Lauren MOUKANAS

Summer Reading Assignment

Class: 3EA

1. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

2.After you read, do the following:

a. Find and list three examples with page numbers of equality vs. inequality in the novel. One
pertaining to race, another to gender, and a third to class.

Equality vs. inequality pertaining to race: Lee 231: Tom Robinson’s trial is the major incident of
racism in the novel. Tom is a black man accused of raping the daughter of Bob Ewell, Mayella, just
because of the color of his skin. Everyone in Maycomb, believes in Mayella’s side of the story, except
Atticus who is defending Tom. In his accusation against Tom, Bob Ewell used offensive language and
treats the accused like an object. There is no proof of his crime and this trial shows how prejudice
can lead to an unfair judgment and a miscarriage of justice.

Equality vs. inequality pertaining to gender: Lee 108: Scout is criticized by her aunt Alexandra
because she does not act like a girl but like a tomboy. She wears breeches and does not play with
small stoves and tea sets. Her Aunt believes that a lady should wear a dress in order to be “a ray of
sunshine in her father’s lonely life”. This is an example of inequality between men and women
because to be considered like a lady a girl should not dress like a man.

Equality vs. inequality pertaining to class: Lee 26: Walter Cunningham, Scout’s classmate, belongs to
the poorest families in Maycomb. The Cunningham’s don’t accept anything from people because
they cannot pay them back.

b. In one paragraph, answer “Where do the following characters stand in the examples you found
from par “a”?

i. Scout, Atticus, “Boo” Radley, Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson symbolizes race inequality. A black man accused of raping a white girl because of his
colored skin. His trial exposes the racial prejudice. Despite tom testimony and Atticus brilliant
defense the jury’s racial prejudices lead them to find Tom guilty.

Bob Ewell is an example of race inequality. He is the one who accuses Tom Robinson of raping his
white daughter, knowing that this accusation is false. His accusation is not based evidence but on the
assumption that a black man is necessary guilty.

Scout Finch is an example of gender inequality. She is a young girl who wears overalls and acts like a
tomboy. Her Aunt Alexandra tries to offer her a feminine influence and wants her to wear dresses
and necklaces. Mrs. Dubose advises her not to wear overalls but to “be in a dress and camisole” like a
young lady. These gender stereotypes lead to inequality between men and women.

Atticus Finch supports race equality, social equality and gender equality. He decided to be the lawyer
of a black man accused of raping a white girl Mayella Ewell despite the threats of the habitants of
Maycomb. He had to face a white jury and the habitants of the town of Maycomb who disapprove
him. Moreover, he cares for everyone’s equality and especially for Scout advising her to wear
whatever she wants.
Lauren MOUKANAS

“Boo” Radley is an example of social inequality. He is poor and low in social hierarchy. Moreover
because of his mental disability he is sidelined by his family and Maycomb’s community.

c. In one paragraph: What examples do you see in today’s society, on the news, or in your own life, of
equality vs. inequality?

They are many examples in today’s society of equality vs. inequality. In the labor market, women
have more difficulties than men to find interesting and well-paid jobs. Moreover, inequality in access
to education between poor countries and rich countries but also between rich people and poor
people of a same country exists all over the world. Finally, the covid-19 pandemic showed inequality
in health care and access to hospitals and vaccines between the countries.

d. In your most artistic manner, create a visual component to represent Scout’s neighborhood or a
character from the novel. Be prepared to present and explain your artwork in class.

Drawing of Atticus Finch attached

2. Poetry Assignment:
b. Write a 3-5 sentence summary:
I chose the poem “Fetish” written in 1996 by Christopher Reid. It is composed of two verses that
describe a supposed angel’s wingbone cherished by the author. In the first verse, he indicates that
this fetish is worthless, and he ironically jokes about the fact that this wingbone was not certified by
a holy person as part of an angel. In reality, this object has an important emotional value for him, as
described in the second verse, in which he expresses the sweetness and the tactile sensation of his
loved fetish. The way he highlighted his strong emotional feelings for this angel’s wingbone
resonated with me and made me choose this poem.