Reflection About the Novel

            Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, there were various themes, messages, symbols, and details that Harper Lee included in each and every sentence. The way that each chapter ended in suspense, and how nothing was fully resolved until the ending, or near it, showed how carefully Harper Lee spent planning the map of the story. For me, this was one of the main reasons I preferred this book to any other I have read for English class.

            One reason that this novel is superior to others, is the timeless factor. Whether you read this book just as it came out, or you read it in two hundred years, Scout, as well as many of the other characters, will always be relatable. No matter what time period you live in, everyone knows that feeling of growing up, and coming to realizations you hadn’t before, just as Scout shows in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee wrote about Scout’s transition so slightly and gradually, with lots of descriptions and great detail, yet still showing what’s happening, and not telling. As you’re reading the book, it makes you feel like you are inside of it, living it. This is one of the many reasons that make To Kill a Mockingbird such a fantastic novel.

In most books we have read, the symbols are obvious and forced, whereas in To Kill a Mockingbird, they are clever, making the reader have to think after each paragraph was read. The symbols were more hidden, such as the glasses falling off as Atticus shot the dog, but were brought up at least twice, showing that it was no accident these details were put into the novel. This way that the author includes symbols makes the book that much better than others.

            Out of all of the themes and symbols evident throughout this book, I found the most interesting one to be the contrast between light and dark. The symbol of the light representing good, hope, and wisdom, and the symbol of dark representing evil and fright was clear throughout the novel. From the first chapter, where Scout explained how “people said he [Boo Radley] went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows (10),” to the last where Scout explained that “when Boo Radley shuffled to his feet, light from the livingroom windows glistened on his forehead (371).” At the start of the novel, Scout was frightened of Boo Radley, and thought he was an evil man who wanted to “peep in windows,” and kill everyone when “the moon was down.” Throughout the story, Scout sees Boo in different lights, and by the end, she describes him a completely different way, realizing that instead of killing her, he saved her life. From describing Boo using the darkness at the beginning, and using the light by the end, Harper Lee shows how Scout had matured throughout the novel. I think that Scout also realized that Boo Radley, in some ways, was very similar to Atticus. The way he was different from the Maycomb community, and how he let “light” travel from him, were two observations that could also be made about Atticus.

            Overall, I found To Kill a Mockingbird to be the greatest book we have ever read in English class. Not only were there symbols, themes, details, and suspense, but there was also that sense of emotion, and being able to feel everything Scout was going through, as if it was you.

Was this ending surprising to you? Why or why not?

Did you like this book better than others? Why or Why not?

I liked this book better than others because it contains detail, suspense, action, and symbolism all in one. Harper Lee does a wonderful job of blending symbols with a page turning novel. Throughout the book I was constantly saying "ohh" when I realized an important metaphor or symbol. To Kill A Mockingbird was a book that has been popular for fifty years and now that I've read it, know exactly why. Harper Lee addresses the current issues as well as maturing issues in detail, and in symbolism. She achieved this incredible feat in only 322 pages. Harper Lee is truly an ingenious writer.

Reflection

     The writing style of Harper Lee is very thoroughly layered with details upon details. In every section of the book, especially around the climax, nothing is fluff. All of it matters, in order for Harper Lee to put together this masterpiece. One of the many examples is when Scout, Atticus, Mr. Tate, and Mr. Radley are walking out to the porch. "I led him to the chair farthest from Atticus and Mr. Tate. It was in deep shadow. Boo would feel more comfortable." (364)

     This has multiple details combined in one paragraph. Out of the darkness, is Atticus and Mr. Tate, full-grown men. When we think of Scout and Boo, we have connotations of childish and innocence especially. Scout is growing up, but still in the darkness, and not able to fully see it from the outside, as Atticus and Mr. Tate can see. Boo is in the darkness for a few reasons. Harper Lee first puts him the the Radley house, and he is never shown. Noticed how all the trips to see Boo Radley are at night. Boo Radley stays in the dark, came out in the dark, and would prefer the dark. Scout understands that having lived in the dark house for so long, he would prefer to be in the shade. This shows a level of understanding, empathy, and maturity from Scout. 

     Another important part of the climax is why Jem isn't there. Jem, unconscious, is gone from the learning it seems. The main reason for this is because it's Scout's turn to learn. In these four chapters, it goes from Jem and Scout reflecting on being kids, showing their equality in maturity, to Scout understanding way beyond her years. Scout develops more than Jem here, and surpasses him in her coming of age. Jem was miles ahead back before the trial, realizing the evil of the cement in the tree, but Scout has come a long way, and jumped ahead. Harper Lee uses this contrast to enhance just how far Scout has come. From miles behind, to footsteps ahead.   

     However, the real beauty of the last four chapters is all twenty-seven chapters beforehand can be completely related. Darkness is a relevant theme everywhere. It is where the climax occurs, it is when all the Radley House trips happen. Also, the final judgement from the jury is during the nighttime. Another important part to realize is the oak tree. The gifts from Boo Radley came there, and culminated in one final gift. Although Scout shows the ultimate understanding from this quote "Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad.", she really did give a gift. Scout and her family gave the gift of acceptance, the ultimate gift of understanding, and took Boo for who he was and not for Maycomb's connotations of him. Also, the oak tree is where Jem saw his first "real evil." Jem really was confused and wondered how someone could do that. The oak tree also showed the final and ultimate (I've used that word a lot) evil, the murder of innocence. The oak tree was also a lot more. The darkness under the tree represents being  stuck in the darkness of Maycomb, and not being able to see outside of it. Jem can see it clearly from the porch that night he was crying, but Scout was inside. But this time around, it's Scout who is there to witness it all; to see the tree from the porch.
     I'm going to use first person for a personal review/grade for this book. I loved the hidden symbolism,  meanings, and everything else under the real plain and simple journey. The journey was great when I read it in 5th grade, but now it's so much better embellished with symbolism. I learned so much from the book, about who I really am, what it really means to be a honest and good person, and so much more. This book is just good. There is no real words to describe how one can wrap so much meaning around the simple and commonly used plot of coming of age. My parents have not read the book, but my sister really enjoyed it. She said it taught her a lot, and she still remembers all the symbolism, and everything she learned about the book in class. 
    Who was your favorite character? What was your favorite part of the book? Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not? What did it teach you? Where is Scout in comparison to Jem now? Do you think you need a sequel? Would you want a sequel? What hidden symbols did you find? Do you think Harper Lee has created a masterpiece that people will be reading in a hundred years still? Did your parents read it? If so, did they enjoy it? Put yourself in Mr. Ewell's position. How do you feel after the trial? Why is the title what it is?

Harper Lee's Magnificence

First I'd like to say that Harper Lee's writing style is extremely thoughtful and layered, making this book all the more enjoyable. Both on the blog and in class we have been pointing out how every detail contributes to the story, in a strictly plot-based way. I'd like to make the point that some details, even if they seem embellished already, are referencing symbols. The start of this book was great, the middle was beautiful, but the end was pure genius. Chapters 30 and 31 tied everything together in the most perfect way. The message was clear, but Harper Lee threw in some things that readers picked up subconsciously. A line that illustrates the point I'm making occurred when Boo asked for Scout to take her hand. Lee described the way that Boo asked this as "in the voice of a child afraid of the dark"(319). This seems at first glance like a metaphor, and it is. But if you think deeper, these are things we've seen in this book before. "Child" and "dark" in To Kill A Mockingbird don't mean what they seem like they mean. Children are the symbol for uncorrupted innocence in Maycomb. They are the only people (besides Atticus/Maudie etc) who are not taken over by racist thinking and the 'Maycomb Way'. The darkness is all the hatred and racism in Maycomb. That is why Atticus takes the position of the 'light'. So when Lee says Boo's voice was that of "a child afraid of the dark," she is telling the reader that Boo fears, with the innocence of a child, the hatred directed towards him from Maycomb. My real point here: Harper Lee is BRILLIANT.

I'd like to point out how Jem didn't have to be knocked out for the Boo action. He could have been in a lot of pain but not unconscious, or he could have woken up to see Boo, but Harper Lee had him out cold for all of the Boo moments. Boo himself is a symbol for Scout and Jem's journey to becoming adults. The whole first half of the novel is purely Jem and Scout (and Dill) trying to get a glimpse of Boo Radley. Scout, after going through the moment in her life where she becomes and adult, gets to walk arm and arm with him to his house. Just like the point Lee made about the switch from being afraid of the imaginary monsters to facing the real ones, isn't there an unwritten rule that you can't see Boo until you don't really want to anymore. I mean, Scout was thrilled to see him, but she wasn't poking fishing poles through his window anymore! Maybe Boo is the light at the end of the tunnel for Scout's journey, the end goal. Boo was Scout's adulthood, and the more she tried to get at it, the more childlike she was. However you'd like to put it, Jem didn't get to see Boo, and that means he isn't at the point in his life that Scout is at hers. Maybe Jem will have his own "Boo", but all that matters is that Scout is a true adult and Jem is still a boy.

There were a lot of lines that made me stop and reflect on the beauty of Lee's message, but one particular paragraph at the end of this book was awe-inspiring. "Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad." This is amazing, tragic, heartbreaking, and utterly honest. It is easily my favorite moment in the whole book. Scout is so wise and adult-like here. She reflected on what happened. This was basically the whole point of To Kill A Mockingbird. It is something that every person should learn to incorporate in their life values. Upon reading it for the first time, I was breathless. I can't say enough to do it justice, so I'll leave it at this. When I first took out To Kill A Mockingbird, my mom looked across the room and told me, without hesitation, that it is her favorite book she has ever read. Surprised, I asked her why. I expected a speech, but all she said was, “It taught me everything I need to know about life.” In it’s entirety, that’s what To Kill A Mockingbird does. Scout’s pilgrimage, not just in the climax but it the entire book, is brilliant. Harper Lee captures the essence of adolescence magnificently. Change adolescence to life, and it still rings true.

Questions: Who is your favorite character? What was your favorite line/moment in the book? Do you think that Jem is already an adult, and that the court case was to him as Boo was to Scout, or do you think he still has to grow up? Can you relate to this book? How? What were some symbols you picked up on but we didn't discuss in class? How did you like this book? In your opinion, was it all good, all bad, or did it have it's ups and downs? If so, when was it at its best/worst?

Do you think this book, written in 1960, is still relevant to us and our current culture/time?

     To Kill A Mockingbird, though first published fifty-two years ago, is still very relevant to American society and culture. The book deals with issues still within the American psyche today, if not at the forefront, such as racism, innocence, and growing up. It touches on these issues in ways that no book had ever tried before, and still not many have tried since. As a Bildungsroman (coming-of-age novel), it resonates with America's children throughout every generation, and as a Southern Gothic, it deals with darker themes with which adults can identify. Even though this book is older that our current President, it arguably has had an effect of equal size, if not larger, on how we as Americans view ourselves and our community.

Do you disagree on whether TKAM is resonant still? Do you think any other books have impacted America the way TKAM did? What have you personally learned from TKAM?

What are the important themes/ideas you will take from this book?

T 

Throughout the book, Harper Lee expresses many themes. These themes and ideas help express her points more clearly about what she, Harper Lee stands for and her morals that is being taught through the book. There are three major themes in this book.

The first is the contrast between light and dark, is used in many scenes of multiple chapters. In every scene, it is safe to say that Scout and Jem uses their senses to sense darkness. After they sense the dark, something, whether it is a rising action or the climax, involving the darkness of Maycomb happens. At the end of each chapter (with the light and dark contrast), Scout and Jem take something out of that experience such as learning not to mess with Nathan Radley or about just growing up and understanding that there is not always light in the world and in everything they do.

Another theme in this book is about growing up. Harper Lee specifically places Scout as the narrator to show her progress from a innocent and somewhat ignorant girl to a understanding and more mature girl. For example in Chapter 30 after she places empathy toward Arthur Radley and visualizes that she is him... after, she reflects, she says  “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough...As I made my way home, I felt very old.” This shows that she finally understands Boo and not just a mysterious person who is participated in a childish game. Scout and Jem have grown up so much throughout these chapters and they are expressed through a dramatic changes, physically and mentally.

The third theme is the Mockingbird. It is a symbol on its own in this book, but it represents the justice. The mockingbird is a innocent bird and is a crime to kill. This is just like Tom Robinson and others in this book who have been treated unfairly. Harper Lee makes Mockingbirds the cover of the book because it is what you should do (the right thing). This is a moral Harper Lee wanted to convey to the readers to teach others about an important lesson in life, don’t do the wrong thing and affect others in a negative way, but give justice to them and treat them fairly.

Is there any other themes that you can think of that are important too? What do you think would happen if the story was told in Jem’s point of view? Would you still get the same message that Harper Lee is trying to convey to you if Jem was the narrator?

Is it significant that Scout fell asleep and that she was a ham at the pageant

      If Scout didn't fall asleep behind the stage she may not have forgotten her shoes therefor Jem and Scout would not have had to go back and get them. If Scout hadn't fallen asleep and left her shoes behind the stage they wouldn't have waited and thought about going back and getting them allowing Bob Ewell to catch up to them. Also, this may be a blessing in disguise because it is very possible that Mr. Ewell would have attempted to murder Jem and Scout on a different occasion. "I sat down, listened to Mrs. Merriweather's drone and the bass drum's boom and was soon fast asleep," (346). This is where Scout most likely left her shoes and where she was not even aware of the fact she did not have her shoes. "Your fat streaks are showin," (349) If Scout had not dressed like a ham it is likely she would not have had glitter on her allowing "Bob Ewell" to identify where she and her brother were located. The lesson learned here from Harper Lee is that Boo Radley may have been watching over Jem and Scout for a long time, although they were unaware of it. Also, she is showing that Boo Radley is very shy and chose not to leave his house very frequently, but that he did so on occasions when he thought Atticus's kids might be in danger. 
    Do you Atticus know Boo Radley? If so how and are they friends? Do you consider Jem lucky to only have a broken arm and a bump on his head and for Scout to not be injured? 

Free Response Post: Who stabbed Bob Ewell?

     At the end of night in which Bob Ewell stabbed, Mr. Tate comes to the conclusion that, "I may not be much, Mr. Finch but I'm still the sheriff of Maycomb County and Bob Ewell fell on his knife. Good night sir." Mr. Tate then stomped away from the Finchs' house and left.
     It is obvious that Mr. Tate and Atticus realize that Bob Ewell did NOT fall and his knife and die. This conclusion was only made to protect Jem from the other possible outcome, that he stabbed Mr. Ewell in an act of self defense. If people thought that Jem had stabbed Bob what would they think of him? How would he be accepted in the community? The most interesting thing is however is that the other hypothesis in which Jem stabbed Mr. Ewell is only made up to protect Boo Radley. The only one who really realizes that Boo did it is Atticus. Atticus made the hypothesis that Jem stabbed Mr. Ewell because he thought Jem would be able to handle it, unlike Boo Radley. Boo Radley's reputation is already saying that he is insane, that he has stabbed people, and he has been in a gang. If people knew that Boo stabbed Bob Ewell, then the town would never accept him into the community.
      Will people ever find out that Boo Radley did it?
     Is there any chance that Jem did it or that Mr. Ewell fell on his knife?

Free Response: What really occurred under the Oak Tree?

"Bob Ewell's lyin' on the ground under that tree yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs," (357). This is what Heck Tate said when he was telling Atticus that Bob Ewell was dead. This quote says that Bob Ewell was stabbed with a "kitchen knife." Why would Bob Ewell be carrying a "kitchen knife?" 

I thought about this and came across that there were two houses next to the oak tree, where the attack took place. One house was Miss Maudie's house and the other was the Radley's house. What was revealed was that the "country man" that saved Jem was Boo Radley. My theory is that the "kitchen knife" was Boo's knife. First, Bob Ewell would not have brought a large knife to kill children and would have been more discrete. Second, Bob Ewell "smelled stale whiskey," (352) meaning that he was drunk, and it would be hard for a drunk person to be walking around with a large knife, without dropping or messing with the knife. This is, to the fact that Ewell did not stab himself. I believe that Boo took a knife from his kitchen and heard Jem "holler." Boo saw that Bob Ewell was attacking the children and stabbed him "under the ribs." 

Throughout To Kill a Mocking Bird Harper Lee has continuously portrayed Boo as a nice character. For example, Harper Lee had Boo lay a blanket around Scout's shoulders when she was cold. I think Boo was the savior of Jem (and Scout) to really emphasize the character that Boo is. Harper Lee is saying that you should not judge people on their reputation but their actions. Leading to a wider picture, people should be given the benefit of the doubt and not be assumed by "myths"and "rumors"is what Harper Lee is passing on to the readers. 

What is your story about what happened under the Oak Tree? Would Boo Radley really kill another person? What is the significance of Bob Ewell smelling like whiskey? Why did not Bob Ewell go straight to Atticus and try to kill him? What does all of this show about Ewell?

Free Response: What do you think the significance is of Scout falling asleep backstage?

What do you think the significance is of Scout falling asleep backstage?

The show had began and while Scout was sitting backstage awaiting her cue, she accidentally fell asleep, "I sat down, listened to Mrs. Merriweather's drone and the bass drum's boom and was soon fast asleep," (346). When Scout finally woke up she was late on her cue, and to Mrs. Merriweather had "...ruined her pageant," (347). While Jem reassured Scout that she was just a little late, Scout was still mortified, so she decided to keep her costume on to hide her ashamed face. "'You wanna take it off, Scout?' he [Jem] asked. 'Naw I'll just keep it on,' I said. I could hide my mortification under it'" (347). Although this could come off as a little weird, the reader could see why Harper Lee made Scout keep on her costume later on in chapter 29, when Scout was explaining what had happened on the walk one from school to Mr. Tate. "Atticus fetched the remains of my costume. Mr. Tate turned it over and bent it around to get an idea of its former shape. 'This thing probably saved you life,' he said," (360). Without having had fallen asleep and missing her cue, Scout wouldn't have felt mortified and kept her costume on, if she didn't have her costume on, Scout could have been killed that night. This just takes the fact that everything in this book is constructed so precisely to another level. It shows that everything in To Kill a Mockingbird was put in there for a reason, even little things like falling asleep backstage. This is also a way for Harper Lee to let the reader see how crazy Bob Ewell is, it allowed Bob Ewell to actually to try cut or stab Scout, without having her die, or be badly hurt.

Why do you think Aunt Alexandra had to leave the room? What other details contributed to the outcome of that night? Was it partly Atticus's fault because he had assumed the threats from Mr. Ewell were nothing?

Free Response Post: What does Harper Lee try to teach the reader in these chapters?

Harper Lee is a novelist. She writes not to document or to analyze- she writes to convey. Everything in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is significant in its own way. In chapter 29 Lee is showing the reader the contrast between dangers as a child and dangers as an adult, and how important that is to every person's life. As Scout and Jem are walking back from the pageant, before danger strikes in the form of Bob Ewell, Jem and Scout have a brief but important discussion about their diminishing fears of the beasts that tormented their childhood.

"Jem teased. 'Ain't you scared of haints?' We laughed. Haints, Hot Steams, incantations, secret signs, had vanished with our years as mist with sunrise." (292) Jem and Scout, no less then three years ago, were thoroughly terrified by these imaginary monsters. Now they laugh them away. "Vanished with our years as mist with sunrise" is a beautiful simile (my favorite kind, using 'as' instead of 'like') that shows that Scout is aware that her fears dissipated with her journey into adolescence. Jem shares this knowledge. Harper Lee is showing the readers, who are meant to be both teenagers and adults, the real journey, the real difference, the contrast between being a child and being an adult. After Scout and Jem decide that they aren't afraid of looming shadows stalking them in the night, what happens? They are nearly murdered by Bob Ewell, who was not-so-coincidentally stalking them in the night. Lee is telling us an important message- as soon as we let our fears go and move onto being an adult, they become real. Scout accepted that these monsters were imaginary to make room for the shockingly real monsters of life. This was what she was talking about when she said,"Thus began our longest journey together." (291) She wasn't talking about the actual walk, or even the action with Bob Ewell. She was telling us in her own way that this was her journey from child to adult. This transition from the imaginary to the real is not always as clear and defined as Scout and Jem's pilgrimage from the school, but it is certainly present. This is a hugely important lesson for all of us as we read this novel, becuase we are all, to some degree, Scout. That is what makes this book so timeless. In 1930, 1960, now, and in a hundred years, adolescence all over will make this journey. It is relevant to everyone, and everyone can or will, at some point, relate to this book. That is the beauty of Harper Lee.

Why do you think Harper Lee never wrote a sequel? Do you think Jem and Scout will be able to pinpoint this moment in their lives, are are they too focused on the action? Do you think this moment is more or less important then Scout's realization in the courthouse, or just different? Where was Dill? Has he not made this journey? Why did Harper Lee choose to use the "mist with sunrise" simile? Can you relate this to any other symbols in the book?

What are the different ways Bob Ewell continues to be a problem in Maycomb? Why do you think this is important?

What are the different ways Bob Ewell continues to be a problem in Maycomb? Why do you think this is important? 

   As Harper Lee moves To Kill A Mockingbird forward, one thing becomes clear: Bob Ewell has not stopped being a problem. He has recently attempted to rob Judge Taylor and terrorize Helen Robinson, even if he's not happy about it. Atticus says, "I proved him a liar and made him look like a fool." (335) In his current situation, Bob has lost his credibility, and what little respect he had, and he is seeking to get back at the people he deems responsible. Bob has just realized what the town thinks of him in its whole depth, and he wants to be seen better and at least not have noses turned up at him everywhere he goes.
   Bob knows that, though he may have won the trial, in the town's eyes he lost his believability and has been reduced to trash, despite the fact that he has an old family. Going back to chapter 23, the whole town has seen him the way Atticus wishes Alexandra would. Even after the trial, she says that because he is from an "old family," (298) he is reputable, and Atticus wishes that she would see him for what he is. Harper Lee is using Alexandra as a way into how the town sees Bob, albeit in an oddly mirrored fashion. In this way, bob continues to be a problem for Maycomb, trying to regain his honor who he can, even if most townsfolk will not see it as that right way to go about it.

How do you think Atticus will react to Bob's actions in the future? What do you think Bob will do next?

What is Ironic about the lesson Miss Gates is teaching the children?

As Miss Gates is going the Current Event section most people didn’t know what it was until Cecil brought up an offensive topic about “Old Hitler” known as Adolf Hitler. Ironically, Miss Gates is teaching about how Hitler would “prosecute Jews” even though according to her, they “don’t that over here”(281). “Democracy” as scout says is “equal rights for all, special privileges for none” (281) but Miss Gates agree and says it’s the difference between America and Germany recognizing that Hitler prosecuted Jews because of their race/religion, being empathetically sorry about the whole situation. It is clear that Miss Gates dislikes Hitler because of the way he prosecuted the Jews but blind to the fact that they are doing the same thing to the blacks aka Tom Robinson. As Harper Lee is showing Maycomb ignorance throughout the book she included this passage to make it even clearer of how Maycomb is careless to the fact that the blacks are being treated like trash. She also shows how sometimes Miss Gates/Maycomb can be bias on with their choice of words and decisions. There wasn’t an impact on Scout at the moment when Miss Gates explains Hitler until when Jem explodes and expresses his feelings being upset about what she said.  “How can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folk right at home,” (283) Jem says, as I agree with the fact she is showing being bias and ignoring the fact they are wrong for what they are doing.

Do you think Jem will confront Miss Gates about it? Will it make a difference if he does confront her or not in Maycomb? Also, in anyway do you think Maycomb opinion on the black community change or not?

What is ironic about the lesson Miss Gates is teaching the children?

    The irony of the lesson Miss Gates teaches the kids is that she claims Adolf Hitler is a horrible man because of the way he persecuted Jews in Germany. During the weekly "Current Event Period," (279) Cecil Jacobs brings up the dictatorship of Hitler. Miss Gates responds with "The Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country. It's one of the most terrible stories in history." (281) This line is symbolic to the novel because it shows how people in Maycomb disapprove of the oppression that the Jews are experiencing in Germany, but don't see the oppression of blacks right under their noses. Miss Gates is oblivious to the fact that what Hitler is doing to the Jews is strikingly similar to what whites are doing to blacks in Maycomb and the South in general. Harper Lee chose to include this part of the novel because she is attempting to show the negligence of the people of Maycomb and what they are doing to the black community is wrong. Miss Gates claims that the oppression of the Jews is "one of the most terrible stories in history," yet when she left the courthouse after Tom Robinson's case, she said, "it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson." (283) In this instance she was being extremely hypocritical. Harper Lee's decision to include the irony in Miss Gates's character is one that opens not only the reader's eyes but Scout's as well. Scout is being introduced further into a world where people mistreat blacks without even thinking about it. Harper Lee is educating Scout and the reader that during that time, nearly everybody discriminated or was racist against blacks. In some cases it was ironic, and it some cases, it was just plain cruel.

How will Miss Gates continue to affect how Scout views Maycomb? How she views the black community? How would you explain Jem's reaction to Scout's statement? Will his attitude change? Will hers?

What is ironic about the lesson Miss Gates is teaching the children?

Miss Gates is ironically teaching the children in her class that Hitler is a bad man for persecuting Jews, "Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody."(329), said Miss Gates, but earlier she clearly stated to her friend that she did not approve of equal rights for black people. Miss gates even refers to Jews' constant persecution as "one of the most terrible stories in history." Despite Miss Gates telling her children about equal rights, Scout heard her making racist remarks while walking out of the court after Tom Robinson's case. Scout had overheard Miss Gates talking to Stephanie Crawford and telling her that blacks "were gettin' way above themselves," and declared that "it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson." (331). 

Miss Gates has clearly stated her disapproval of blacks trying to achieve equal rights and fair treatment within Maycomb. It is ironic for her to strongly defend Jewish people and support them during persecution, while, at the same time, she is one of the people persecuting black people within her town. This shows that Miss Gates lacks character, and even though she may teach her students to restrain themselves from being racist because that's what the school requires her to do, she is a racist individual. As a teacher, she should know the importance of leading by example and embrace what she is teaching.

Do you think that Miss Gates is a bad person? Why do you think Miss Gates would strongly hate Hitler and be racist towards blacks? Why was Jem so furious with Scout after hearing about what she heard at the courthouse? Do you think racist town members are fueling Bob's desire to get revenge? Do you think Bob will get revenge on people involved in the case accusing Tom Robinson?

Why do you think Chapter 24 is in the book?

Why do you think Chapter 24 is in the book?

Chapter 24 is in the book to further demonstrate the hard times that the black community in MAycomb is facing. Tom Robinson was so desperate that he escaped the moment that he could, without formulating a proper plan, and ultimately getting shot. The blacks in Maycomb are fed up with having lies told about them and to them. "'We had such a good chance,' [Atticus] said. 'But I couldn't in truth say that we had more than a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own.'" (315)

Tom Robinson was not treated like a human when he was shot seventeen times. "'What was one more Negro, more or less, among two hundred of 'em?'" (315) To the guards, he was not worthy of human flesh. This is also further characterized in chapter 25. "N***** always come out in 'em." (322) Maycomb talks about blacks as if they are animals: Even if they dress and act like humans, they will always be beasts.

Maycomb's ways of racism have been seen so far as irreversible in the current generation, but is there hope? Will the black community strike back, or keep to their own business because it is part of the "Maycomb way"? And what of Boo Radley, now that Tom Robinson is dead?

Does the news about Tom surprise you? Why or why not?

          After being prosecuted and sentenced to death, it was no surprise that while waiting for the appeal verdict, Tom Robinson would either manage to run away or take his own life. Moments before Tom is being taken to the prisoner's camp, he slips in a few words to Atticus that show that Tom had given up all remaining faith in his ability to be set free from prison. "'Good-bye, Mr. Find, there ain't nothin' you can do now, so there ain't no use tryin'. Calpurnia said Atticus told her that the day they took Tom to prison he just gave up hope." (234) Tom has clearly just realized that in a land dominated by the whites, a man that allegedly raped a young white woman, has no chance of victory in an unwelcoming society. For crying out loud! Even Atticus himself acknowledges this as well when he says, "I guess Tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own." (235-236) Nothing anyone could do could save Tom from the iron hand of unjust law.

          Tom Robinson was like a terminally ill patient in a hospital, just about clinging to the life support that Atticus provided with the appeal. As the overly-quoted Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take." Tom took the shot! He knew that if he didn't at least try, nothing would have happened. It was a pretty good shot too, "They got him just as he went over the fence. They said if he'd had two good arms he'd have made it, he was moving that fast."(235) Tom's escape was like the perfect shot that missed the net by a centimeter. "...just as he went over the fence," is definitely the most powerful section of the quote. Tom had the will and did his best to get to a better life. When in grasp of certain death, there is not a single person that would not take their one shot at freedom.

How do you think that Bob Ewell will react to this? Will he sneer and make fun of Atticus? How will Atticus treat himself now that Tom is dead? Do you think that he will blame himself?

Why do you think Chapter 24 is in the book?

I feel that chapter 24 is in the book for one main reason.  In the beginning of the book, the main point is how Harper Lee is making Scout grow up like a lady.  When Harper Lee puts Scout in the scene with older woman it makes her see what she could do.  As an example "Miss Stephanie was encouraged to pursue the subject: Don't you want to grow up a lawyer?  Miss Maudie's hand touched mine and I answered mildly enough, Nome, just a lady." (pg 308)  I analyzed this by seeing that Scout has learned to know what to say at the right time because Scout before this would have said something like “Yes I want to be a lawyer and wear pants.”  Later on in the chapter the ladies talk about the court case and use foul language for the blacks in the town.  When the woman start talking about their black servants Miss Maudie almost takes control and tells them off with cold responses.  When I read this part of the chapter I felt as if Miss Maudie was almost the light fighting of the woman from corrupting Scout.  The woman also talked about a tribe which had been converted into Christians.  I felt as if this was a symbol of what would happen to the blacks, but the ending of Maycomb’s conversion would be the Opposite.  When I say opposite, I mean that the converting will be Atticus shining his light on the people of Maycomb and scaring off the darkness of ignorance. 

Later on in the chapter Atticus comes in, and asks if he can talk to Aunt A, Scout, Cal, and Miss Maudie.  He tells them that Tom was brutally killed and shot 17 times.  I thought that this was almost a symbol saying that justice will never come, but Atticus doesn't think that much of it and leaves with Cal to tell Tom's Family. Aunt A finally see what Atticus is doing to himself for the town and just can't understand it, I thought that this was Aunt A's moment of enlightenment seeing the real world, that everything isn't drinking tea and wearing dresses.  Once Aunt A and Scout go back into the room they act as if nothing ever happened, which I found very strange.  The reason I thought they would do this is that Harper Lee is trying to show the different types of people and in this scene and how Scout has to hide that fact.  

Question for further talk

Do you feel that Atticus should have gone straight to Toms family? Why? Do you agree that Aunt A is now seeing things in a different light? Why?  What do you think will happen next in the book? Why?  What do you think of Bob Ewells reaction to Tom's death?  What do you think Dill Leaving Symbolizes?
 

Free Response: What are the ladies talking about when they say that there are 'Good but misguided people in this town.' ?

              As Scout is invited to listen to Aunt Alexandra and the ladies, Mrs. Merriweather says, "I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town." (265), an instance that allows Harper Lee to characterize the vast, white, and ignorant, majority of Maycomb. In this instance,  Aunty and her missionary circle have gathered, and the peace is suddenly broken, as the women begin to show their ignorance and private thoughts. Mrs. Merriweather, who appears to lead the negative talk, starts by complaining about how the Negroes are reacting to the verdict. "Forgive and forget", she says, and that "'If we just let them know we forgive 'em, that we've forgotten it, then this whole thing'll blow over." (264) , a moment that represents her and all of these women's minds. Mrs. Merriweather delves deeper upon this subject, and continues soon begins to talk about how some people are "misguided" and believe themselves to be "doing right", but really just "stirring things up". She is in fact, insulting Atticus, saying he thinks he's doing good but he really isn't, and under his very own roof. Mrs. Merriweather and Mrs. Farrow, then continue criticizing Atticus in their not-quite-outright way, to a point at which, Miss Maudie, angry at their thoughtlessly shallow, and inconsiderate bickerings, abruptly reminds them that it is Atticus's food they are eating, and that they are currently in the quarters of his generosity.

              "I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town. Good, but misguided. Folks in this town who think they're doing right, I mean." (265) Harper Lee uses this moment to show the reader how the majority of Maycomb people are outside of the Finch household, -ignorant, proud, racist, and shallow. Harper Lee indicates this with Mrs. Merriweather, who believes the Negroes to be naive people in want of county forgiveness, and Mrs. Farrow who thinks Negroes to be an ungrateful bunch of trash people. Are these ladies with their cynical thinkings to be blamed? Atticus once told Scout, that they should be sympathized with for their ignorance. Most people in Maycomb believe the Black man to be guilty, Harper Lee says. Most people think Atticus is misguided and thinking himself some sort of heroic rescuer. Harper Lee characterizes the Maycomb people in this chapter, with exceptions such as Miss Maudie and a few townsmen, Maycomb does not care for Atticus's work for the Negroes, and believes him to be wrong to even help them. This is a chapter in which Harper Lee crafts the people and their ways of thinking.

Questions:
           Do you think these women represent the Maycomb majority? Why might Atticus and Miss Maudie think differently than them? Because they are ungrateful and assuming, does this necessarily make them bad people? Should the people who believe in righteousness and those who are truly "misguided" be considered the same "Folks"? Are these people ignorant, or just plain rotten? Do you think it was right for Miss Maudie to defend Atticus? What might Miss Maudie been thinking? What might Aunt Alexandra be thinking? Do you think Mrs. Merriweather understands now? Do you think she could ever be made to understand? Why does Mrs. Merriweather "redden", then glance and look away from Scout?

What are the four kinds of people Jem says live in Maycomb? Do you agree with his assessment?

               Jem for the most part is wrong. There are more than four types of people in Maycomb. Jem doesn't realize how good of a person Atticus is. Here Jem explains to us what he thinks the four groups are, "there are four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors,  there's the kind like the Cunningham's out in the woods, the kind like the Ewell's down at the dump, and the Negroes."(302) Jem is wrong because he doesn't understand or want to understand that people like the Finches are their own group who respect Negroes. He also doesn't take account for Dolphus Raymond and the half white half black group. It isn't just by chance though, that Jem forgot those two groups, he doesn't want to be his own group he wants to be normal just like everyone else. He also forgets the mixed people because they are so little acknowledged and rejected that people forget about them. 
              When Jem says this Scout gets mad at him. She gets mad because in this moment he is thinking like Aunt Alexandra and everyone else, and she knows that they are different and that is why she gets mad. She knows that everyone doesn't have to be in there own groups and she doesn't like to be isolated like that.

Is Jem right about the groups? Does scout get mad because of what Aunt Alexandra said about Walter Cunningham or about her? What happened to Dill? Is Dolphus Raymond and his family their own group? Do you think this is the conclusion of Boo Radley?

2.) Atticus tells Jem: “So far nothing in your life has interfered with your reasoning process.” What is he talking about?

           When Atticus tells Jem that he has nothing in his life that has affected his reasoning, he is referring to the fact that Jem has not been in the real world, and had his judgement scarred by the general racism that is present.  When Jem is arguing with Atticus about Juries and punishments,  Atticus explains that if there were twelve young boys in the jury, judgments would be more fair.  Then, after the line about how nothing has scarred his judgment, Atticus proceeds to say, "Those are twelve reasonable men is everyday life, Tom's jury, but you saw something come between them and reason ... there is something in out world that makes men lose there heads ... in our courts, when it;s a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins ... those are the facts of life."(295)  What Atticus is trying to say is that those men have been around influences of racism for all their lives, some of them may have even known worse times for black people, and it has really gotten to them.  In everyday life, they may not see a black man and think he is a bad person based on the color of his skin, but when forced to make a tough decision, their heads naturally turn to the fact that he is black, and not many of them can overcome that.  They "loose their heads" and let "the white man win" just because that is how they have always lived their lives.

        When Atticus says there will be an appeal, do you think they will stand more of a chance?  Will the jury be able to break the barrier "between them and reason"?  Or do you think they will lose again?  If so, will the process of reaching a verdict take so long again?

2.) Atticus tells Jem: “So far nothing in your life has interfered with your reasoning process.” What is he talking about?

In this passage Atticus is stating that Jem really is his own person. Jem has lived in the Finch household his whole life and Atticus is above all things a just man. Even when he disagrees with Jem about an issue he doesn’t just state he disagrees and moves on, he shows Jem his own train of thinking and in that manner lets Jem agree with him only if he actually does. Atticus has made great effort to let his children form their own opinions, which is why Aunt Alexandra is having such a difficult time with Scout; she is trying to impose her own views on Scout.

If you grow up in a Democratic household your are more likely to be a democrat, just the same as if you are raised in a Republican household you tend to be a Republican. This is why there are so many racists in Maycomb County. They grew up in a household where their parents and relatives believed they where better then the colored folks.  It’s the reason the Ewells always stay the same, when Uncle Jack comes to visit and talks with Atticus about the court case and Atticus asks if Jack is Acquainted with the Ewells [117]. “Uncle Jack said yes he remembered them. He described them to Atticus, but Atticus said, “ you’re a generation off. The present one’s are the same though”. The Ewells don’t change because they are all raised the same way and are not given any chance to form their own opinions. Jem lives in Atticus’s house though and Atticus is vehement on Jem and Scout forming their own opinions. This is why Jem does not understand the racism displayed by the jury. Jem has been raised to form his own opinions using logic and his good heart. This passage is ultimately about Atticus making Jem realize that he has been raised with as little biased as possible.

                                                                                                            James Kilzer

                                                                                                            10/13/12

Do you think that Jem is correct when he states that there are four kinds of people in Maycomb?

            At the end of chapter 23, Jem states that there are four different kinds of people in Maycomb County. “You know something Scout? I’ve got it all figured out, now. I’ve thought about it a lot lately and I’ve got it figured out. There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors. There’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the negroes…. I mean in Maycomb county. (P. 226)” Jem then talks about which groups of people dislike each other. Ordinary people do not like the Cunningham’s, the Cunningham’s do not like the Ewell’s, and the Ewell’s hate and despise black people. The ordinary people in Maycomb represent today’s middle class Americans. The Cunningham’s are poor but hard working. The Ewell’s are  poor and Mr. Ewell is physically and sexually abusive to his family. The Ewell’s do not work hard and are given things they do not deserve. The black people in Maycomb live in poverty before there were any civil rights.

            Jem tries to explain to Scout how he sees society in Maycomb County.  He tells Scout that Atticus has told him that the reason their aunt is so proud of their family, is that even though they do not have much money, they have been well educated for several generations. Jem has realized how important education is. Scout tells Jem she disagrees and that she thinks that there are just one kind of “folks”. Jem tells Scout that he used to think that too but he cannot understand why people can’t get along with each other. Jem cannot understand why people despise each other so much. “Scout I am beginning to understand something. I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time…it’s because he wants to stay inside.” (p. 227) Jem has realized how unfair, racist and cruel the world is. Harper Lee included this passage in the book because she wanted to emphasize the prejudice and hatred some people in Maycomb had towards blacks and to help the readers understand why Boo Radley avoids seeing people.

1)   What symbol could be used to represent Boo Radley?

2)   Is Scout or Jem right about how many kinds of folks there are in the world?

3)   Do you think that a person’s education is what mainly differentiates one from another?

Free Response: Why do you think Calpurnia was angry at the kids? Was it just to please Atticus or Alexandra or purely out of rage?

The fact that Calpurnia was angry allows the reader to learn more about her character because one would think she'd be glad the kids are learning about equality and race. After Atticus' closing statement, when the jury leaves to make a decision, Calpurnia comes into the courtroom with a message from Aunt Alexandra wondering where the children were. Mr. Underwood tells Atticus they've been watching the trial the whole time and Atticus tells the kids to go home and eat dinner, then come back for the verdict. On the way home, Calpurnia is furious and says "- skin every one of you alive, the very idea, you children listenin' to all that! Mister Jem don't you know better'n to take your little sister to that trial? Miss Alexandra'll absolutely have a stroke of paralysis when she finds out! Ain't fittin' for children to hear..." (207) The way Calpurnia mentions how Alexandra will "have a stroke" suggests that Cal is more worried about what Alexandra thinks than the actual fact the children were at the trial. She talks about how Jem shouldn't have let Scout come to the trial but I don't think she really means it. Yes, I think she's mad at Jem for leaving without telling anyone but I think she is fine with the fact that they learned about how racist people can be. The anger is an act to scare the children because Cal is trained to do what the Finch's need her to, which in this case is aid Alexandra. She is loyal to the Finch's and will go against what she truly believes to help Alexandra and the Finch's which shows how Harper Lee wanted her to be the perfectly obedient helper, adding to the depth of her character. 

Do you agree or disagree? Why? Why do you think Alexandra is angry at the children, leaving without telling her or going to the trial and seeing examples of racism in the real world which is against her beliefs? Does she have the right to do so or should that responsibility be limited to Atticus?

Is Tom Robinson Really Guilty? (Free Response)

As "To Kill a Mockingbird" progresses, evidence builds against Mayella Ewell's testimony. Scout gets the impression that Atticus might win, and Jem is very confident about it. For instance, Jem says to Scout, "... we're gonna win, Scout. I don't see how we can't." (270) What Harper Lee is doing for the reader is very smart. She builds an image in your head and all of a sudden you are thinking like Scout and Jem. You are relying on Jem's confidence, which is making you think that there is no way the jury is ever going to call Atticus guilty. But then it hits you when you read those powerful four words that can change and innocent man's life, "Guilty... guilty... guilty... guilty..." (282) Harper Lee then makes you jump to some common sense. You have to then realize that those twelve men on the jury are all white, and Tom Robinson is black, and back then, people were so racist and hurtful. White people did not put themselves in others' shoes, and most certainly did not step into Tom Robinson's shoes. There is so much that made Tom Robinson innocent, that it is hard to believe that because of his race, he was charged with something as powerful as rape.

Do you think the town of Maycomb would be different if Tom Robinson was innocent? Why? Would white citizens look at blacks differently if Tom Robinson was Guilty?

Why did the jury say Tom Robinson was guilty? (free responce)

The jury said Tom Robinson was guilty because they are racist whites who can't look past the skin color of a person and not look into a person's soul. Atticus had just finished his closing argument that was pointing out all the facts that Tom couldn't have or wouldn't have hurt Mayella Ewell. After this Jem and Scout were discovered by Calpurnia and had to go home for dinner, but Atticus allowed them to come back to see the verdict. At the end of Atticus' closing statement he says, "A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up." (274) Atticus is noticing that the jury is all white and telling the jury if they want to do the right thing then give Tom Robinson justice. Right after Atticus had finished his closing argument he said to himself, "'In the name of God, believe him." (275) What this shows is Atticus knows that the only way Tom Robinson will be innocent is he makes the jury empathize of how a black person has to live in this raciest time in history. The jury clearly didn't listen to what Atticus said and felt pity on the Ewells which lead Tom Robinson in being guilty.  Harper Lee is making Tom Robinson guilty because if he was innocent the story would most likely have ended there, but the reason of this book is about Scout "coming of age" and the climax of Jem breaking his arm.
What will Atticus' reaction about Tom Robinson being guilty be when he gets home? How will Jem break his arm?

Rory Conway

Free Response

                                                            Is Tom Robinson Guilty?

     As the book moves past Scout as a young child, and her obsession with Boo Radley, the book focuses more on the Tom Robinson trial. In 18 and 19 the trial really gets heated and the most important details are spilled. It turns out Tom Robinson has a crippled left hand, and that he was previously in jail for 30 days for getting into a fight with another man. The most important detail I thought was that Tom claimed that in fact he did not rape Mayella, but Mayella tried to rape him. "She reached up an' kissed me 'side of th' face. She says she never kissed a grown man before an' she might as well kiss a nigger." (Pg 221, Harper Lee) What Tom is saying is the exact opposite of what he is being accused of. I believe that Tom is a very honest man. Also people such as Link Deas say that he is a very nice man who has never done anything wrong. Due to the fact he has no left hand, it would be very hard for him to rape a teenage girl. Although I believe he is innocent, the jury is all white and I think they will side with Mayella. 

Will Tom Robinson be convicted? Will Link Deas statement have any affect on the Jury?

Pay attention to Mayella's testimony. Are there any inconsistencies? Do your feelings about her change?

In chapters 18-19 in To Kill a Mockingbird, a lot happens during Mayella Ewells testimony in the Tom Robinson case. There is now a look into Mayella's side of the story. This further characterizes Mayella in the way that she is now coming out of her "shell' for once. "She was even lonelier than Boo Radley" (256) and she does not have any friends. This is basically Mayella's first time speaking out in public, and not behind the closed gate of her front yard.

Though the jury's have no evidence on Tom Robinson committing this crime, he will still be found guilty just because he is black. Mayella has two advantages on her side of the story, 1) that she is a girl, and 2) that she is white. This also further describes the small town of Maycomb and showing that it is racist.

Harper Lee also added that Tom Robinson had been in jail before and has indeed gone against the law "he had been in trouble with the law before: he once received thirty days of disorderly conduct." (254) Tom Robinson "got in a fight with another man" (254), the other man tried to cut him and he did indeed get injured. Harper Lee chose to add this detail to make the reader stop and think for a second, could Tom Robinson have raped Mayella? It was thought that it was clear that he was innocent but now with this detail it isn't so clear anymore.

Do you think that Tom will be proved innocent, even with this new detail from his past? Do you think that Mayella has been lying throughout chapter 18? Or is she simply telling the whole truth? Explain.

For what reason do you think Atticus "loosened his clothing" on page 271? What affect does this have on his children?

 During his closing statement on page 271, Atticus pauses and suddenly starts to "loosen" his clothes before he speaks again. This will prove to be yet another skill that Atticus uses in his favor, to win over his audience. As Scout and Jem have never seen such behavior from their father, they are utterly shocked, more so than the others in the courtroom. Just as Miss Maudie's lesson is starting to make sense to Scout, it proves to be untrue. "He's the same in the courtroom as he is in the public streets." (266), Scout mimics to Dill, who is upset about the treatment towards Tom Robinson. Next thing she knows, Scout is watching her father become a completely different man in the courtroom.

Although it may seem crazy to Jem and Scout, Atticus may be using this action as a tactic. By showing his comfort with the case as it is, and by making himself seem as a regular towns person instead of a desperate lawyer, Atticus presents himself with a relatable front. Knowing his audience, Atticus gains extreme confidence in the courtroom, however, never becomes conceited. Also, showing no concern as he casually informs the jury of Tom Robinson's innocence, Atticus appears as if he has nothing to hide and nothing to be worried about. Being one of the endless things that make Atticus a suitable lawyer, it also shocks the children beyond belief. "He never loosened a scrap of his clothing until he undressed at bedtime, and to Jem and me, this was the equivalent of him standing before us stark naked." (271) Harper Lee may have chosen to include this also as a way of showing the reader how important this scene is, and how much this action differs from Atticus' consistent personality.

After reading chapters 20 and 21, do believe that Atticus is the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets? Do you think Atticus' actions will start to change now that he has lost the case? What do you think will happen to Tom Robinson?

What does Tom Robinson suggest happened the day of the rape? Do you think the jury will believe his version of events? Explain why you think this.

      On the witness stand Tom Robinson's curtesy as well as explanation of events leads the reader and jury to believe in his innocence. On November 21 of last year in the book To Kill a Mocking Bird, Tom Robinson is said to have raped Mayella Ewell. On the witness stand Tom Robinson explains what happened that day, "And she says, 'Naw, I got somethin' for you to do in the house'... the next thing I knows she-she'd grabbed me round the legs... she hugged me round the waist... She reached up an' kissed me 'side of th' face... She says 'Kiss me back, nigger... I was runnin' so fast I didn't know what happened." (258-260) Throughout his testimony Tom Robinson states that he had no intention of, and did not, hurt or take advantage of her, he was just trying to help her with some small jobs around the house as he often does. The way he tells it, Mayella was the one trying to advance on him. The jury will believe his version of events because the way Tom Robinson tells it, by bringing in that he has done certain small jobs for her before turns it into a more "real life" situation in the fact that it didn't just happen that the one time Mayella Ewell asked Tom to do something he went and took advantage of her. Scout realizes that "Tom Robinson's manners were as good as Atticus's." (260) This gives him an advantage because the way you present yourself on the witness stand and in the court room has an affect on how the jury views you and right now the jury views Tom Robinson as a polite young black man.
      Do you think Tom Robinson will be ruled innocent or guilty? Why do you think Mayella blamed Tom Robinson for taking advantage of her if he never did? Do you think there is a connection between Mayella and her flowers?

Contrast Tom Robinson's treatment by Atticus and then by Gilmer.

            While Tom Robinson is on on the witness stand, he is asked questions by Atticus and then by Gilmer, who treat Tom in very different ways.  After the Ewells and Heck Tate have testified, Tom comes to the stand to be the last person heard before the jury makes their decision.  First, Atticus questions Tom, asking various questions about the day of the incident in a way that shows he respects Tom.  Next, Gilmer asks Tom some questions in a tone that implies that he is looking down on Tom and does not consider him an equal.  He asks them in a very demeaning way.  In the middle of the testimony, Dill starts to cry and Scout has to take him outside.  Dill says "That old Mr. Gilmer doin' him thataway, talking so hateful to him, it makes me sick, just plain sick." (226)  Even Dill, probably the most childish of them all, knows that the way Gilmer is talking to Tom is hateful and cruel.
            I believe that Harper Lee differentiated the way that Gilmer and Atticus spoke to Tom so that the reader would see just how much people's views of Tom vary.  Atticus is very kind, calm and respectful towards Tom, showing that Atticus thinks of him not only as an equal, but also as a good person on the inside.  Gilmer talks to Tom in a demeaning way, showing that he believes that Tom is not at all equal to others, that he is not only a bad person, but that he has no good to him.  Gilmer attempts to twist Tom's words to use against him, showing that Gilmer is also the type of person who would exploit small errors and use them to win, no matter what.
            One general question I have is, how do you think that the trial will end?  Will Tom be found innocent, or guilty?  We are most likely not going to hear any more of the testimonies, since Tom is the last person to testify, and Scout is not able to hear him any longer.  Also, what do you believe Scout thinks of Tom right now?  Does she think he is innocent or guilty?  How about Dill, Jem, Dolphus, Judge Taylor, or the rest of the community?

Why is Dolphus Raymond in the book?

In court, Dolphus Raymond, a spectator is described in chapter 16. Harper Lee chooses to characterize him because he represents the future. When Scout is describing the people who are in the court, she observes that the court is segregated; black people on one side and whites on the other. As she spans the room she spots Dolphus, and says: “Why’s he sitting with the colored folks?” “Always does. He likes ’em better’n he likes us, I rekon. He lives by himself way down near the county line. He’s got a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun”(214) At this time in history, blacks and whites had nothing to do with each other. This passage is an example of how a forward thinker Harper Lee was. Dolphus Raymond represents the future because he is a white man sitting with the blacks and the blacks accept him for who he is. Dolphus represents the “light” too, he represents the light like Atticus because he understands that Blacks are equally human beings too.  Harper Lee specifically characterizes him in this specific chapter to help show a man, like Atticus who is different in the Maycomb community.

How do you think Maycomb sees Dolphus? Do you think that he is treated the same way as Atticus? Why or why not? Do you think that Maycomb whites are all one sided towards that case, or do you think that there are some people like Atticus and Dolphus who support Tom Robinson?

Why is Dolphus Raymond in this book?

   In chapter sixteen, we learn about a new character in the book: Dolphus Raymond. Harper Lee included him in this book, to show that not only do blacks and whites treat each other differently in the community, but these two groups both look down on people with mixed racial backgrounds as well. He contradicts the traditions and reality many people in Maycomb, like Scout are familiar with.
 Dolphus Raymond is an example of someone who doesn't conform into Maycomb. Jem says that the "colored folks won't have them because they're half white. White folks won't have them because they are colored. So they are just in-betweens, they don't belong anywhere." (215) This quote shows the distinct line of the stereotypical judgement of acceptance in Maycomb. Jem is older and seems to understand how society looks upon different races, and tries to teach Scout that it doesn't matter if he's half white, if he has "a drop of Negro blood"(216) in him. In everyone's eyes, he is a black man.
   Dolphus Raymond also seems he has given up. He drinks out of a sack openly, not caring what other people would think of him. This is probably from the pain after his wife shot herself to death. But, his actions give people in Maycomb a worse impression of him. What do you think, is Dolphus ever going to gain respect?  And if Atticus wins the case, will the white people treat the blacks differently? Also, why do you think Dolphus stays in the black community?

Why is Dolphus Raymond in the book?

Mr. Dolphus Raymond was put into the story by Harper Lee to show that Maycomb, collectively, is racist and has bad judgment of the people who live there. Maycomb is a community where people who are not successful are seen nearly as low as black people. Mr. Raymond is a drunk whose life was fine until his wife shot herself. From there he has, “liked [colored people] better’n he likes us.” (214) To add to the fascination of the kids, “he’s drinkin’ out of a sack.” (214) Mr. Raymond’s alcohol is the symbol of his pain and grief. He hides his alcohol in, “a sack” and therefore also hides his pain from everyone, including himself. In contrast to Mr. Raymond, Mr. Ewell is also a drunk but openly drinks in front of the public. Maycomb has rejected both men because they do not fit the Maycomb Way. Mr. Raymond is more respected than Mr. Ewell.   Although both men are seen as drunks, Mr. Raymond is also seen as a gentleman who will not upset the ladies because of his alcohol. In reality, neither men should get respect because of their decisions.

Thoughts? Was Mr. Raymond needed in the book? Because Atticus is not a total fit to the Maycomb Way, will he end up like Mr. Raymond and Mr. Ewell?