There is some class distinction between the rich and the poor. For example, the Finch family are quite "well-off- as Atticus Finch is a lawyer, whereas the Cunningham's are quite poor, as Mr Cunningham is a farmer and no-one has any money to buy his products.
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"As the Cunningham's had no money to pay a lawyer, they simply paid us with what they had."".
The book investigates many types of prejudice. One is the hatred and fear towards the blacks and the violence between them that could break out at any time, for example the lynch mob. The lynch mob were a group of men that threatened to take the law in their own hands and got together to kill Tom Robinson before his trial. It shows the underground violence that surfaces before the rape case starts. It also shows how the lynch mob feels powerful in a group, because they are able to hide behind someone else. Scout does not understand what their intentions are and sees a face in the crowd and names him. Hey, Mr. Cunningham' she says singling him out from the group. Mr. Cunningham realises this and is put in the spotlight and can't hide behind anyone. He also realises that an innocent little girl has caught him in action. This puts pressure on Mr. Cunningham and makes in take in to account for his actions. This is an effective way to combat this type of prejudice, Scout manages to disarm Mr. Cunningham, and he has to rethink his actions.
There are many types of prejudice and they all subtly revolve around the Tom Robinson rape case. For example; when scout meets Mr. Dolphus Raymond during the trial she becomes aware that he is a victim of prejudice and that he has become an outcast. This is because he lives his life with a black woman; this is thought to be wrong in society in Maycomb. One of the effects of this is that he pretends to be drunk. Another is that his children are also victims of prejudice as they are mix race they do not fit in with the blacks or whites, because of all this they live in the isolated out-skirts of Maycomb far away from anyone.
