The Social Class Structure in To Kill A Mockingbir Essay Example For Students

The Social Class Structure in To Kill A Mockingbir Essay dEnglish 10 3B1 March 2004Thesis Statement: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays the strict social class structure in the 1930s through characters such as Atticus Finch, Scout Finch, Tom Robinson and others in order to help explain the problems with gender and racial roles in society during this time.I. MenA. Male Characters in the Novel1. Atticus Finch a. His openness to different opinionsb.Tries to walk in others shoes (3. 3)2.Walter Cunninghama.His farming businessb.Low income3. Bob Ewella.Wants to improve his social standingb.Lies about Tom Robinson raping Mayella B.The male dominated society during the 1930s 1. Mens role in community and in their homes2.Feeling of dominance over women and African Americans in societyII.WomenA. Female characters in the novel1. Aunt Alexandra and the Missionary Ladies a.Talk about the African tribe, Mruanasb.Female powerlessness which causes the attitudes of Southern ladies2.Mayella Ewella. Has to care for her siblingsb.Gets abused by her father3.Scout Fincha.Her tomboy natureb. Learns to become more like a young lady by Aunt Alexandra B.The lack of womens rights in the 1930s1.The Nineteenth Amendmenta. Continue to think women only belong in church clubsb. Goes against the Souths view of well-mannered ladies2.Early Suffragette MovementII.The African AmericansA.The black community and characters in the novel1. Characteristics of the black community2.The First Purchase African M. E. Church a. Only place for worship for the black peopleb.Only four people in the church can readB.The prejudices towards blacks during the 1930s1.The Scottsboro trials3.Lynch mobs