The Existence of Social Inequality

The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is in Alabama during the 1930’s when do to lack of moral education many people followed a social structure which in current times would be viewed as highly unjust and discriminative towards different ethic groups and social classes. Through the novel Tom Robinson’s trial played a major role in highlighted the racial discrimination and discrimination black people faced from the white people during that time. A major scene, which showed the unfair attitude towards the black people, was during the trial:
“Mr. Gilmer smiled grimly at the jury. “You’re a mighty good fellow, it seems—
did all this for not one penny?”

“Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em—”

“You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for he?” Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise
to the ceiling.

"The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the
damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer. Mr. Gilmer
paused a long time to let it sink in.”
(Page 264. Chapter 19)

This shows the attitude that the white people had towards black meaning that they felt disrespected for the fact that a black person felt sorry for a white person. Evidently throughout the trial Tom Robinsons was disrespected and was called “boy” by Mr. Ewell because he didn’t see him as equal to a white person. Many white witnesses referred to Tom as a “nigger” throughout the trial which back then was also a derogatory statement. This shows the lack of care from the authorities to stop the derogatory comments and treatment.

“Mr. Tate said, “It was the night of November twenty-first. I was just leaving my
office to go home when B—Mr. Ewell came in, very excited he was, and said get
out to his house quick, some nigger’d raped his girl.”
(Page 223. Chapter 17)

Scout also shares her opinion, which does hold a lot of truth to it since she is narrating the story, and she says:

“Tom had been given due process of law to the day of his death; he had
been tried openly and convicted by twelve good men and true; my father had
fought for him all the way. Then Mr. Underwood’s meaning became clear:
Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in
the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the
minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.”

This quote further justifies the claim that there is social inequality against Tom Robinson in Maycomb. The reason being is because even Scout had realized the truth of the unfair justice system and she was only a child.