You get your driver's license, a later curfew, and then you get to go off to college and eat pizza whenever you want. I walked to it, stood in front of it, and turned around. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. "There's something in our world that makes men lose their headsthey couldn't be fair if they tried. (23.47-52). Atticus is still concerned with keeping people in the family, while Aunt Alexandra wants to kick out the unworthy. They thanked him by sending him hunks of salt pork, tomatoes, beans, even scuppernongs.. His holding up Jem as an exception because of his youth suggests that whatever that X factor is, it's learned and not innate (and thus, perhaps can be changed through education?). eNotes Editorial, 8 June 2012, https://www.enotes.com/topics/to-kill-a-mockingbird/questions/1-what-some-quotes-people-talking-trash-atticus-2-343266. Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I've tried to live so I can look squarely back at him if I connived at something like this, frankly I couldn't meet his eye, and the day I can't do that I'll know I've lost him. (20.48). 361 quotes from Atticus Poetry: 'We are made of all those who have built and broken us.', 'She conquered her demons and wore her scars like wings. How do ladies show their honor? Aunt Alexandra's idea of family is exclusive (kick out those who aren't worthy of being counted in), while Atticus's is inclusive. (Chapter 9). "It's no reason to run off. Mrs. "Well, most folks seem to think they're right and you're wrong." (11.54-56). It's easy to feel compassion in the abstract, but living it is much more difficult. Is it simply being children that causes them to be sad about Tom's fate, or are there other factors? "Atticus Finch's a deep reader, a mighty deep reader." I strongly advise you to go down and have a talk with Mrs. Dubose," said Atticus. The adults in Maycomb never discussed the case with Jem and me; it seemed that they discussed it with their children, and their attitude must have been that neither of us could help having Atticus for a parent, so their children must be nice to us in spite of him. Toward the end of the book, in Chapter 26, Scout is reflecting on how much her life with Jem has changed. J. Grimes Everett was doing his utmost to change this state of affairs, and desperately needed our prayers. Is there a particular reason for Jem's change, or is it just part of getting older? While kids get a bum rap for having short attention spans, it's adults who can't be trusted to follow through from the child perspective. (19.141-148). As it was mentioned earlier, Atticus has a very demanding career. When the Finch family gets together for Christmas, Francis Hancock. Tom's experience suggests that African-Americans in Maycomb have a whole additional set of fears to those of the white residents. Let the dead bury the dead." (3.26-29). "Reckon you're at the stage now where you don't kill flies and mosquitoes now, I reckon," I said. Is it moral? And what makes for a particularly Southern womanhood? She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Scout's definition of "Fine Folks" is based on what their actions are (something they have control over), while Aunt Alexandra's is based on their family history (uh, can't help the crazy cousins). So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. And then you start your first job, and you realize that you can't afford to eat out all the time and you can't skip your job if you're up late watching a Real Housewives marathon. On the one hand, Atticus is totally right: we need to judge people as individuals rather than by their race. For example, Scout questions Atticus of being a nigger lover and said "I certainly am.I do my best to love everybody" and "it 's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is bad name." (pg. As Judge Taylor banged his gavel, Mr. Ewell was sitting smugly in the witness chair, surveying his handiwork. Aw, she's all right. [Mr. Ewell says] "I seen that black n***** yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!" tags: . Which was disrespectful Calpernia as explain that Theres some folks who don 't eat like us (pg.32) when she pulled Scout into the kitchen but Scout still didn 't understand why she must be respectful to a Cunningham. DuBois's "Of Our Spiritual Strivings"for a famous discussion of doubleness and African-American identity. It was Zeebo, the garbage collector. Talk about upsetting the social order: Atticus seems much less concerned with judging his children (as opposed to, say, Bob Ewell) than with how they might judge him. Sometimes it's kids rather than parents who just don't understand. When only white men can serve on a jury, what happens to a "jury of one's peers"? While Atticus talks about seeing things through other people's eyes, Mrs. Merriweather is more concerned with people seeing it through her eyes. [..] Well, what ifsay, Mr. Link Deas had to decide the amount of damages to award, say, Miss Maudie, when Miss Rachel ran over her with a car. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." (16.40-48). I guess it's to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom's. "Heck," Atticus's back was turned. ", Jem and I laughed. I'm hard put, sometimesbaby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. No argument here. Unfortunately, someone coined the term "Driving While Black" for a reason. Boys rule, girls drool, and Scout will do anything to keep from being called a girl. ", "I certainly am. Our stout Maycomb citizens aren't interested, in the first place. "Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is." Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild. To Kill a Mockingbird: Directed by Robert Mulligan. Although we heard no more about the Finch family from Aunt Alexandra, we heard plenty from the town "There's his chillun," or "Yonder's some Finches." If we just let them know we forgive 'em, that we've forgotten it, then this whole thing'll blow over." The book release for Go Set A Watchman was what every publisher dreams of. This was their way of showing that they were greatful for the action Atticus took in helping the black community. 147 quotes from Love Her Wild: 'We are made of all those who have built and broken us.' . Summary Analysis Things began to get difficult for Scout. He went out of the room and down the hall. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. ", "I'm quite aware of that," she said. What makes her feelings so different? (1.72-75). The main one is, if I didnt, I couldnt hold up my head in town, I couldnt represent this county in the legislature, I couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again. (123; ch.9). But Mayella is also a victim of injustice: dirt poor, kept ignorant, raped by her father, and forbidden to seek companionship from the one person who was ever nice to her. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em-", "You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" In her place was a solid mass of colored people. (14.24), Those dresses may look pretty, but Scout thinks they'd just hold her in. Love is undefinable. When Scout got in trouble on the first day of school by explaining the ways of the Cunninghams to Miss Caroline, Scout smudges Walker Cunningham 's face into the schoolyard at lunch. (19.155-165). There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire." "There's nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who'll take advantage of a N****'s ignorance. Atticus is a main example for this theme. N***** always comes out in 'em. You're not gonna change any of them by talkin' right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language." In the novel, Atticus is seen as a nonjudgmental person that treats everyone alike and that is the reason everybody in Maycomb likes him. It is a feeling humans feel and share, but can't describe. Throughout the novel, Atticus Finch is unmoved by the opinions of others and is a proponent of truth, justice, and racial equality. ), Lula stopped, but she said, "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun herethey got their church, we got our'n. Literacy isn't a bad approachliteracy means education, which means having a certain class and wealth status. "Wouldn't be right if they didn't. Shmoop will make you a better loverof quotes, "Scout," said Atticus, "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anythinglike snot-nose. ", "If you had a clear conscience, why were you scared? I thought of old Mrs. Dubose in her wheelchair"Stop that rapping, John Taylor, I want to ask this man something." The idea of being "at home" in the male world is a little weird, as if womanhood is an undiscovered country that Scout has to discover and map in order to make it her own. See the "Speech and Dialogue" section in "Tools of Characterization" for a fuller explanation of how this term functions in the book. Atticus told Jem "If you had been on that jury, son, and eleven other boys like you, Tom would be a free man" (Lee 295). Scout said of her father, It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.Atticus shows that he is above the people of Maycomb when he took Tom Robinsons case, rather than sharing their racist feelings. In every circumstance, or problem that he faced he fought for what was right, even if it was against the crowd. When the Ewell's charge Tom with rape, his decisions come not from facts of life, but the general classification and stereotypes of Maycomb. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they're still our friends and this is still our home." He speaks from experience, from the adults who bully him, just like the other children bully Scout. It's hard to explainignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring N****es over and above themselves. 1. (12.8). Weren't we silly when we were little? Or something like that. (3.85-87). It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody. The end of the quote is basically a grown-up version of "I'm rubber and you're glue," suggesting that schoolyard taunt actually has some meritsome insults do tell you more about the person hurling them than about their target. Atticus is a mockingbird for the Maycomb society. Atticus is the same in both public and private, but not Scoutshe's willing to toe the line and play it cool with outsiders, but she still fights with her own family. Jem and Scout try to come up with a definition of Aunt Alexandra's mysterious term "background." Men don't like to do that. After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I. Then Mr. Underwood's meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Suddenly Mayella became articulate. ", "No suh, I's scared I'd be in court, just like I am now. ), "First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. That's why the word "frenemy" was invented.) (12.138-144), Cal doesn't get the privilege of being the same person no matter where she is, because she has to live a double life to fit in. Aunt Alexandra has an idea of what childlike behavior is (sweet and innocent, the Olsen twins before they hit puberty) and expects Dill to conform to that. Uh-oh. They gone?" (Judging by the number of times Shmoop's been called to jury duty not much. ", "They hafta try him in public, Miss Maudie," I said. [] The way that man called him 'boy' all the time an' sneered at him, an' looked around at the jury every time he answered-[] It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do 'em that way. "I got somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say no more. Atticus suggests that it's not just the actual fallout they would have to face from the community that keeps Maycomb's residents with background, as Miss Maudie would say, from serving on juries, but also fear of publicly taking a stand. Atticus was speaking so quietly his last word crashed on our ears. "Scout," said Atticus, "n*****-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anythinglike snot-nose. I learned more about the poor Mrunas' social life from listening to Mrs. Merriweather: they had so little sense of family that the whole tribe was one big family. (24.26-28). (24.40). "Living in that jungle with nobody but J. Grimes Everett," she said. Bob Ewell felt vexation towards Atticus. And all these people wanted was a fun day out, right? This interaction is an early blow against the stereotype that white people have morals but African-Americans don'tand Cal follows it up with a loving "blow" of her own. Love for family. "If Uncle Atticus lets you run around with stray dogs, that's his own business, like Grandma says, so it ain't your fault. Does he notice because he's an outsider? Accessed 1 July 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Tom Robinson, the young man Atticus defends, pays for the ignorant and hurtful stereotypes that are made in Maycomb every day. This was only the beginning of what happened that Thanksgiving Day. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. ", "I ain't cynical, Miss Alexandra. Cutex Natural sparkled on their fingernails, but some of the younger ladies wore Rose. Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere, but this feeling was what Aunt Alexandra called being "spoiled. Mrs. Merriweather's large brown eyes always filled with tears when she considered the oppressed. ", "That's what I thought," said Jem, "but around here once you have a drop of N**** blood, that makes you all black." "When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake. What? I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness and most of all, without catching Maycombs usual disease (Lee 117). (Finebut do you have to wear overalls? Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy but sing their heart out for us. (Lee 10) In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus, Calpurnia, and Tom Robinson are the three mockingbirds. on Christmas at Finch's landing, Francis teases Scout by calling Atticus a "n (word) lover" He calls Atticus a "n (word) lover", because he is defending Tom Robinson, a black client In. You continue to treat them with a friend's respect, and you remember that they're part of a larger community that stays whole even if its parts are pulling in different directions. I said I would like it very much, which was a lie, but one must lie under certain circumstances and at all times when one can't do anything about them. With one phrase he had turned happy picknickers into a sulky, tense, murmuring crowd, being slowly hypnotized by gavel taps lessening in intensity until the only sound in the courtroom was a dim pink-pink-pink: the judge might have been rapping the bench with a pencil. "You goin' to court this morning?" They smelled heavenly. He told Scout Atticus was ruining the family name, that he was a nigger lover. Pshaw. "It's right hard to say," she said. To a furious Jem, Atticus says "Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. "Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is." Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild . His own self-respect is bound up with his good morals: if he did something he knew was wrong, even if it was justified, he would lose all moral authority over others. Women are here put in the same category with children as beings in need of protection, whose delicate ears should be shielded from sordid reality. I sat quietly, having conquered my hands by tightly gripping the arms of the chair, and waited for someone to speak to me. Sometimes, conformity to what everyone else is doing makes more sense. Atticus can afford to be so generous because he knows he's so much better off than the Ewells will ever be, just because he was born a Finch instead of a Ewell. ", "Scared of arrest, scared you'd have to face up to what you did? In the second place, they're afraid. He would lecture his children whenever they had disorderly actions. Up to chapter 11 only children, Cecil Jacobs and cousin Francis, have called Atticus a "nigger lover," undoubtedly echoing the opinion of their parents. Additionally, Atticus is a strong believer in justice and complying with the law. Sometimes I think I'm a total failure as a parent, but I'm all they've got. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, takes place in a town called Maycomb, where coloreds are looked down upon. "I got somethin' to say," she said. "She was white, and she tempted a N****. Notice how Judge Taylor calms them down by "hypnotizing" them. Already a member? It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?". Atticus's reply suggests that the racism inherent in the guilty verdict is part of the past, present, and future of the community. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you. Easy come, easy go. (ch 11) Atticus tells Scout repeatedly not to use the word "nigger" because it is "common." By this he means it is a crude and inappropriate word. Read More Atticus As A Father 1008 Words | 5 Pages In the name of God, do your duty." He stated many times in the trial against Tom Robinson that people deserve to be treated equally. Despite being a frail old lady in a wheelchair, Mrs. Dubose's tongue-lashings are enough to make even Jem shake in his boots. Atticus, however, was a brave Christian man with moral values. But readers of the fictional novel called To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee know that Atticus Finch has all of these characteristics. The early chapters of the novel show a childish excitement and fear about the mysterious Boo Radley. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in. Atticus, the town lawyer, tries to what is best for his clients, even if they dont listen to him(Lee 5). (Duh. "Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. Or would, Atticus supports equality, and that does not bode well with the townspeople because of their years of being raised on racism and bigotry. Sometimes there are good reasons to be on the right side of the law. Maybe Atticus really is so selflessly good that he can feel compassion even for Bob Ewell. Quotes. I felt the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me, and for the second time in my life I thought of running away. Her voice rose: "It tears him to pieces. This is one reason that courtroom cameras are controversial: making trials public is one way of guaranteeing that they're fair (not that it worked in this case), but it also turns the whole thing into a circus. Scout is a girl who sometimes let anger get to her; Scout also tries to act older but she still has a lot to learn about growing up. The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Miss Maudie on a jury would be impressive. After Bob is fired from his job, he blames Atticus; and after Tom Robinson died, Bob declared that it was "one down and about two more to go. But Atticus himself was scared in the present moment that night. Poor Mayella. Is it just us, or is there a big dose of hypocrisy here? Convicting Tom because he is black, Atticus argues, would be as silly as convicting him because he is a human being. Mrs. Dubose lives alone with a black servant named Jessie and is rumored to carry a concealed pistol. He says as far as he can trace back the Finches we ain't, but for all he knows we mighta come straight out of Ethiopia durin' the Old Testament. "I do my best to love everybody" "Scout," said Atticus, "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anythinglike snot-nose. [Jem] was certainly never cruel to animals, but I had never known his charity to embrace the insect world. Bob Ewell was demonstrating disrespectfulness by calling Atticus a slave-loving bastard, referring to Tom as a slave, and Atticus as a slave loving bastard which is a profound insult to many Caucasians at the time. So he tells Judge Taylor that he can't serve on the jury because he doesn't have anybody to keep store for him while he's gone. "Atticus," his voice was distant, "can you come here a minute, sir? They even have the first snowfall in years. 't's morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. There's no shame in being an object of compassion. Could Atticus actually be wrong for once? Maybe it's just knowing that you're better than other people, and coming up with justifications for that after the fact. (4.95), Play-acting Boo's life might be a way for the kids to deal with their fear; maybe making it a game makes it easier for them to forget about its basis in reality. For Ewell, it's all about powerby scaring Helen he's declaring his power over her, but Deas is even scarier: he's got reputation and power in Maycomb, so he wins this round. While he says here that he's no idealist, he's been realistic throughout about his extremely low chances of winning this case. Atticus knows it's more unlikely than a Lindsay Lohan presidency that Tom will be acquitted, and yet getting the truth out there is still an accomplishmenteven if we're not quite sure what it'll accomplish. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There's something in our world that makes men lose their headsthey couldn't be fair if they tried. He picks up on the ugly injustice of Mr. Gilmer's questioning, and he's too much of a kid to accept it. And how can blood have a racial identity? Link wouldn't like the thought of losing either lady's business at his store, would he? Watching Calpurnia, Scout realizes that being a girl actually involveshaving positive traits instead of lacking them. Check out these Atticus Finch 'To Kill A Mockingbird' book quotes. According to Atticus, there's just something about race that makes white people crazy. He has the correct attitude towards different. Out of the lots of prejudice in Maycomb County, Atticus is one that looks passed race and gender. With knives. (20.18-22). I raised up on my elbow, facing Dill's outline. Racists use "n*****-lover" to suggest that a person is trying to give African-Americans special rights, but Atticus points out that all he's arguing for is equality, loving everybody the same. Atticus raised his head. Jem, Scout's older brother was to old to play, so Scout had to amuse Francis. ", "You aren't really a n*****-lover, then, are you? [] "Ain't you scared of haints? Question #2: Why does Atticus use the word "tempted," considering Tom's reaction to her advances seemed less "I totally would, but they'd totally kill me" than "just not that into you, kthxbye"? While Scout's version allows people to get better through individual choice, in Aunt Alexandra's eyes, quality is a function of time more than anything. To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Look at all those folks, it's like a Roman carnival. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. It's real scary. You understand?" "Don't talk like that, Dill," said Aunt Alexandra. Atticus's voice was even: "Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. People like Mr. Heck Tate did not trap you with innocent questions to make fun of you; even Jem was not highly critical unless you said something stupid. On the day of the trial, the children overhear some unflattering remarks from several members of the Idlers' Club. How does Scout get Mr. Cunningham and the mob to leave in To Kill a Mockingbird?
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