Social Difference in Too Kill a Mockingbird

Social differences have changed incredibly in the last decades. The world has known an evolution that no one could have predicted. Aspects such as racism, social class and individual perception have differed drastically and now represent a modern open-minded world. The multiculturism boost our country and our world has known has brought a new wave of cultural, racial and social differences. The world has changed for the better and communities as well as individuals are now more open to differences in others. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the subject of social differences is the main theme for the book. The book adresses directly the major problem of racism per example and deals with it in it's special way. Set in the 1930's, To Kill a Mockingbird examines very closely social differences at that time. Unfortunately, the social differences found in the 1930's are very different than those we face in 2007. To Kill a Mockingbird has become a cultural phenomenon. Students everywhere study this novel referring to concepts that were established over 75 years ago. Obviously, opinions and beliefs have changed and do not apply to our world today. As a result, the social differences in the novel do not demonstrate the differences known to us today and is therefore innapropriate for class study. Today, visual racism is not present, trials are treated equally compared to unfair racist trails and social classes and economical differences are seen in a new way.

Firstly, visual racism found in the novel has become very rare today. The idea of excluding someone due to his or her race is not at all valued today if not frowned upon. Students are thought this in school to prepare them for actual society. Statements in the book are completely the opposite we try to teach children and teens today. In To Kill a Mockingbird, visual racism and exclusion is very obvious. When Tom Robinson and Atticus go to trial, a seperate balcony is reserved for the “coloured” people : “The coloured balcony ran along three walls of the courtroom like a second-story veranda…” (Lee 164) This indicates clearly the lack of social justice in the novel. People of other races than Caucasian in a public building have reserved seating, a practice that would be severely denounced today. This shows the drastic contrast from the book to our everyday world. Similarly, in Maycomb, people of other races than Caucasian are automatically treated as servants or as residents of a lower class without even considering their actual financial situation : “It (Calpurnia's church) was an ancient paint-peeled frame building, the only church in Maycomb with a steeple and bell, called First Purchase because it was paid for from the first earnings of freed slaves. Negroes worshipped in it on Sundays and white men gambled in it on weekdays.” (Lee 118) This statement perfectly shows the lack of respect the other townspeople had for the Afrian American residents of Maycomb and the social differences that were automatically insinuated on behalf of the African American community, an act that would never be performed today. Due the fact that the storyline represents outdated statements, To Kill a Mockingbird is clearly inappropriate for class study.

Secondly, people today see social class and social differences in a new way that does not relate to the way it does in the book. In To Kill a Mockinbird, when Calpurnia takes the children to church, some members were offended by the children's presence, a racist act that would not be accepted today : "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?" This proves clearly that racism can go both ways. Many times, we tend to think of racism as white against black but racism can certainly go the other way. This statement proves that the African American of Maycomb has accepted the fact that racism is present in their community as they are actually contributing to it by questioning the presence of the children at First Purchase. Today, religion is seen as a choice and not an obligation. Citizens are free to choose the religion they believe in or they choose to not believe in anything. Social class and social differences do not play as an important role than it used to be. People have become well aware and more open-minded to these kinds of factors. In like manner, in the novel, Mr. Dolphus Raymond uses alcoholism as an excuse to explain the fact that he has an