A Lady Knows that One Can Trap More Flies With Sugar than Vinegar Can catching flies with honey be just as easy as catching a person with kindness? While most will say that behavior does not matter, others will still come and seek for help, as Mrs. Dubose demonstrates in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird when Jems destroys something special of hers. Atticus the honey in the novel, shows otherwise, and models the best behavior possible for his children, with cruel, old Mrs. Dubose. Mrs. Dubose is the vinegar, where she verbally attacks everyone but Atticus is so nice, he brings that little bit of respect for others out of her. Along with a woman, who was the most influential woman of her time that lured in and trapped others with her work, done quietly, with the sick and poor. Atticus is the prime example of honey or good manners whereas, Mrs. Dubose represents vinegar in that she verbally attacks everyone. For example, when Atticus states, “Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening” (Lee 133). Atticus is modeling proper behavior and respect to Mrs. Dubose, even though she can say the most cruel things to others. With Mrs. Dubose's verbal attacks on others, it has created her isolation, where no one likes her or wants to be her friend. …show more content…
Atticus explains to Jem, “Son, I told you that if you hadn’t lost your head I’d have made you go read to her” (Lee 149). Jem destroyed Mrs. Dubose flowers, the only thing that brings her joy in life, but even though he did, Mrs. Dubose still asked and needed Jem’s help. Mrs. Dubose was a drug addict, and with Jem’s help reading to her everyday she slowly would become more and more distracted from it. This proves that with Jem’s actions and being mean, Mrs. Dubose still seeked and wanted help from him to overcome her addiction and die freely. With Jem demonstrating his act of evil, Mrs. Dubose still asked and needed his
He strives to give Scout and Jem spirit, bravery and tolerance to others. "If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (30). He teaches this life lesson to show that it's actually achievable to live with principles without losing sight of hope or acting skeptical. Atticus is able to highly regard Mrs. Dubose's courage even though he disapproves of her continuous acts of racism.
The main theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the coexistence between good and evil. "There are just some kind of men who—who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” (Lee 60) This quote demonstrates a sense of wisdom and cleverness which contrast the other
Mrs. Dubose is a bitter, old lady that is extremely rude to Scout and Jem, yelling dirty thing at them everytime they pass by her house. Jem hatred for that woman was so short, that one day he grabbed Scout’s baton and lost his temper, Scout explains that “He did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned…” (137). As a punishment for his sudden outrage, Mrs. Dubose asks that he read for her everyday and they learn things about her along the way. They described that “...From time to time she would open her mouth wide...cords of saliva would collect at her lips...Her mouth seemed to have private existence of its own” (143). Later on in the chapter, Atticus reveals that she was a morphine addict
Atticus Finch is respectful towards his neighbors, children, and family throughout the novel. He tends to think about them before himself and thinks it is better to be kind despite what others may say or do. Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose was an old lady that lived in the Finches neighborhood, and Jem and Scout despised her, “She was vicious” (Lee 115). Every day Jem and Scout would pass Mrs. Dubose, and she would make a remark on how Scout was dress
An example of this is when Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose was shouting offensive remarks at Jem and Scout about their father one day as they were passing by her house. As a result, Jem was outraged and ripped out Mrs. Dubose’s petunias. When Atticus found out about this incident he punished Jem by making him read to Mrs. Dubose every
Atticus also tries to be a perfect southern gentleman. His treatment of Mrs. Dubose proves this characteristic. Even though Mrs. Dubose makes vicious comments and criticisms of Atticus and his children, he still manages to treat her in the kindest manner; complimenting her appearance and helping her into her chair.
Dubose was not very important in the grand scheme of things but her actions towards the children taught them a lesson. Near the end of Mrs. Dubose's life, she made Jem read to her for varied amounts of time even though Jem did not want to because he felt as though Mrs. Dubose was not a very nice person. It was told to Jem later that, “Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict” (Lee 147), and that Jem reading to her was how, “she meant to break herself of it before she died” (Lee 148). This dishonest deception in the novel was how Jem came to realize that what his actions with Mrs. Dubose were not a punishment but a safe haven for Mrs. Dubose. She may have deceived Jem but it was for a good reason. It would have made her death a lot harder on Jem if he would have know about her addiction and how his actions were affecting
Atticus’s character reflects true integrity and this integrity makes him the most accepting and equal character. First, Atticus accepts a very controversial role as Tom Robinson’s lawyer, and this shows how he doesn’t care that Tom is black. Even with a majority of the town against him, he tried his best to win the case. They may have lost, but he fought a tough battle that no other lawyer would have. Second, Atticus views the world through other peoples standpoint. Mrs. Dubose was a major aspect in this viewpoint. She may have been cruel at times to the finches, but she was very ill and was expected to pass soon. He treated Mrs. Du...
Dubose view Atticus as a bad father, I believe he is a good father. He cares about his children a lot, but choose to express it in different easy than other parents may do so. He teaches Jem and Scout good morals throughout the story, and teaches them ways of responsibility that will help them cope in the “real world” someday. Atticus wants his kids to experience things for themselves, and hopes that they will learn many things in their childhood by the time they are grown up. His goal for them is to become strong and independent, and to deal with things in the right way. Atticus’s attitudes and actions impact Jem and Scout in a good way. He is a good father, and only means good for his
Atticus is a man integrity and morals. Throughout the novel Atticus is always trying to do the right thing in different situations. First Atticus tried to comfort after she told him about her
On her inevitable death bed, Mrs. Dubose is honest with herself, and the Finch children, which leads to Scout’s realization of how she must act: “We could do nothing to please her. Lee uses Atticus’ good nature and respect for people to promote the theme; being strong in one’s beliefs and honest sets a good example for society: “‘First of all,’ he said, ‘if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view,” (Lee 39) Atticus indicates.
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...
In addition, Tom Robinson is a black man who was accused of raping 19 year old Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch bravely and courageously took on the case even though he got the idea that it would take a miracle to win. By taking on the Tom Robinson case, it proved that Atticus was not a follower which separated himself from the rest of the town. During the trial, Atticus says, “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” (Lee 274). Atticus is referring to his beliefs and how they are legitimate. He stands up for righteousness and justice rather than the majority. Additionally, Atticus believes that violence is not the appropriate answer. He wants his children to keep their fists down and heads up in every situation they encounter. In other words, the event with Mrs. Dubose was very meaningful. Mrs. Dubose is an old lady who lives two doors up the street from the Finch 's house. Atticus ' son, Jem destroyed Mrs. Dubose 's flowers because she had said disrespectful things about Atticus which brought out Jem 's anger. Even though Atticus was very upset, he does not believe violence is the appropriate
Everything has two sides. Nothing is wholly good, and nothing is wholly bad. It is always a mixture of the two that is found in reality. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it is apparent that the children are not showing racist qualities; that is, they’re not racist. On the contrary, Mrs. Dubose, a lady in the children’s neighborhood, blatantly shows racist qualities.
Mrs. Dubose, a strong-minded person, with "her own views about things" (112), has fought hard during her lifetime for what she believes in. She has learned a lot during her lifetime, and she learned to stand up for what you believe in, and show how strong you are by proving it "…don't you mutter at me, boy! You hold your head up and say yes ma'am…" (110). When she spoke to Atticus, she told him that "she disapproved heartily of [his] doings…" (111), and yet she still manages to "smile at him… [and] bring herself to speak to him when she seemed to hate him so…" (109). She is able to stand up for what she believes in, yet still able to respect others and their opinions, except when she is in great pain when she is without her morphine.