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Atticus tells Jem to just ignore Mrs. Dubose. He tells Jem that he has to hold his head up, be a gentleman, and not let her make him angry. Mrs. Dubose made Jem read to her everyday and Saturdays for two hours. This is not a fair punishment considering she deserved what Jem did to her. Atticus thinks that people who use insults like "nigger-lover," are ignorant and assume people who hang out with african americans are bad people In Atticus’s view, Mrs. Dubose was a great lady because Atticus thought she was a brave and courageous person in her own way when she died. She died without painkillers that were prescribed to her.
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
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
2. What was the significance of having Jem die? Does this reflect on anything else in the book?
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
He tells Scout that “you never really understand someone until you consider their point of view” and that if she does “[she will] get along a lot better with all kinds of folks” (Lee 39). This quote shows his kindness, because it displays that he is always trying to look at the other’s points of view. This validates his kindness since he takes the effort to not offend people. In the eleventh chapter of “To Kill a Mockingbird” Mrs. Lafayette Dubose, an old lady living in the Finch’s neighborhood, insults at Scout and Jem whenever they pass by. After one of these incidents Atticus just tells her that she “[looks] like a picture” (Lee 133). Even though Mrs. Dubose is insulting his children, he replies with good manners, and compliments her. Because of Atticus’s decisions his children have an outstanding role model to look up to, which leads them to becoming more
Atticus is saying that killing a mockingbird is equivalent to killing an innocent creature that has done nothing, but try to serve us. Mockingbirds do not build unwanted nests on corncribs, bring trouble, and mess up gardens. Mockingbirds simply just make beautiful music for us to hear. A mockingbird is a harmless creature that represents innocence. Killing a mockingbird is like killing a person who helped you out and never wronged you in any way. The only thing mockingbirds do is bring us satisfaction with their singing, so it would be a sin to kill a mockingbird, and a sin to kill those who are like
Atticus adopts the beliefs, morals and values he teaches his children to his own life. Through Jem’s point of view, he is witnessing how hard it is for a morphine-addicted old lady named Ms. Dubose (their neighbour) to fight through pain so that she can die (uncontrolled)unaddicted because even though she knew she was defeated by how strong morphine is, she tried anyway and she succeeded to die belonged to nothing and no one as she wanted. She is courageous because she choses not to die with the aid of morphine. ___ but to control herself and have strength to endure such pain showing people including Jem how courageous a person she is.
Atticus Finch does not let anyone else's opinion affect what his beliefs are. In chapter eleven of "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus explains to Scout what a "nigger-lover" is. He tells Scout, "It's hard to explain-ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want to use a common, ugly term to label somebody" (Lee 113). Obviously, Atticus doesn't believe the term is funny or clever. The southern town of Maycomb, Alabama had adopted this term as a racial slur. All throughout the trial of Tom Robinson, racist white people judged Atticus for defending a black man. This racism has now been transferred into schools across the country.
After Jem ruins Mrs.Dubose’s yard, his anger has not quite dissipated so he takes it out on Scout by fighting her. Unable to tolerate Mrs.Dubose’s ignorant statements about someone he cares about, Jem instinctively lashes out, which exhibits his struggle with emotional control. Although Atticus lectures him multiple times to not let what she says get to him, his compulsive nature causes him to act inappropriately. Another case of Jem’s impulsive personality occurs late one night, when Jem notices that Atticus takes the car into town- an unusual behavior since Atticus always walks. Jem spontaneously acts out of curiosity and decides to follow his father, regardless of the danger and consequences that could possibly follow. When Scout hears Jem prepare to sneak out, she intervenes and exclaims, “‘It’s almost ten o’clock Jem.’ He knew it, but he was going anyway” (Lee 149). He disregards his common sense and leaves, fully aware that his plan could lead to disaster. Similar to the incident with Mrs. Dubose, his impulses result in a
Dubose that has changed very little. She doesn't undergo any notable shifts in appearance, personality, or moral compass. The elder displays a consistent presentation of herself. “She was horrible. Her face was the color of a dirty pillowcase, and the corners of her mouth glistened with wet, which inched like a glacier down the deep grooves enclosing her chin. Old-age liver spots dotted her cheeks, and her pale eyes had black pinpoints pupils. Her hands were knobby, and the cuticles were grown up over her fingernails. Her bottom plate was not in, and her upper lip protruded…” (142). Harper Lee paints a picture of Mrs. Dubose and how she doesn't lose her rather disgusting looks; when the children try to explain this to Atticus, he justifies the comments as, “‘She can’t help that. When people are sick they don’t look nice sometimes”’(143). Lee also suggests how Mrs. Dubose continues her spree of unrelenting rudeness. “‘So you brought that dirty little sister of yours, did you?’ was her greeting” (141) explains how her charisma went unchanged because she kept a verbally abusive lifestyle. The phrase “she's old and ill” (140) repeats throughout the chapter by Atticus. He uses the excuse to explain why she looks the way she acts. She gripes about Atticus “...and… [his] nigger-loving propensities,” (144) constantly. The father quickly says that she is mentally unstable and that she doesn't understand what comes out of her
Dubose and she felt bad to let him go alone. Scout accompanied Jem to the hospital where Mrs. Dubose was. Scout felt sorry for Mrs. Dubose because they have always hated her but now they began to realize that Mrs. Dubose was not a bad person after all. Jem and Scout would always try and avoid her when they passed by her house. Jem and Scout both had empathy towards Mrs. Dubose now that she was sick because they misunderstood her and would always pre-judge Mrs. Dubose because of who they thought she was but if they would have shown empathy to her before, Scout and Jem would not have ruined Mrs. Dubose's flowers and they wouldn't have prejudged her just because she was an old lady.
Mrs. Dubose was a fighter until the end, and her fighting impacts Jem throughout the entire book. “‘Do you know what time it is, Atticus?’ She said. ‘Exactly fourteen minutes past five. The alarm clock’s set for five-thirty. I want you to know that’” (145). Mrs. Dubose says this, and unknowingly teaches Jem to be patient. Jem has been reading to her longer and longer, which shows that he must be patient; not only for reading, but with people. Atticus also states, “...it wasn’t all right for her. She said she meant to break herself of it (her addiction) before she died, and that’s what she did” (148). This teaches Jem the courage, tolerance, and strength that Mrs. Dubose had. The traits Jem believed he never had. Not to mention, this also gives him a lasting impression to “see first, judge later,” since he had done the reverse regretfully. Seeing first and judging later also plays a role with how racism is portrayed in the story, with Jem being exempt from Maycomb’s typical disease and understanding that he shouldn’t judge a black person based on their skin color, but to see what kind of person they are first. When Dubose dies, Jem is given a camellia, which is an item for Jem to remember her by. He is affected emotionally, and burns the white flower, feeling as if he does not deserve to keep the memories of a strong person. Mrs. Dubose dies as
Dubose. Initially, she intimidates Scout and Jem for her repulsive actions and words, although they do not understand that she struggles with a morphine addiction. This leads to her being criticized. Scout states, “Jem and I hated her. If she was on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing,” (153). Mrs. Dubose verbally ignites anger and terror, towards Scout and Jem. She mentions rude comments towards the children and they criticize her in return, but they do not understand or even make an effort to understand what she is facing. By the same token, after Jem reacts by cutting Mrs. Dubose’s camellias due to her disapproval of Atticus taking on Tom Robinson’s case, Atticus gets Jem to read for her as a distraction so she can overcome her morphine addiction. Atticus explains to Jem, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway… she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew,” (153). Until the death of Mrs. Dubose, Scout and Jem did not understand why she wanted Jem to read for her. After every reading session, they gradually notice that Jem reads longer. Atticus helps Jem and Scout see through her repulsiveness and explains that reading longer is to help keep her off the drug for longer periods of time. This is a lesson for Jem and Scout; real courage is fighting when you are already losing. The addiction Mrs. Dubose has, caused her to throw wild fits and utter rude comments. Scout and Jem do not realize it is her sickness which made her rude, until Atticus explains this to
Another character in this book named Mrs. Dubose was an old lady who had nothing better to do but say cruel and unkind comments about other people. She would sit on her front porch and shout rude things about people as they walk by. One day Scout and Jem walked past her house on their way home from buying a baton for Jems birthday. Mrs. Dubose shouted a disrespectful comment about their dad and Jem became furious. He came back later and destroyed her bushes with the baton that he bought. As a punishment Atticus made them read to her. The kids were no looking forward to this. After a couple of reading sessions the kids noticed that Mrs. Dubose started to look ill and the days went on she kept getting worse. They later found out that she was a morphine addict and those symptoms were from her withdrawing it. Later she dies and asks Atticus to give Jem a gift from her. The gift was a petal from the flower bush that Jem had destroyed. This gift was to show Jem that she was thankful for everything that he had done for her. Both of the kids then realized that she is actually a very kind-hearted person. In conclusion you never know someone until you walk in his or her
When Scout questions the use of the saying “nigger-lover” Atticus delivers his view on the saying and explains why he considers