These lines from "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" portray Wiliam Zanzinger as a wealthy man, carrying a cane and a diamond ring. He beats Hattie Carroll, an africanamerican maid, to death.
This song by Bob Dylan referes not only to the social and racial prejudice that lead to the murder, but to the legal injustice, since Zanzinger murdered her and was not held accountable for his crime.
I'm kind of confused as to what is being asked.... but this is my best answer. SOCIAL Prejudice, (maybe legal if we talk about the consequence to his actions)
why it cant be the others---> racial ---- they say nothing about race here. (MAYBE) legal----- from the passage, we can say that the guy is richhhhh, and he might be able to wave off the consequences of his murder. but then again you only analyze this passage so, probably not environmental---- they don't mention the environment....
THE REASON WHY IT SHOULD BE SOCIAL- their social standings in this situation -diamond ring (if thats what they mean by diamond ring finger, it could mean something else as well) only the rich can afford, a cane too - hotel society gathering... (rich) -poor Hattie Carroll could be literal as well.
Explanation: We can see them reveal their perspective from the narrator overhearing someone else's conversation, which also allows them to describe the other things around them (the tree)
