The day after my twelfth birthday, the money had almost completely burned a hole in my pocket. Scout and I started to town in the early afternoon to purchase a steam engine for me and a twirling baton for her. We took our normal path, right by Miss Dubose's house and unfortunately, she was out on the porch.
"Where are you going at this time of day?" she shouted. "Playing hooky, I suppose. I'll just call the principal and tell him!" She looked like the ugliest thing I had ever seen. Oh, did I ever hate her.
"Aw, it's Saturday, Mrs. Dubose," I said.
"It makes no difference," she screamed.
She went on and on about how Miss Maudie had told her that I had broke her scuppernong this morning and when my father found out how he would send me to reform school. As she crowed on and on, she reminded me of big, fat buzzard. I knew she was talking nonsense, because I had not been near Miss Maudie's scuppernong since last summer and she would never tell Atticus even if I had broke it. Then she started to pick on Scout.
"And you, what are you doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole young lady!"
Mrs. Dubose bawled on and on about how if anyone did not change Scout's ways that she would end up waiting on tables at the O.K. Café. I grabbed Scout's hand to reassure her. I told her to hold her head high and be a gentleman. I did not know what I was thinking right then.
"Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!"
I immediately became still. She continued on as I tried to shut it out. My blood was beginning to boil. I contained myself, I was known for being able to control my "slowfuse" temper and myself.
"…. goes against his rais...
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...s if Calpurnia knew exactly what had happened. I sat numb, neither Scout nor I making the choice to meet Atticus that day. She tried to cheer me up, saying I looked like a famous football player. At the time, not even Scout could cheer me up.
It seemed like a millennium before Atticus came home. I did not even look up when I heard the sound of his shoes on the steps or the screen door slam. He called my name, with a hint of calmness and much disappointment. Scout sat in the room, with a look of terror on her face.
Atticus did not say much, except to go right away and talk to Mrs. Dubose about what I had done. I was not angry, or scared as I let the screen door slam. Scout gave me a mixed look of sympathy and fright. Inside, I smiled.
I started down the street, ready to tell the biggest lie of my life. I was about to apologize to Mrs. Dubose.
First of all, I’d like to say sorry for all the things that Scout and I have done. We behaved badly by trying to make you come out of the house. Such as when we gave you a letter to let you know that we want you to go out of your house, even if you do not want to, but Atticus caught us, when I’m going to slip the paper in your window he took it from me and read it. He told me to stop bothering you because Atticus thought that we’re making fun of you, but we’re not, we just want you to go out and have fun with us.
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
Caldwell, Malcolm. “The Courthouse Ring: Atticus Finch and the Limits of Southern Liberalism.” Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: New Essays. Meyer, Michael J. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2010. 57-65. Print.
Talking to Scout: Atticus turned his head and pinned me to the wall with his
Kipen, David. “David Kipen.” Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of To Kill A Mockingbird. Ed. Mary McDonagh Murphy. New York: Harper Perennial, 2010. 104-09. Print.
One of Scout’s first lessons is the ability to restrain. Scout is constantly getting into fights and “rubbing people’s faces in the dirt.” Cecil Jacobs catches her in the schoolyard and begins to make fun of her father and his help to a black man in court. Scout beats him up and then later tells Atticus what happened. Her father tells her, “You just hold your head high and keep your fists down” (76). Atticus introduces the first idea of becoming a more civilized lady even i...
Scout Finch is growing up in the tired old Alabama town of Maycomb,she doesn't have anybody her age to play with besides Jem and Dill. Early on Scout has problems with some of her classmates like Cecil Jacobs. Cecil Jacobs makes fun of Atticus and the finches by saying “Atticus is a nigger lover”. Cecil Jacobs was referring to Atticus defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Scout later...
...she describes the pompous women. The author uses the women's conversations to emphasize the reasons Scout remains a tomboy and refuses the traits of Maycomb females.
Outside the jailhouse before the trial began, Scout learned that as a child she could make angry men stand in Atticus’ shoes for a minute. There was a crowd who was made with Atticus, and they wanted to hang Tom Robinson. She talked to Walter Cunningham directly about his own family, which reminded him of what a decent person he really was. He then led the group away. (“Last night you made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.”—Atticus (Lee, pg. 157)). Mr. Cunnigham was only in that group of people because he (and most of the other men) were afraid something bad would happen to them if they turned on Atticus’ side.
As Mrs. Maudie’s house was burning, Scout looks back on “Atticus carrying Miss. Maudie's heavy oak rocking chair and thought it sensible of him to save what she valued most” (Lee 78). Atticus puts himself in danger to save his friend and neighbor’s most prized possession. There is no doubt that Atticus cares about other people’s happiness and feelings. Scout remembers walking past Mrs. Dubose’s house with her brother and Atticus while Mrs. Dubose sits on the front porch and “Atticus would sweep off his hat, and wave gallantly to her and says “Good Evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening” (Lee 115). Atticus knows how to treat everyone in Maycomb with love and kindness, no matter who they are. He is especially sure to show people compassion and makes each person feel special. Atticus is a loving and caring hero as shown through Harper Lee’s use of
Among many things, Miss Maudie teaches Scout that she should not judge people based solely on rumors she might hear about them. Scout, being only six years old at the time of the story, believes everything that reaches her hears and takes most things literally. Rumors she hears about a man named Boo Radley, who many consider the town freak because of his different lifestyle and because nobody ever sees him, create in her the belief that he is a crazy maniac. The activities she takes part in with her older brother Jem and their friend Dill only fuel her theories about Boo. When Jem and Dill begin shunning Scout aside, she spends her time with Miss Maudie instead, and they develop a kind of friendship. Miss Maudie, a Baptist who loves nature, has high morals, and treats everyone as equals, aids in Scout discontinuing her belief about Boo Radley’s state of mind. At one point, they have a conversation regarding Boo. They discuss the rumors Scout has heard thus far about him, and Miss Maudie shoots down her beliefs. When Scout asks Mi...
When Atticus takes Calpurnia to Tom Robinson's home, she has to sit in the back seat so as not to appear as Atticus's equal. She does not eat at the same table with the Finch family although she has been a part of it since Jem was two. She is clearly loved by the family but by no means is she their equal.
Jean Louise and Atticus got home around supper time, when they got inside the house Jean Louise saw that her Aunt Alexandra had the table set for dinner. She was still conflicted on whether to stay in Maycomb County or go back to New York but mentioned nothing to Atticus on the way home. Uncle Jack help cleared her mind on the events that occurred earlier in Atticus’ office, she was still upset by Atticus words but decided to put it behind her. After a few minutes into dinner, Alexandra made small talk. “Jean Louise are you still planning on going to New York earlier than expected?” asked Alexandra, Atticus looked at his sister and then Jean Louise. “Why are you going back so early Scout?”. Jean Louise was once again upset that her aunt opened her mouth and told Atticus what she was planning on doing.
The night before the big trial in Maycomb County, there was an angry mob planning on killing Tom Robinson at the jailhouse. As Scout, Jem, and Dill hurried over to the commotion to see what was going on, the body language of the mob made it evident that Scout had basically saved Tom’s life. When Scout spoke to Walter Cunningham, he “was moved to a faint nod” (153). Even the rest of the mob and Atticus were moved by Scout’s unawareness of the situation. “The men were all looking at me, some had their mouth half open. Mr. Cunningham’s face was equally impassive” (154). These actions of the mob significantly indicate the fact that they weren’t expecting a seven year old to intrude in their doings, or to confront them the way Scout had. Lee’s details enhanced the understanding of the grimness of the occasion. It was never said that the mob was planning on killing Tom Robinson, but with their ashamed actions, the assumption could be made.
Dill asked me if he could carry the chair and I gave it to him. While Jem and I were ahead of Scout and Dill because they were tired, I gave Jem a massage. I massaged Jem’s hair to thank him for caring about me and wanting to protect me. I really appreciated what he did for me. This proves to me that he is going to be a well mannered and a helpful man when he grows up. Scout, who was the most significant person of the day, did get rid of the men who were going to do something unpleasant. A little girl, who does not know what really was happening saved the day and got me off from tonight’s danger. Since the beginning, when judge Taylor asked me to work with Tom’s case, I started to worry about how I am going to raise my children, hoping I was making the right decisions, and that they will not be against me, but I was wrong. They are not against me, but they are with me, especially Jem because Scout does not understand a lot of the things that is happening. More importantly, I will never ever forget this day and I will cherish what the children did for me today for the rest of my