Theme Of Classism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In the 1930’s, racism, classism, and prejudice became more evident in people’s everyday lives. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, she demonstrates this sore subject in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama. Lee presents Maycomb as a southern town, bursting with gossip and encompasses the traits of a one-sided community. Overall, Maycomb despises the African American race and refuses to treat them as equals because of their skin color. However, Lee created the main characters, Jem, Scout, and Atticus, to be different. They are shown as mature and given the viewpoints that racism and classism is wrong. Throughout the novel, Lee writes the characters to work around societies conflicts and not get caught up in racial concerns.
In the novel, Lee uses Atticus to show how she addresses racism differently than if the characters were like the rest of society. As Maycomb is a very judgmental town, Lee introduces the characters to be the opposite of critical and against racism. One example is shown through Atticus when the trial on Tom Robinson takes place. At this time, Atticus is shown to be a philanthropist in the ways of caring for each other equally. When Atticus was on the stand for Tom, he looked at him as an equal and no different because he was black. Although Atticus was presented this way, he was looked at disapprovingly because he was defending a black man and therefore displeasing his fellow peers. This shows that Lee’s characters are displayed in a pleasing