I read this book before but its a long time ago. Basically the crowd that attends the trial in Chapter 16 of the book - To Kill A Mockingbird represent all the types found in Maycomb County. The author accomplishes many things by including all these people because she gives us a richer picture of Maycomb County and the presence of some of these people allows the author to explore in more detail the dynamics of race in Maycomb County, (and Jem and Scout's growing struggle to understand the social "rules" surrounding race). In addition to that, Scout develops because he realized the seriousness of Atticus's decision and its consequences.
