Chapters 20+21 TKAM

Chapters 20 and 21 of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee divulges the final stages of the trial. Atticus makes his closing statement in chapter 20 where he makes a reference to Thomas Jefferson’s equality quote, and states that it is over used, but says “… there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller and the stupid man the equal of an Einstein … that institution gentlemen, is a court.  In our courts all men are created equal.” (205). Atticus stressed the issue that the only reason why this trial is even taking place is because Tom Robinson is black.  He states that it is normal for any man to look at a woman with desire, but if a black person does it, they are taken to court.  It is actually really interesting to visualize and compare the difference between the prejudice town’s people and Atticus’ compassion and empathy.  Atticus’ mind set is so contrasting to everyone else’s during this time period.

Another thing that really interested me during the closing statement was when Atticus did something completely usual.  When Atticus is about to give his closing statement to the jury, “Atticus paused, then he did something that he didn’t ordinarily do. He unhitched his watch and his chain and put it on the table.”(202). He continued on and loosened his tie and shirt, something that he had never done anywhere before.  This confused me and I wondered why he would do this, and what it represented, but I think it may be that he wanted to show the jury that yes, it was ok to do something out of the ordinary without to much repercussion.  The jury should acquit the black man of this unjust proceeding and do the right thing and let him go home

Chapters 18+19 TKAM

Chapters 18 and 19 of  “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee illustrates the majority of the trial proceedings. These dramatic chapters are crucial to the plot and advancement of the story because it is the main premise of the novel and demonstrates the empathy that the readers and the courtroom viewers are starting to feel for Tom Robinson. At the same time there are many interesting points that are introduced that kept me hooked into the reading, the more I read, the more I was intrigued by what was happening. I started to question the purpose of instigating the whole rape situation. Why would she start this all? What are the charges for lying under an oath? Is Scout starting to feel empathy for Tom Robinson?

I began feeling the stirrings of empathy for Tom Robinson.  I started to feel sympathy for his situation similar to when Scout started to feel empathy for him at the end of chapter 19.  For example, when Mr. Gilmer was questioning Tom Robinson during his cross-examination, and asks,  “So your saying you did all of this chopping and work from sheer goodness?” (197). This shows that Mr. Glimmer is certainty not feeling a smidgeon of empathy for Tom Robinson, as a prosecuting attorney might, and proves that there is another person who does not believe the truth coming from Tom’s defense. Another quote that demonstrates lack empathy for Tom is when Dill was taken out of the courtroom and Scout said, “After all he’s just a Negro.” (199). This statement by Scout lessens the respect that Dill and herself will show to Tom Robinson and it also shows the injustice and racism that is still exists in the world. The injustice that is depicted shows that being a Negro decreases your status and the empathy that a person of color receives. 

Chapters 16+17 TKAM

In chapters 16 and 17 of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, we are introduced to the case that Atticus is trying to prove; which is that Tom Robinson did not rape Mayella Ewell.  There are a few confusing things that happen in these chapters. Why did Atticus question every witness about where and what kind of injuries Mayella suffered? Why didn’t they call a doctor? Will this help further prove his side of the case? Will he win?

Chapter 17 was the commencement of the trial with the introduction of Mr. Tate and Mr. Ewell who were both witnesses to the rape of Mayella Ewell. For example when Mr. Tate was being questioned, one of the questions Atticus asked was “Did you call a doctor, Sheriff? Did anybody call a doctor?” (Lee 167). This is the first witness Atticus posed this question to, but not the last. The next witness, after Mr. Tate, was Mr. Ewell who was interrogated in the same vien. For example when Mr. Ewell’s examination was coming to a close Atticus stepped in and asked Mr. Ewell, “Did you not think the nature of her injuries warranted immediate medical attention?” (Lee 175). Having the same question for both witnesses implies that this will be a reoccurring issue in the trial and that it will indeed help further prove Atticus’s point in the case.  Overall I believe having Atticus defend Tom Robinson in this case reveals that he will be a peacemaker. His authoritative stature in the town demands respect and his empathy for Tom Robinson will show the community what is right and just.

Chapters 13+14 TKAM

Several things confused me in chapters 13 and 14 of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The most confusing to me was why Atticus allowed Aunt Alexandra into their home to stay for such a long time. What made him say yes?  Will she ever leave?  What will happen next?  Will Scout become more girlish with the help of Aunt Alexandra?  Why is Atticus so fidgety when he tells Jem and Scout about what happened? Why did she move in so abruptly?

Most of my questions arise in chapter 13, when Aunt Alexandra unexpectedly arrives at the Finch home. For instance, when she shows up she says, “Well your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while “(127). This makes me question if it really was Atticus’ decision and why he would ask her, and in whose best interest it was, for Scout? Atticus has raised his kids to believe that they can be whatever they choose to be, so if Scout wants to be and act like a boy then let her, and having Aunt Alexandra here is hurting Scout. Scout and Jem see Aunt Alexandra as an obstacle and since she objects to Atticus’ parenting style they will have to thwart her influence, and find a way to make her leave.

Another thing that confused me about the Aunt Alexandra situation was when Atticus sat the children down in their rooms and had a discussion about what was going to happen.  During this talk, Scout was rubbing the comb on the dresser she thought, “ This is not my father. My father never thought these thoughts. My father never spoke so. Aunt Alexandra had put him up to this”(134). This quote describes my view of this situation, I believe that having Alexandra at the Finches house will disrupt Atticus’s parenting style and will turn the kids into people like her. Overall, the situation with Aunt Alexandra still confuses me, because Aunt Alexandra is certainly not feeling empathy towards Atticus and Scout when she comes in and tries to “fix” the Finch family”.  Hopefully, the reason for allowing her in will become more evident later in then novel.

Chapters 11+12 TKAM

Chapters 11 and 12 of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, discusses Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, a very sickly old lady. The beginning of chapter 11 provides an example of how rude Mrs. Dubose can be, and Jem’s reaction to her character.  Scout describes his feelings about Mrs. Dubose when he says, “ Jem and I hated her. If she was on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful graze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behaviour” (99). This makes her feelings towards this woman quite apparent. Scout and Jem go into town frequently and really can’t get there without passing her house, unless they walk a mile out of the way, so if they need to be on better terms with Mrs. Dubose, and they should do this through being more empathetic and as Atticus would say; walk around in their skin.

Although Mrs. Dubose is a sassy old woman, she is going through tremendous pain for she is very ill. If Jem and Scout felt more empathic towards her as a person and understood the pain she’s going through, that would change their view of Mrs. Dubose dramatically.  For instance, when Atticus finds out about what Jem did to Mrs Dubose’s house, he says, “ Jem, she’s old and ill, you can’t hold her responsible for what she says or does.”(105). This shows that Jem doesn’t understand where she’s coming from but Atticus knows exactly what she’s going through and knows how to help when Jem is only making it worse, by giving her more stress. This further proves that in order to establish a good relationship with someone you need to understand their background and experiences before making a judgement or worse, getting angry and revengeful.

Scout’s experience with Mrs. Dubose connects to something that has happened to me with a neighbor of ours. One day, when I was 8, I was walking my dog Lucky and I passed a house that I didn’t know and they were watching me and Lucky intently. When my dog leaned over to pee on their tree, which was relatively close to the street, they bolted out and started to yell at my dog and me, and I was only 8. This is similar because all I was doing was walking my dog and all Scout was doing was walking to the town. Both of us, as innocent individuals, suffered the wrath of an unfamiliar person berating us. In retrospect, if I had understood more about the person who yelled at me, it may have been more clear why they would be so upset about my dog, just like if Scout knew more about Mrs. Dubose’s circumstances she would have been more understanding.

Chapters 9+10 TKAM

At the beginning of the novel I was unclear what the title, “To Kill a Mockingbird” meant.  These chapters gave me a little more information about mockingbirds, which may eventually lead to deciphering exactly what the title has to do with the novel.  In chapter ten, Atticus, explains to Scout and Jem that mockingbirds are not to be targeted by their rifles.  When Scout asks Miss Maudie why she answers, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s garden’s, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us” (90).  Here, Maudie tells us that mockingbirds should be highly regarded and protected, as their life’s accomplishment is to make others happy.  This made me think deeper and led me to reflect that Arthur Radley resembles a mockingbird which is depicted through his kind gestures, such as the stitching of the pants, and the blanket that he put on Scout. I think this identity will become more evident throughout the rest of the novel, and that Arthur Radley may be the Mockingbird that the title is referring to.  

Chapters 7+8 TKAM

The encounter with Author Radley is reminiscent of a similar event in my life. In the novel, when Jem was finally telling Scout why he had been quiet, “When I went back, they were folded across the fence… Like they were expecting me” (58).  This quote connects to my life by bringing back a memory of a level 3 sex offender living on my street when I was younger.   My mother and father had put the fear of God in us to stay away from him and indeed question the motives of any stranger.  We were very afraid to walk or ride bikes past his house and because of this we couldn’t get to my cousin’s house.  One day, I saw him walking past our house and ominously he stopped and starred at our windows for what seemed like an eternity.  My situation and Jem’s closely resembled one another and the terror possibly identical. Encounters like these can change peoples lives by the realization that people can cause you harm and you start to question your security.   I feel empathy for Jem, as I have been in a similar situation and it still haunts me.