This is a very interesting question. Family financial
matters are not discussed much in the novel, probably because most parents don't discuss
money with their young children, and this is certainly the case with Atticus and Scout
(as the narrator). Here are my guesses concerning this
issue.
1. Dolphus Raymond.
Oddly enough, Raymond lives with his black mistress on the "wrong" side of town, but we
learn that he owns a great deal of land along the river. He wears expensive English
riding boots, the only ones Scout has ever seen.
2. Jack
Finch. Atticus' brother is a doctor in Boston, so he must earn a decent
living.
3. Judge Taylor. Even in the 1930s,
judges made more money than most poor lawyers like Atticus.
4.
Atticus Finch. Atticus is a poor country lawyer, but he
probably makes more money than most people in Maycomb.
5.
Dill's parents. We don't know much about them (partly
because Dill lies so much), but they seem to have enough money to travel and buy
expensive gifts for Dill.
6. Sheriff Heck Tate.
Though a public servant, sheriffs usually earn a decent wage.
7.
B. B. Underwood. The
newspaper owner probably makes a decent living from the advertisers who back his
paper.
8. Aunt Alexandra. Alexandra and her
husband, Jimmy, likely have little money, but they own the old Finch Landing
homestead.
9. The Radleys. Like Alexandra, they
may have little money, but they do own a large house.
10. Miss
Maudie, Miss Stephanie, Aunt
Rachel. Single (and/or widowed) women all, they must have inherited some
money, since none of them hold down jobs.
11. Miss
Caroline and Miss Gates. They're teachers:
Enough said.
12. Calpurnia. Atticus probably
pays her a decent wage.
It's debatable who makes more money
between Tom Robinson's family, the Cunninghams and the Ewells. The Robinsons both work
(though Tom's incarceration and death ended his income); Bob Ewell receives a welfare
check; and the Cunninghams are virtually penniless.
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