When
Jem, Scout, and Dill leave their house to find Atticus, they never expected to
see a mob form around their father. Jem had decided to leave to see if
something was wrong with Atticus after he left their house late, and took the
car, and naturally Scout and Dill came with him. They searched for him in his
office, and eventually found him sitting in his office chair outside of the
jail. When they were about to leave, four cars pulled up and they stopped as
men piled out. It was clear to Jem that these men were going to do whatever it
took, including hurting Atticus, to get to Tom Robinson. After Scout ran over
and started talking to Mr. Cunningham, the men realized something. “I looked
around and up at Mr. Cunningham, whose face was equally impassive. Then he did
a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both shoulders. ‘I’ll tell
him you said hey, little lady,’ he said. Then he straightened up and waved a
big paw. ‘Let’s clear out,’ he called. ‘Let’s get going, boys.’” (206) Although
she didn’t realize it, Scout stopped Atticus from getting hurt. When she
started to talk to Mr. Cunningham, he slowly started to realize that Atticus
wasn’t really a bad man. He had assumed because he was helping a man that he
himself didn’t believe should be helped, that he should get beat up, and that
he was a terrible person. When Scout started to remind him of all the things
Atticus had done for the Cunningham family however, Mr. Cunningham “squatted
down” and talked to Scout as a friend. He then “waved a big paw” and told the
rest of the men to clear out, which they did. Scout may not have realized it,
but she stopped her father, as well as Tom Robinson from getting hurt, and
potentially killed. This part of To Kill A Mockingbird shows how
sometimes innocence, and not knowing what is going on, can be a good thing.
Since Scout didn’t know the consequences of her actions, she wasn’t scared to
kick anyone or talk to them. Sometimes people do things in a mob instead of on
their own, because they are too scared to do them on their own, or they give
into peer pressure. Since Scout is young, she doesn’t realize this yet.
Why
do you think Dill is silent throughout the situation with the mob? Why do you
think Atticus is not upset with Jem for disobeying him?
(Sorry this is late, I couldn't figure out how to post it).
I think Dill is silent throughout the situation because he doesn't know how to react.This is the first time he, Jem, and Scout were exposed to mobs and gangs.And while just settling into Maycomb, he didn't know what to expect. I think the reason why Atticus was not upset with Jem for disobeying him, is because as you have said, the children saved him from further trouble. But, also because Atticus is beginning to see Jem grow and become a man.Usually, when his father tells him to go home, Jem would obediently do so, and take his sister by his side.However, in this chapter when he was told to go home, he stood his ground and wasn't afraid to say no to his father,because he was worried about him. This showed his father he was courageous and persistent. Do you think Jem will stay like this until the end of the book? And ever since Jem has changed and grown up a little bit, do you think he's leaving Scout behind, and do you think their relationship will ever be how it was before, where Scout had admired her brother so much?
ReplyDeleteI think that Scout's relationship with Jem will never be the same as it used to be. Although their relationship is changing, Scout will always admire her brother, she is just seeing him in a different way now that he is maturing. "It nearly knocked the breath out of me, but it didn't matter because I knew he was fighting, he was fighting me back. We were still equals." (184) I think that currently Scout misses the way her relationship with Jem used to be, but she also just wants a companion instead of another adult who tells her what to do. As the novel progresses, I think that instead of looking to Jem for a person to play with, Scout will start looking up to Jem and coming to him with her questions, as she has already started to do.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think Jem's relationship with Atticus has changed? How does Atticus now see Jem, and Jem now see Atticus? Do you think Aunt Alexandra will ever become that "motherly figure" to Jem and Scout? Why or why not?
believe dill is silent during the conversation with the mob because he is scared. He tells fantastic stories about him escaping his evil father [186-187] but these are tall tales from a short person in my opinion. He is wiser then Scout so when he sees this mob of angry people he realizes it might be best to stay quiet and inconspicuous. Scout still being ignorant, starts running her mouth and through sheer luck and the innocence of a young child gets them out of the sticky situation. He is scared and even though he is an adventures person, when faced with the real danger the mob represents he keeps his mouth shut and his wits about him. Dill is simply scared and doesn't feel in any way that he can contribute to this situation so he decides to keep his opinions to himself. However one question should be asked after this confrontation with the mob, is Dill a racist?
ReplyDelete