Plot analysis
How do characters from different social classes act towards the other classes?
At the trial, there are white people sitting in one area and black people sitting in a different area, and the black people have to wait for the white people to come in before they can sit down.“The Negroes, having waited for the white people to go upstairs, began to come in” (Lee 163).The Negroes know that they have to show respect to the white people, so they act respectful by waiting for them to go upstairs before they do. The white people also know that the Negroes have to wait for them, so of course they don’t think they should wait for the Negroes to come in first. They know that they are considered a higher class than the Negroes, so they take advantage of it and don’t really show any respect to those beneath them.
At the trial, there are white people sitting in one area and black people sitting in a different area, and the black people have to wait for the white people to come in before they can sit down.“The Negroes, having waited for the white people to go upstairs, began to come in” (Lee 163).The Negroes know that they have to show respect to the white people, so they act respectful by waiting for them to go upstairs before they do. The white people also know that the Negroes have to wait for them, so of course they don’t think they should wait for the Negroes to come in first. They know that they are considered a higher class than the Negroes, so they take advantage of it and don’t really show any respect to those beneath them.
Character Differences
How do characters from different classes interact or conflict?
When Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church, First Purchase, a woman named Lula doesn’t like it. “What you want, Lula?”...“I wants to know why you bringin‘ white chillun to nigger church.” “They’s my comp’ny,” said Calpurnia. Again I thought her voice strange: she was talking like the rest of them. “Yeah, an‘ I reckon you’s comp’ny at the Finch house durin’ the week.” A murmur ran through the crowd. “Don’t you fret,” Calpurnia whispered to me, but the roses on her hat trembled indignantly. When Lula came up the pathway toward us Calpurnia said, “Stop right there, nigger.” Lula stopped, but she said, “You ain’t got no business bringin‘ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?”(Lee 119). Lula doesn’t like it when Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout to the church because it is supposed to be only for black people. Since white people act the same way towards black people, it makes sense for her to be a little bit mad about it. It causes conflict because Lula obviously doesn’t think that Jem and Scout have the right to be there. However, the rest of the black people are more accepting of Jem and Scout, which is very different from how white people act towards black people throughout the book.
When Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church, First Purchase, a woman named Lula doesn’t like it. “What you want, Lula?”...“I wants to know why you bringin‘ white chillun to nigger church.” “They’s my comp’ny,” said Calpurnia. Again I thought her voice strange: she was talking like the rest of them. “Yeah, an‘ I reckon you’s comp’ny at the Finch house durin’ the week.” A murmur ran through the crowd. “Don’t you fret,” Calpurnia whispered to me, but the roses on her hat trembled indignantly. When Lula came up the pathway toward us Calpurnia said, “Stop right there, nigger.” Lula stopped, but she said, “You ain’t got no business bringin‘ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?”(Lee 119). Lula doesn’t like it when Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout to the church because it is supposed to be only for black people. Since white people act the same way towards black people, it makes sense for her to be a little bit mad about it. It causes conflict because Lula obviously doesn’t think that Jem and Scout have the right to be there. However, the rest of the black people are more accepting of Jem and Scout, which is very different from how white people act towards black people throughout the book.
The Values
What values are reinforced?
At the trial, Bob Ewell tries to use the fact that he is white to his advantage to win over the jury. Even though, therethere shouldn't be any differences between them according to the state of law. “‘Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.’ ‘What, Jean Louise?’ I thought I had made things sufficiently clear. It was clear enough to the rest of us: Walter Cunningham was sitting there lying his head off. He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any. He had none today nor would he have any tomorrow or the next day. He had probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life” (Lee 20). Marxism argues beliefs that prevent poor people from freeing themselves of poverty. The whole town knows that the Cunninghams cannot pay anyone back, and they accept it, and almost encourage it. The Cunninghams have been in poverty for years, yet no one in the town has done anything about it other than accept it. Also, the poor people have accepted their status and aren’t doing anything to change it either. This reinforces the strict two-class belief of Marxism.
Another example is when Scout explains to Miss Caroline that Walter Cunningham can’t pay her back. “‘Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.’ ‘What, Jean Louise?’ I thought I had made things sufficiently clear. It was clear enough to the rest of us: Walter Cunningham was sitting there lying his head off. He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any. He had none today nor would he have any tomorrow or the next day. He had probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life” (Lee 20). Marxism argues beliefs that prevent poor people from freeing themselves of poverty. The whole town knows that the Cunninghams cannot pay anyone back, and they accept it, and almost encourage it. The Cunninghams have been in poverty for years, yet no one in the town has done anything about it other than accept it. Also, the poor people have accepted their status and aren’t doing anything to change it either. This reinforces the strict two-class belief of Marxism.
At the trial, Bob Ewell tries to use the fact that he is white to his advantage to win over the jury. Even though, therethere shouldn't be any differences between them according to the state of law. “‘Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.’ ‘What, Jean Louise?’ I thought I had made things sufficiently clear. It was clear enough to the rest of us: Walter Cunningham was sitting there lying his head off. He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any. He had none today nor would he have any tomorrow or the next day. He had probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life” (Lee 20). Marxism argues beliefs that prevent poor people from freeing themselves of poverty. The whole town knows that the Cunninghams cannot pay anyone back, and they accept it, and almost encourage it. The Cunninghams have been in poverty for years, yet no one in the town has done anything about it other than accept it. Also, the poor people have accepted their status and aren’t doing anything to change it either. This reinforces the strict two-class belief of Marxism.
Another example is when Scout explains to Miss Caroline that Walter Cunningham can’t pay her back. “‘Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.’ ‘What, Jean Louise?’ I thought I had made things sufficiently clear. It was clear enough to the rest of us: Walter Cunningham was sitting there lying his head off. He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any. He had none today nor would he have any tomorrow or the next day. He had probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life” (Lee 20). Marxism argues beliefs that prevent poor people from freeing themselves of poverty. The whole town knows that the Cunninghams cannot pay anyone back, and they accept it, and almost encourage it. The Cunninghams have been in poverty for years, yet no one in the town has done anything about it other than accept it. Also, the poor people have accepted their status and aren’t doing anything to change it either. This reinforces the strict two-class belief of Marxism.
The social class
What social classes do the characters represent?
Walter Cunningham can’t go to Scout’s house because Aunt Alexandra doesn’t want him to. ‘’Why not aunty?
They’re good folks”... ‘’Jean Louise there is no doubt in my mind that they’re good folks. But they’re not our kind of
folks.” Jem says “She means they’re yappy, Scout.” “What’s yap?” “Aw, tacky. They like fiddlin’ and things like
that”. “Well I do to” “Don’t be silly, Jean Louise,” said Aunt Alexandra. “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. Besides, there’s a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren’t interested in that sort of people.” “Aun-ty,” said Jem, “she ain’t nine yet.” “She may as well learn it now” (Lee 224). Walter Cunningham and his family represent the lower class white people that live in Maycomb. Scout, Jem, Atticus and Aunt Alexandra seem to be the higher class people. Aunt Alexandra doesn’t want Scout to associate with Walter Cunningham because he is of a lower class than them.
Walter Cunningham can’t go to Scout’s house because Aunt Alexandra doesn’t want him to. ‘’Why not aunty?
They’re good folks”... ‘’Jean Louise there is no doubt in my mind that they’re good folks. But they’re not our kind of
folks.” Jem says “She means they’re yappy, Scout.” “What’s yap?” “Aw, tacky. They like fiddlin’ and things like
that”. “Well I do to” “Don’t be silly, Jean Louise,” said Aunt Alexandra. “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. Besides, there’s a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren’t interested in that sort of people.” “Aun-ty,” said Jem, “she ain’t nine yet.” “She may as well learn it now” (Lee 224). Walter Cunningham and his family represent the lower class white people that live in Maycomb. Scout, Jem, Atticus and Aunt Alexandra seem to be the higher class people. Aunt Alexandra doesn’t want Scout to associate with Walter Cunningham because he is of a lower class than them.