How do social class differences affect the characters in Maycomb?

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, social class distinctions are deeply embedded in the fabric of Maycomb, influencing how characters interact and are perceived by the community. These hierarchies are often defined by economic status and family reputation, creating rigid boundaries that Scout, the young narrator, begins to observe during her early school years.1

For instance, the town distinguishes between families like the Cunninghams, who are poor but respected, and the Ewells, who are viewed as a social disgrace. These class tensions are highlighted when Scout’s teacher, Miss Caroline, fails to understand the local social nuances, such as why a student like Walter Cunningham cannot accept charity.1

Atticus Finch serves as a moral counterpoint to these prejudices, teaching his children that true understanding requires empathy—the ability to "climb into his skin and walk around in it". Ultimately, the novel illustrates how these social and racial hierarchies, exacerbated by the Great Depression and Jim Crow laws, foster a system of inequality that often blinds individuals to the humanity of those they deem "lower" or "different".123