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In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, when Jem asks Atticus if they are as poor as the Cunninghams, how does Atticus respond?

In Chapter 2, Scout attempts to defend Walter Cunningham, Jr. for not accepting Miss Caroline's quarter at lunch. Scout simply says, "Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham," believing she has fully explained the situation (Lee 26). Scout mentions that she has a unique understanding of the "Cunningham tribe" because Walter Cunningham, Sr. was one of Atticus' clients. Scout explains how Walter paid Atticus for his services in stovewood, hickory nuts, smilax and holly, and...

In Chapter 2, Scout attempts to defend Walter Cunningham, Jr. for not accepting Miss Caroline's quarter at lunch. Scout simply says, "Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham," believing she has fully explained the situation (Lee 26). Scout mentions that she has a unique understanding of the "Cunningham tribe" because Walter Cunningham, Sr. was one of Atticus' clients. Scout explains how Walter paid Atticus for his services in stovewood, hickory nuts, smilax and holly, and turnip greens. Scout found it odd that Mr. Cunningham paid Atticus like that instead of using money, and Atticus tells her that the Cunninghams didn't have any money. Scout then asks, "Are we poor, Atticus?" and Atticus responds, "We are indeed" (Lee 27). Jem then asks if they are as poor as the Cunninghams and Atticus says, "Not exactly. The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them hardest" (Lee 27). Atticus goes on to explain to his children that professionals, like himself, were poor because farmers were poor. He tells his children that Maycomb is a farming community, meaning professionals were not always paid in cash for their services. Mr. Cunningham pays professionals like Atticus with whatever he can. The Depression drastically affected the farming community, which in turn affected the professionals in town who made their money from farmers.

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