To Kill A Mockingbird Social Analysis

In the story, Maycomb County has many different social classes and depending on someone’s social status, they are treated and looked upon, a certain way. For example, two poor families, the Cunninghams and the Ewells, are discriminated against because of their lower status in society. For instance, after Scout beats up Walter Cunningham for getting her whipped, Jem invites Walter over for lunch. When Scout, Jem, and Walter reach the Finch's front steps, Walter, in Scout’s eyes, “had forgotten he was a Cunningham” (31). Even Scout, a six year old girl, perceives the Cunningham family as lower class. She believes they should act a certain way just because they are not a wealthy family. Furthermore, during lunch Walter requests syrup, which Calpurnia,

In certain circumstances the common folk judiciously allowed them certain privileges...They didn’t have to go to school, for one thing. Another thing, Mr. Bob Ewell, Burris’s father, was permitted to hunt and trap out of season” (40-41). The Ewells are given special privileges, they are treated differently from others, because of their class. All children who are considered “common folk” have to go to school, it is the law. But the Ewells are not classified as common folk, they are in a much lower position, which gives them the right to not go to school. They are also given the right to hunt and trap when it is illegal for everyone else. Lastly, the Ewells are also looked down upon by many other citizens of Maycomb because of their actions and their status. They have been degraded to the worst class in Maycomb because what they do and how they live does not match with what Maycomb County considers “common”, which is considered discrimination, or the unjust treatment of different people. To conclude, throughout the first few chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird, one type of discrimination in Maycomb County is shown, the treatment of differing social