2.) What is the difference between “Cunningham poor” and “Finch poor” and “Ewell Poor”? Winschel

The Cunningham, Finch, and Ewell families all have separate lives and responsibilities in
Maycomb, Alabama. Each family has a different economic status. For the Cunninghams,
being ‘poor’ is not having enough money to pay for shoes to wear to school. Walter
Cunningham received hookworm because of going barefoot to school. Walter
Cunningham also had no lunch, since he could not pay for one. Scout states, “He didn’t
forget his lunch, he didn’t have any” (Lee, 22). This text shows the poverty found in the
Cunningham family, with not being able to afford shoes nor a lunch.
Conversely, the Finch family is poor without their maid, Calpurnia. Atticus Finch states to
Scout, “We couldn’t operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought of that? You
think about how much Cal does for you, and you mind her...” (Lee, 28). This text shows
that the Finch household would be considered ‘poor’ to their own standards with
Calpurnia. The quote takes place when Scout requests Calpurnia to be fired by Atticus.
Calpurnia throughout the story has been the loyal one who has taken the place of the
mother in the family. Atticus seems to realize that while Scout hasn’t figured that out yet.
On the other hand, the Ewell family’s version of poor is having no food. Mr. Bob Ewell,
the father of the family, hunts and traps out of season. Instead of feeding and providing
for his children, Mr. Ewell prefers spending it on green whiskey. The son of Bob, Burris,
went to school with filthy clothes and filthy skin while also on an empty stomach. The text
also states that Burris has been in first grade for three years now, and says himself that
he is not smart enough to enter second. Briefly, all three families of Maycomb, Alabama
are perceived as poor in their own ways and each face their own struggles in their
everyday lifestyle.

1. Which of the three families do you think is the poorest?
2. Is it Burris' fault that he is dirty and uneducated?
3. Do you believe Calpurnia would have been hired if Scout's mother never passed away?

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 10, 2019 at 6:17 PM

    While your reasoning is great for all three families as to how they are poor in their own way, I believe that the Ewell’s are the poorest because not only is Burris walking around with filthy skin, dirty clothes and on an empty stomach, it is obvious his father does not care for him. Although poverty is mostly not having a roof to live under and having those things regular people do like the possibility of having clean clothes every day and being able to take showers every day, every problem you have is better when you have someone to lean on. Since Burris’ father is an alcoholic everything is harder and all the weight of poverty is falling on Burris. Walter’s family is definitely poor, there is no denying that but he has a family that cares for him, his father works hard to keep his family out of poverty, even though the crash is making them the poorest family in Maycomb (based on economics) but their struggles don’t feel so strenuous because they all lean on each other. That is why the Ewells are the poorest because Bob is depending on his Green whiskey which is actually drowning him in poverty and he's leaving his son out there in the world with no clue about what he could do. This definitely shows the Ewells are the poorest.

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 10, 2019 at 7:17 PM

    From the reading, it is easy to assume that the Ewell Family is the poorest. This is not based on the families total income but the way money is spent. Mr. Ewell chooses to spend the little money he has on liquor instead of providing for his family. Burris appears to have adopted these beliefs in the way he fights the laws requiring him to go to school even when he is not under the obligation of his parents. He in no way attempts to try and gain at least some education, seeming reasonably satisfied with staying in the first grade for years to come. Controversially the Cunningham family seems to save every penny for necessity and value education, even if they can not afford to have Walter go to school in the spring due to the planting season. Walter approaches the first day of school with effort, and strives to achieve and learn despite having to repeat the same material. It would be hard to decide which family receives a higher wage but is obvious the Cunningham’s hold themselves to a higher standard. Presuming upon the fact that the Finch’s can afford to hire a cook and Atticus Finch has a job which brings him into town every day, I would conclude that the Finch family is the richest.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2019 at 5:19 AM

    2. Is it Burris' fault that he is dirty and uneducated?

    I do not think that it is Burris’ fault that he is dirty and uneducated. His family comes from a long line of poverty. He only goes to school on the first day because he has to help his family at home to make crops and help out. He also has been in first grade for 3 years because he is not smart enough to move up to second grade because he only goes to school one day a year Burris is a very nice boy and his manners are very good. I do feel bad for him because there is nothing that he can do to make him family less poor and for him to know where his next meal is coming from. He also tries to help out Ms.Caroline when she does not know how Maycomb Alabama works and she does not know the families and their poverty levels. In conclusion I would like to say that I don’t think that is it Burris’ that he is dirt and uneducated.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2019 at 5:27 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2019 at 5:43 AM

    You talk about how much Calpurnia does for the family, and that they would be nothing without her. I think if Scout's mom was still around they wouldn't need Calpurnia's support. The only reason that Atticus hired Calpurnia is to fill the role for a mother figure and a general helper around the house. Although this it true, Calpurnia does a lot more the just help around the house, and make meals, she taught Scout to read. Scout mom may not have taught her too read, but even though it is not her job Calpurinia took it upon herself to teach her. Scout has a general disliking for Calpurnia, she doesn't understand how much she does for her. This makes the book a lot more real because you can really believe that it is being narrated by a 6 year old. Your question was if Calpurnia would have been hired if Scout's mother never passed away, I don't think that she would have been hired, but if she was she would add more to the family then Scout knows.

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  6. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2019 at 5:55 AM

    I do not think it is Burris' fault he is poor, for a multitude of reasons. It is the beginning of the great depression, and Atticus mentions that the farmer families were hit the hardest. He has to spend most of his days helping his family with the crops, as they are too poor to hire farm hands. He can't have any education, as any attempts to go to school are always thwarted by either what he has to do at home, or his teachers sending him home for being too dirty.

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2019 at 9:23 AM

    Atticus always says that Calpurnia does so much for the family and she is like a mother figure for Jem and Scout. If Scouts mom was still alive they wouldn't need her support and hard work. The only reason Calpurnia is there is to fill the role that their mother never did. As you can see Calpurnia takes care of the kids as their own mother, she reads to them, makes them food, and loves them as their mother would. This probably wasn't included in her job description but she is a very loving person and deeply cares about the kids. To formally answer the question no, I do not believe Calpurnia would have been hired if their mother was still around. It would be unnecessary to have two people take on the same role in one household.

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