Final Answer:
The narrator implies that Tom's admission of feeling sorry for Mayella is considered a mistake because it challenges racial norms, and the disapproval from those "below the balcony" reflects the prevailing racial prejudices in the society depicted in "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Step-by-step explanation:
In literature, especially in a work like "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, the character Tom Robinson's statement about helping Mayella Ewell out of pity is layered with social and racial implications. The choice of words such as "he made a mistake" and the negative reactions from the people "below the balcony" suggest that the society depicted in the narrative holds prejudiced views that transcend individual actions.
Tom's mistake lies in challenging the deeply rooted racial norms of the time. In the racially segregated Southern setting of the novel, where racial discrimination and injustice are pervasive, a Black man expressing compassion towards a white woman, even in a seemingly benign way, is considered a transgression of the racial hierarchy.
The negative reactions from the people below the balcony signify the societal disapproval of such actions, highlighting the harsh consequences individuals face for challenging or defying established norms.
This aspect of the narrative reflects the broader theme of racial injustice and inequality, and the choice of words and reactions are deliberate literary devices employed by the author to emphasize the deeply ingrained prejudices and discriminatory attitudes of the society portrayed in the novel.