Fate through Society In this world there is a power that controls everything, it cannot be changed, it decides everybody’s pathway in life, this power is fate. This idea derives from the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The effects of the Depression have landed in the small southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. During this period, the town is experiencing the impact of a case like no other, where an African American (Tom Robinson) is falsely accused of the ultimate felony, raping a white, young girl (Mayella Ewell). The narrator, Scout Finch experiences the case in a different view for her father (Atticus) is defending the accused Tom Robinson and she realizes of the negative accusations that are forced upon Tom because of his social class and race. Therefore, Lee depicts that people’s social class is thus determined by fate. Fate placed African Americans on the bottom of the social pyramid in the eyes of the white citizens. One event that proves this statement, is that during the time of the trial, Robert Ewell (the father of Mayella Ewell) is testifying against Tom and he begins to describe to the jury and audience of how living near colored folk affect his property, “Jedge, I’ve asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they’re dangerous to live around’ sides devaulin’ my property” (199). Mr. Ewell feels as though it is fine to make these harsh judgments toward African Americans because they are placed at the bottom of society and are viewed as dirt to him. Thus, Mr. Ewell reflects the city’s view that, African Americans are the lowest of the low upon the social pyramid, leaving citizens to feel that it
Shimoda 2 is fine if they harass or torment them. After Mr. Ewell gives his side of the story, Atitcus begins his defense for Mr. Robinson, unveiling the truth of what Maycomb concludes about African Americans,
“…that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women” (232). In this very small town most white humans believe these false misstatements for they assume that all color folks are not trustable and that they are immoral to world. Whites believe in this because African Americans are not equal to them in society, and sense they are not equal, the White citizens are conceived that African Americans are the work of the Devil. The White people can idealize whatever they assume about African Americans and African Americans cannot prove their worth really in this society since the Whites are at the top of society and that Blacks are at the bottom for through time fate created notions against African Americans leaving them to the bottom. In the eyes of White citizens African Americans are beneath them, leaving the White folk to assume and say false proclamations about Blacks. Social class based on economic status is also determined by fate. One family that’s social status is based on economic status is the Cunninghams, for one day during the first day of school in 1st grade, the teacher (Miss. Caroline) gives money to the children who do not have lunch so that they could buy food in town. Miss Caroline tries to hand a quarter to Walter Cunningham who refuses to take it, Miss Caroline does not understand why, forcing Scout to explain that the Cunningham are very poor and Walter would not be able to pay back the quarter to Miss Caroline at all. The Cunninghams are very economically less –fortunate and are viewed less in society. The quarter almost give to the young lad was probably the closest Walter has ever gotten to a quarter. The Cunninghams do not own shoes or many clothes