How Does Harper Lee Use Social Order In To Kill A Mockingbird

Akshay Madan

Mr.Hermes

Pre-AP English 9

30 March 2023

Social Order To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee explores the theme of social order in a rural town in Alabama during the Jim Crow era. The novel follows Scout, a young girl who learns about the injustice system in Maycomb through the conviction and murder of an innocent man named Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, daughter of antagonist Bob Ewell. Throughout the novel, Lee uses her characters and the events they encounter to illustrate the influence of social hierarchy and racial prejudice in the town.

One way in which Harper Lee explores the theme of social order is through the character of Aunt Alexandra. Alexandra is obsessed with upholding the social

Atticus is portrayed as a person of equality and justice. Atticus is a well-respected lawyer who strongly believes in equal treatment for all people, regardless of their race or social status. When his sister Alexandra suggests that he fires Calpurnia, their African American maid, Atticus responds with a firm statement of his beliefs: “Alexandra, Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to” (155). This demonstrates Atticus's commitment to social equality and his refusal to let the social hierarchy dictate his

Scout takes notice of this when she observes that "Every town the size of Maycomb had families like the Ewells. No economic fluctuations changed their status... Ewells lived like guests of the county... No truant officers could keep their numerous offspring in school... no public health officer could protect them from diseases." (170). The Ewells, a white family, were one of the poorest, if not the poorest family in Maycomb, but still held some power due to their status as "white trash." Even though the rest of the community does not like the Ewells, they are still privileged and get rights that people of color do not get in Maycomb. This was evident in the trial of Tom Robinson. Even though the entire courtroom knew that Bob Ewell was the one guilty of hurting Mayella, they still made Tom Robinson the one who was found guilty. They would rather keep this racial system going than serve justice to Macomb. This illustrates how deeply the social hierarchy has affected Maycomb and how even those at the bottom still held some power over those of different