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Okay, we're reading To Kill a Mockingbird in my English class right now. I really like the book, but we're supposed to write a somewhat-short (about two pages) paper on a topic about the book, and I'm stuck on mine. Here's the topic:

"Jem describes to Scout the four "folks" or classes of people in Maycomb County: "...our kind of folks don't like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don't like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks." What do you think of the ways in which Lee explores race and class in 1930's Alabama? What significane, if any, do you thin these characterizations have for people living inother parts of the world?"

Any ideas? Thoughts? Comments?

Heh, I wasn't planning on it in the first place. I'm not that desperate. sweatdrop

But thanks anyways. I think I've got it pretty well set out now.

ooh we read that a couple of years ago n__n~

have you seen the film yet?
dill is so strange and funny. XD

I think she does that, first of all, because it's the South. That plays a key role in why the Ewell's hate the colored people. I'm not saying that we're like that any more, I'm just saying that this was the way it used to be. Also, the Finches are higher up because Atticus has a good, respectable job, and is well known in town. It also helps that his family has been there for generations. The Cunninghams are lower than the Finches because they are sometimes unable to have enough money to pay people properly (example is when Mr. Cunningham pays in food, not money for Atticus's help). The Ewells are lower than the Cunninghams because Mr. Ewell, first of all, has NO money at all, and second of all because they live next the dump, and get their items from it's contents. The colored people are lower than the Ewells for one reason: their skin color. To most of the town's folk, the Ewells are better than the colored people because the Ewells are white. Lee is trying to show what a normal life in the South is like, during that time period.

Yes, it's a classic. Just walk in and say the title, and they'll probably have more than a few copies free. wink

i read that book ^^ it was kinda boring at the beginning but it got interesting...i did a paper on a similar topic and i used quotes...introduce the quote...state the quote and explain...that's how i got through mine...but do not overuse quotes

Gee, seems like it's a trend. I've read the book too. Unlike the average person who recognizes it as a classic, and a well-written book, I despised it. Mostly because I had to read it for a grade, but I still hated it.

The characterizations, A) have unending significance to those who have never been to the South. Granted, 99.9% of Southerners no longer hate every black because they're black, if you haven't been to the South, but you've read the book, most likely you will think that it is an accurate depiction of current times. B) Because in all places, there is a hierarchy of class. In America, there's the rich, the well-off, the middle class, the lower-middle class, the poor, and the homeless. Curious to see though, that the bulk majority of "Class" is determined by money.

Ugh, I read that book both in my 9th grade English class and also it is my summer reading for my junior year. >< I hated that book... guess I'm more into new books than I thought.