How Did Tom Robinson Survive During The Great Depression

The Great Depression was the most longest-lasting economic downturn in history that happened during the 1930’s. African Americans, Native Americans, and women went through the most difficult times during the Great Depression. Many families were affected by it in many ways, fathers would leave their families and others didn’t have the money to purchase what was needed to survive. During this period of time, people had trouble with money and were going insane to find someone who would help them. People, especially in the South, would lose their jobs and not get money to help their family out. Without the money, people weren’t able to buy medication so they died from life-threatening diseases. The Great Depression not only created a vast economical

During the 1930’s people had to find a solution for themselves because they knew everyone was in the same situation as them. The majority had lost hope during that time, but there were still some who continued to see the world as a beautiful place, through a mockingbird’s view. In To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson was experiencing the toughest situations from the Great Depression. Tom Robinson was from the black community which of all, had the hardest time to survive during this time, but he would always seek hope in the most dreadful situations. Almost everyday, Tom would assist Mayella Ewell because she looked like she need help, and once he was done helping her, he would not accept the change she would offer to him as a token of gratitude. Mayella was nearly experiencing what the black community experienced. That contrived Tom to feel bad for her, so he wouldn’t take the money she offered him. From

In not being able to work, people had to try and help each other out, even if the help given to them was very small. Harper Lee demonstrates to the readers that the people in Maycomb would treat each other as they saw who was capable of doing certain things. Scout “asked Atticus if Mr. Cunningham would ever pay us. Not in money, Atticus said, but before the year’s out I’ll have been paid. You watch”( 27). We can see that Atticus understands the situation the Cunninghams are going through. The Cunninghams were really poor farmers and during the Great depression, it was the black community and the farmers who experienced the most hardships during this time. They had no money, but the people in Maycomb already knew that, so they knew not to ask them for money, but for help instead. Help is truly something that cannot be gained with money, but paid as money instead. “That spring when we found a croker sack full of turnip trees, Atticus said Mr. Cunningham had more than paid him. Why does he pay you like that, Scout asked. Because that is the only way he can pay me. He has no money”( 27). Atticus states which families have it the hardest on them and the Cunninghams were one of those families. The Great Depression created a vast economical difference that led to people treating others