In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of two children in the South during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) and Jean Louise Finch (Scout) are the children of Atticus Finch, the defense attorney and representative of Maycomb County. Over the course of three summers, the Finch children and Dill, their friend who spends his summers in Maycomb, learn about racism, tradition, and the meaning behind "killing a mockingbird" under the influence of Atticus and the Finches' family cook, Calpurnia. Through multiple events and situations, they learn that not everything is black and white as they previously thought. Through Aunt Alexandra, Mrs. Dubose, and Dolphus Raymond, Lee implies that as all things in the …show more content…
Henry Lafayette Dubose, considered to be the grouchiest and meanest old lady on the block, unexpectedly reveals her hidden courage towards the end of her life. Every day as Jem and Scout go to school, Mrs. Dubose graces them with her presence as she cashes out insults to them as if handing out candy. Atticus tells Jem not to mind her because "’she's an old lady and she's ill’" (133). One day, the siblings walk past her house to the store, and Mrs. Dubose spots them and accuses them of "playing hooky" which Jem politely denies (134). They try to ignore her remarks but eventually a scathing comment, "'Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!'" forces an explosive burst of anger from Jem (135). Before saying that, she puts her hand to her mouth and "a long silver thread of saliva" trails from her hand as she draws it away (135). Jem seethes silently on the way to and from the store, then proceeds to destroy Mrs. Dubose's garden with Scout's baton and breaking it afterward (137). Such a seemingly senile old woman nearing the end of her life could not possibly have any kindness left in her as shown by her strict and unpleasant personality. Mrs. Dubose never did show any nice side to her as she yelled at them and prompted them to despise her. Even though Atticus behaves gentlemanly towards her as he does towards other people, she still acts like a mean old woman. Yet, as Atticus points out, Mrs. Dubose is a sick person so she may not just be a nutty lady who lives alone in her house and torments children with her tongue. She may be physically sick due to her being reclined in her bed and wheelchair, but her mind seems quite clear when she is out and shouting. This hints that Mrs. Dubose's sickness includes an inner conflict. To compensate for the destruction of her plants, Jem has to read to Mrs. Dubose every afternoon for two hours for a month. On the day of their first session, Scout sees Mrs. Dubose and wonders "if Jem's activities had put
When Atticus discovered what Jem had done, he was furious and punished him by making him go read to Mrs. Dubose everyday. He knew, though, in his heart that she had it coming. Atticus had told Scout that "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things it's not fair for you and Jem, but
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
Atticus Finch is portrayed as an exemplary father that teaches Jem and Scout quality virtues through respect, equality, and empathy. When Jem sabotages Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bushes, he is punished to read to her everyday after-school for a month. Shortly after Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus reveals the real meaning why they are reading to her everyday. The reason is so that she can quit her addiction of morphine and “die-free”. Through this situation, Atticus teaches his children without knowing who or what they are dealing with, they still need to deal with them with respect. Another incident where Atticus steps in as a role model, is when Scout is worried because Miss Caroline said that she is not allowed to read anymore at home. Instead of disagreeing with Miss Caroline or telling Scout that she has to go to school, Atticus allows Scout to complain and explain first. Later, he makes Scout see things from Miss Caroline’s side, “You never really understand a person...
Atticus’s primary role, as a father, displays integrity as the heart of his private, family life. For instance, when Scout has a rough first day of school with her new teacher, Miss Caroline, Scout complains to Atticus. He responds in a mutually consoling and instructive manner with Scout: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (Lee 39). In saying this, Atticus encourages Scout to consider what Miss Caroline goes through on a daily basis. In doing so, Atticus instills empathy in Scout in her maturation. Rather than allowing Scout to act from one’s self perspective, Atticus instructs Scout of the importance of patience and understanding among other people. Based on such evidence, Atticus represents an upstanding role model. Another example of Atticus’s role as “father” appears when Jem cuts Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. Jem cuts Mrs. Dubose’s flowers in defense of Atticus; Mrs. Dubose accuses Atticus of being a n-lover...
Scout and Jem are very close. They are very protective of each other and worry about each other often. When Jem, Scout , and Dill went to the Radley house at night Jem’s pants became stuck on the fence. Jem went to retrieve his pants and Scout wanted to come with to help and protect him, but Jem did not let her because he was protecting her making sure that she would not hurt herself. When Jem was gone Scout waiting for him to return because she was worried he would hurt himself. Another example is when Jem and Scout were attacked by Bob Ewell. Before they were attacked Jem thought he heard someone following them so Jem walked with his hand on Scout’s head worried about her and trying to protect her. When Mr. Ewell attacked them, they were trying to help each other and protect each other. After the attack while Jem was unconscious Scout was even more worried about Jem then she was before. Scout learns from Jem as well. An example is that Jem taught Scout and Dill the history of the Radleys and the superstitions that the town has of Boo Radley. The actions of Jem and Scout reveal the close relationship that they have with each
...“Don’t you mutter at me boy! You hold your head up and say yes ma’am. Don’t guess you feel like holding it up, though, with your father what he is” (Lee, 146) She is trying to leave Jem and Scout off with a good impression. Giving Jem a lecture about being polite, Mrs. Dubose is trying to let out the things she thinks the kids need to know before she is gone and thinks that those things are so very important. Even though she is telling Jem not to mutter and to keep his head up, she says it rudely, she’s so conniving that she thinks that by ending their relationship by being semi nice and respectful, she will gain their appreciation. She is wrong. Scout and Jem are so sick of hearing her yell at them and judge them and be mean to them. They want nothing to do with her ever again. Mrs. Dubose is conniving as revealed by her repeated confrontations with Scout and Jem.
’s taunts. If Scout would have fought Cecil, she would’ve let Atticus down and got into trouble. Instead, she left without any trouble and feeling noble; which is much more rewarding and has a better effect than bruised knuckles. Even though Jem was very upset with what Mrs. Dubose said, he still apologized and made up for his actions.
(133). Given the fact that Jem and Scout had to pass her house to get to town, it can be said their meetings with her were very frequent. When they passed her house one day, Mrs. Dubose made the mistake of ridiculing their father for defending Tom Robinson, which led to Jem destroyed her flowers. When Atticus later found out, he told him to go and apologize. Jem came back later with the news that she was making him read to her for two hours everyday after school.
You say 'great evening, Mrs. Dubose!' she was vicious."(133). Given the way that Jem and Scout needed to pass her home to reach town, it can be said their gatherings with her were exceptionally visit. When they passed her home one day, Mrs. Dubose wrongly ridiculed their dad for safeguarding Tom Robinson. Therefore Jem devastated her blossoms out of outrage.
All Mrs. Dubose did in the movie was talk to the children, she never called Atticus names. Because of this, Jem never learned a lesson of compassion. In the novel, the time that Jem was reading to Mrs. Dubose was very important because he learned an important lesson about empathy and charity. Also Jem judged Mrs. Dubose before he knew her. If Jem knew she had a morphine addiction, he would not have disliked her as much.
Enraged, Jem took his anger out by destroying Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bushes. Hoonan 2 Third, Jem’s point of view towards Mrs. Dubose changes as the chapter progresses.
The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, tells the story of Scout, her brother Jem, and her father Atticus as they struggle with racism, loneliness, and lies. The story takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930’s. Not only is the Great Depression affecting life, but it is also a time of racism and inequality for African Americans. Tom Robinson, an African American man, is being accused of raping a white woman. Atticus, a well known lawyer, takes the case to help Tom.
Jem said, “Don’t worry, Scout, it ain’t time to worry yet,” (94). He was sure that everyone would be alright and took great care of Scout to calm her down. Another time was when Mrs. Dubose was yelling at Jem and Scout for not having proper manners and fooling around. She also said that Atticus is no better than the negroes he is defending for but Jem told Scout “Come on Scout…. Don’t pay any attention, just hold your head high and be a gentleman,” (135).
Throughout the novel, many adults criticize Scout for acting and dressing like a boy. When Scout and Jem pass Mrs. Dubose’s house on the way to town, Mrs. Dubose shouts, “What are you doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady!”
Eventually, Jem is no longer able to contain his rage and destroys Mrs. Dubose’s garden. As a result, he is forced to read to Mrs. Dubose as punishment however, he soon learns “Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict” because “she took it as a pain-killer for years”(Lee 147). After her death, Atticus helps Jem and Scout see beyond her sickly appearance and malevolence. “I wanted you to see something about her-I wanted you to see what real courage is... It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin