7)What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in Chapter 24?
The Maycomb ladies include Aunt Alexandra, Ms.Merriweather, Ms.Perkins, and Ms.Farrow, along with Miss Maudie, who is an outlier with regards to the behavior of the group. In general, the group is heavily biased and frivolous in their conversations and actions. For example, during the tea party Aunt Alexandra hosts, the ladies express an interest in help the less fortunate, yet still attack Helen Robinson, the epitome of a helpless woman, for somehow being responsible for the trial and the uproar caused by it. Like Aunt Alexandra, the rest of the ladies are conscious of social conventions and act indifferent in the face of events with big implications. For example, on
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Both Scout and Jem become acutely aware of the social divisions and discrimination in Maycomb during the aftermath of the trial, but each responds to it in a different way. While Scout begins the novel as a naive child who basically echoes the opinions of Jem and looks up to Atticus as a role model, she becomes more independent and shows signs of being a lady, just as Aunt Alexandra wanted her to be. An example of this is on page 237, when Scout says ““After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.” to show her support for Aunt Alexandra, a dramatic change from the argumentative nature that Scout possesses earlier in the novel. Also, Scout begins to understand the true nature of malice when she sees Bob Ewell in court, and thus, Boo Radley seems to be less of a threat than before. Jem’s changes, however, are surprising because he becomes more emotionally aware and adult because of the trial, as opposed to his confident, idealistic attitude earlier in the book. Jem begins to form his own opinions and displays moodiness, such as when he yells at Scout for squashing a bug in the yard. He begins to realize that Maycomb isn’t the idyllic town he thought it was, and the forces of racism and prejudice and very real. Through his struggles to come to grips with the verdict, Jem is stripped of his innocence, and his role as a
Jem also examines Walter’s well-being based on his appearance, notices that Walter “looked as if he had been raised on fish food”, and feels as if it’s his moral obligation to have him for dinner. Jem is showing empathy by stepping in Walter’s shoes and realizing that the poor child did not mean to get Scout into trouble. Another instance when Jem displays empathetic thoughts is when he uncovers what could be a reason for Boo Radley staying inside for so long. In chapter 23, Jem has doubts about Maycomb’s society, and its views, values, and beliefs. He is starting to realize how much he is opposed to the way his society works, and in doing so comes up with why he thinks Boo Radley stays inside.
Lee implies that people learn lessons through life experiences that school can ever teach. Throughout this novel, Atticus taught his kids many lessons that was hard for them to hear at times, but it later on helped them in the story. Or it helped them grow up and mature. On page 40 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was explaining to Scout that Miss.Caroline was new and didn’t know anyone, and she especially didn’t know the Cunningham’s story, Atticus states, “Atticus said… but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part” (40). This quote by Atticus is meant to explain to Scout that Miss. Caroline just made an honest human mistake. He tried to get Scout to realize that if he put herself in Miss.Caroline’s shoes then she might better understand the confusion. Obviously you can’t really be in her shoes, but he said it figuratively to show her why it was important to give her another chance, or at least try to be nice and listen. Atticus taught this to Scout at home later on that night. At her school after that she tried to just get by in her class. Lee also shows mainly throughout that the school system doesn’t help when it comes to teaching children life lessons. As shown in the earlier quote Atticus, had told Scout to jump in Walter’s shoes, and walk around in it. This other quote shows how Scout actually takes into consideration of Atticus’ words, and chooses to not bother Jem because she tried to imagine what it had
He then questions how “If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside" (304). This shows Jem at first having the childish mentality and not understanding prejudice but then he realizes why they are unfair in that there is prejudice in maycomb, and in return he also find out why Boo Radley stays inside as he would suspect him to be judge for no good reason. This all shows how Jem found more truth and is now more enlightened in the prejudice of his town and the mentality of most people, unlike a child who cannot comprehend
“Remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” (Lee 119). In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, this is the quote that Atticus, one of the main characters, says to his kids. Atticus is a lawyer who takes on a tough case in his town, Maycomb. His kids are Scout, and Jem. Throughout the book, they grow and mature. They don’t mess around with their neighbor, Boo, as much as they used to. But, luckily because of him, they live to see the next day. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it shows that because of prejudice, innocent people can be harmed. This is shown through Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Jem.
As Jem is older than Scout, his pivotal moments are much more difficult situations, calling for larger reactions. Due to Scout’s younger age, her lessons, realities, and experiences, are instead less severe with smaller responses, thus causing a variation in their moral
The characters in, To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, often use prejudice against people of controversial issues. Many of the townspeople of Maycomb use prejudice on the families who are on the less wealthy end of the spectrum. Issues are still displayed because of the racial prejudice used against African Americans and those of other races. Lastly, gender is a clear issue in Maycomb because of women’s and girl’s rights and lack of respect towards them because they are female. All of the types of prejudice show that Maycomb has many problems all throughout the town between other families and townspeople.
The intriguing novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is written by the prestigious author Harper Lee. Lee has utilised the lifestyle and attitudes towards African-Americans" in the 1930's to create a novel which presents the reader with Lee's attitudes and values. The dominant reading of the novel is focused on the issues of racial prejudice, but there are also a number of other alternative and oppositional readings. Examples of this are the Marxist and feminist readings which can be applied to the text.
Jem’s relationship with Scout changes as he matures in the story. He goes from a fellow conspirator and playmate for his sister to her protector, resembling Atticus more and more with every chapter. In chapter 4, they are playing a game enacting what they perceive Boo Radley to be like. Atticus interrupts the game and inquires whether the game was about the Radley’s or not. Jem lies, saying no in response. In page 40, Scout yells in confusion and Jem remarks, “Shut up! He’s gone in the living room; he can hear us in there.” This shows his mischievous behaviour and the fact that he is still
The ambition of oneself to pursue justice and righteousness may result in prosecution. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, and movie "A Time to Kill" by Joel Schumacher, each demonstrate one’s open-mindedness and forward thinking leads to penalization through protagonists Atticus Finch and Jake Brigance. Both egalitarians take the position as an attorney for an African American and are prosecuted in the process.
From the beginning to the end of the book, Jem transformed from Scout’s playmate and older brother to a person whom she looked up to and followed. Jem learns a great deal throughout the events of the novel, just like Scout. During the trial, Jem is extremely enthusiastic and believed that there is no way they could possibly lose. Jem’s confidence is seen when he talks to the Reverend and says “don’t fret, we’ve won it… don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard” (208). When the guilty verdict came back, Jem is distraught: “His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. ‘It ain’t right,’ he muttered” (212). This is the first time Jem truly sees racism. His eyes are opened to the more depraved side of Maycomb and because of this, he is no longer as innocent as before and he no longer only sees the good in others. After seeing how harsh the real world can be, Jem has a slightly different outlook towards Boo Radley, and says to Scout, “I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside” (227). Jem and Scout mature a great amount through the span of three years in which the novel takes place over, and this can also be seen in the conflicts that they face and their reactions to
"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (pg. 119.) Miss Maudie spoke the previous quote with deep thought going into each and every word. She wasn't just trying to teach Scout a lesson, but she wanted there to be a powerful meaning behind it. Miss Maudie's main purpose was to stress that you shouldn't kill something that is doing no harm. Everyday "mockingbirds" are killed, broke down, and mistreated by society.
Jem displays the idea that he is trying to grow up, and he will start to see problems like an adult does before Scout does.
In both the text “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee and the film “A Time to Kill” directed by Joel Schumacher, similar ideas are presented using language devices and stylistic features in differing ways to appeal to their target audience. Each have very similar storylines in which a white lawyer defends a an African-American in a prejudiced court case. Racism is a key idea presented strongly in each due to the eras they are set in. The era and country set in each story provide a strong base for the prominent issue. With the unpleasant happenings in each text and through the racist acts the idea of compassion shines through. As well as compassion being a significant idea, forgiveness is also presented through the racists acts.
In Chapter 16, it is the next morning and the family is eating breakfast (day of the trial). Atticus states that he is grateful for having his children disobey rules to help him and notes that Mr. Underwood never liked Negroes, which is odd that Underwood was there at the jailhouse. In addition, Jem claims that Mr. Cunningham would have killed Atticus the night before, yet Atticus defends his relationship with Cunningham by stating that he has “blind spots” like everyone else. The vast majority of Maycomb are heading for the courthouse, which include Baptists (Miss Maudie talks about these harsh people). Though, Miss Maudie proves that gardening is actually something beautiful in God’s eyes. Albeit that Atticus tells the children not
The story, in the eyes of two innocent children Scout and her brother Jem, of the discrimination and hypocrisy throughout the town. Maycomb County, Alabama, faces an African American’s injustice while the children learn valuable lessons from their father, Atticus and their housemaid Calpurnia, during the Great Depression. All the while, we are learning from it. To Kill a Mockingbird teaches us the lessons of morale, justice and equality.