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee criticizes the society of the fictional town known as Maycomb for many issues that still occur today. One societal issue that this novel highlights is racism, specifically with the trial of Tom Robinson, who was wrongfully accused and convicted of rape. Harper Lee also examines other, just as important topics to society. The novel takes place in mainly one town in Alabama known as Maycomb during the Great Depression where finding a job is increasingly difficult. Although fictional, it accurately …show more content…
This kind of behavior is a significant factor throughout the novel. For instance, after losing the trial and being sentenced to death, Robinson's lawyer, Atticus, explained to the traumatized children why the plaintiff accused Tom Robinson falsely. Atticus explains to the children, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old Uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards” (Page 272). Atticus reveals that, even in the 1930’s, the racism toward the blacks in the United States is still prominent in the way people act and respond to those of another race. Kissing Tom is taboo for those in Maycomb which causes the plaintiff Mayelle to resort to accusing him of rape in order to keep herself looking innocent and out of the likely disgrace to come. Through this, Harper Lee portrays how the racism toward Negroes is still prevalent and critiques society on actions such as that. Next, Although the issue of racism is mostly focused on how the African Americans were victims, Lee also showed that it may happen on both sides. Because of being the only white people to attend, Finch and Scout were …show more content…
For example, when Scout wanted Walter Cunningham to visit her, she is refused by her Aunt because of the reason that he is in a lower class than she is. Aunt Alexandra tells her that “The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem...Finch women aren’t interested in that sort of people” (Page 300). The way Aunt Alexandra speaks about the Cunninghams derogatively and explains that Finch’s are more superior because of their social standing shows how people of different social classes are treated differently only because they are more poor. Harper Lee displays the stereotypes associated with social class and how society judges the person's personality and other traits solely by the amount of money they earn. Also, the discriminations of social class is represented in what Jem, Scout’s brother says. While laying in bed, Jem tells Scout that “There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes” (Page 302). Jem essentially categorizes four different types of people and ranks them based on their wealth and their lifestyle. He calls his family ordinary, but then classifies the Cunninghams, Ewells, and Negroes as being of lesser