Seemed to Grow Ruddy Again Tkam

Welcome. Here we post chapter recaps, character analysis, and more from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

Aunt Alexandra explains to the Finch family that she will be staying with them to provide a "feminine influence" (170) on Scout, since their mother dies when she was still young. Maycomb gives her a hearty welcome with the other women baking cakes and bringing over goods and coffee as she situated herself within the town's social life. Aunt Alexandra spends most of her time saying how she adores the Finches and gossips about the other families in Maycomb. Families are very important in Maycomb because the same families have lived there for generations, where each family has its own unique and special characteristics. According to Aunt Alexandra, Jem and Scout lack the pride of a Finch and she tells Atticus to lecture the kids on their ancestry. While his lecture, Scout begins to cry because she knows that the words coming out of his mouth aren't his, but Aunt Alexandra's.

" 'For a while' in Maycomb meant anything from three days to thirty years" (169).  This is an example of a hyperbole because it exaggerates the amount of time Aunt Alexandra will be staying. This time range also represent how slow and run down the town of Maycomb really is.

The theme statement is that you should be yourself and not what others tell you to be. Throughout the story, Aunt Alexandra and Atticus can be found teaching Jem and Scout two different things. Aunt Alexandra wants Jem and Scout to be proper and to act how a Finch should be acting. On the other hand, Atticus lets Jem and Scout act the way they want. He wants them to be free and to be themselves. It is clearly shown that when they are following under Atticus, they are a lot happier than when they are with Aunt Alexandra.

Preston Do

How do you define the difference between justice and injustice within yourself?

The difference between justice and injustice is often a fickle one, whereas each person has their own beliefs on when enough is enough. Simply "googling" this query results in shallow theories or definitions such as this one. However, I believe this self-definition of right and wrong is determined by a number of aspects, notably knowledge/awareness and upbringing. Starting with knowledge, the novel shows how a lack of it can lead to your sense of justice being warped or disoriented. A perfect quote to exemplify this is "'You know what we want,' another man said. 'Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.'" Although the words on their own seem a bit off, in the context of the situation they are found in they make perfect sense. This quote is spoken by Mr. Walter Cunningham, who is poorer than most in the Depression and as such doesn't exactly have a great education. Therefore, he is more likely to be gullible or believe what others say, simply because he doesn't have all the necessary facts. This is likely why he is leading a charge to "get" Tom Robinson. On the opposite end of the spectrum are Jem and Scout. Throughout the book we see Atticus imparting his wisdom upon his children, teaching them his values as well as educating them well. This is really the main reason I believe upbringing and knowledge hand-in-hand are what determine self-justice. A quote that is still a bit out of context but also puts these points in the simplest terms I can finds is, "'It ain't right, Atticus,' said Jem. 'No son, it's not right.'" This quote simply shows that unlike most others in the town, Jem understands that the trial was unjust. Finally, home life and upbringing combined with education can either be a double force of good— or bad. In Mayella Ewell's home life, I believe that these factors form a double negative for her. I'd like to bring up a quote from the trial that kind of forms a window into how these factors break down someone's growth of justice: "'Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?' No answer. 'What did your father see in the window, the crime of rap or the best defense to it? Why don't you tell the truth, child, didn't Bob Ewell beat you up?' When Atticus turned away from Mayella he looked like his stomach hurt, but Mayella's face was a mix of terror and fury." Once again, out of context the quote may not seem to have much significance. However, looking at the implied subtext here, this quote holds more than it seems. Mayella is trying to decide between telling the truth, or following her father's "justice" system.

During this chapter, Jem turns twelve and starts to tell Scout that she keeps on bugging him and tells her that she keeps acting more and more like a girl. In addition, Dill does not come to Maycomb this summer according to the letter he sent which stated that his mother had found another man and they will be staying in Meridian. The first major event is that Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to church with her. The church, First Purchase, is an only black church. Everyone is friendly with the two kids, but one woman, Lula, criticizes Calpurnia for bringing white children into a "black only" church. The church is very poor, only affording a few hymn books, and is mostly illiterate. At the end of service, Reverend Sykes holds a donation basket that is for Tom Robinson's wife, Helen. As the children arrive back home, they spot Aunt Alexandra sitting in a rocking chair on their front porch, "…as if she had sat there every day of her life (168)."

"Her weight was on one leg; she rested her left elbow n the curve of her hip, pointing at us with upturned palm. She was bullet-headed with strange almond-shaped eyes, straight nose, and an Indian-bow mouth. She seemed seven feet high" (158). This quote is a powerful representation of how Scout uses imagery to give us a visualization of what Lula looks like.

A powerful theme statement that regards Lula is that prejudice is wrong and bad no matter what. Although I can see why Lula would be against whites, it is still wrong to be mad against Jem and Scout because they did nothing wrong. Lula's public display of her racism is also another reason why the other church members are not fond of her.

Preston Do

Although Mrs. Dubose does not seem like an an important character, she plays a very important part to the overall theme of courage in the story. The author portrays this character as cranky, cruel, and very racist. She is always sitting on her porch screaming insults such as " 'Don't say hey to me, you ugly girl! You say good afternoon, Mrs. Dubose!' " (133) and " 'Your father's no better than the n****** and trash he works for!" (135). It was on the way home from town after Jem and Scout bought a steam engine and baton when they heard this harsh remark. This one sentence that came out of Mrs. Dubose's mouth about their father put Jem into a madness, leading him to snatch Scout's baton to slash and cut at every single one of Mrs. Dubose's camellia bush. As a punishment, Jem must go to Mrs. Dubose's house everyday for a month to read to her. Scout also accompanies Jem while he reads to her. As each day passes, Jem stays and reads for a longer time. After about a month after Jem's punishment ends, Mrs. Dubose passed away. Atticus then explained to Jem why he had to read to her for longer periods of time each day. It was to help her recover from her morphine addiction. In the end of the chapter, Atticus gave Jem a candy box that Mrs. Dubose gave her maid to give to him. In it, was a single, white camellia.

"Jem was scarlet" (136). This is an example of a metaphor because it is directly comparing two things to each other. This is also a way of expressing how angry he is when Mrs. Dubose insults him and his family.

A very common and popular theme found in the story and in everyday life is think before you act. In this chapter Jem is a very good counterexample of this theme statement. When Mrs. Dubose insults Atticus, he goes into an instant fury and cuts all of her camellias. As a consequence, he had to read to her for a month. This is why it is always important to think before you act.

Preston Do

Finally, the court room case starts. Mr. Heck Tate takes a stand, and is asked questions by Mr. Gilmer, who is the prosecutor. He recounts how, on November 21, at night, Bob Ewell had called him, and had reported that his daughter, Mayella Ewell, had been raped. As quickly as he could, Mr. Heck Tate arrives at the Ewell's residence, discovering that Mayella had been beaten and bruised. When asked who had attacked her, she responds with, "Tom Robinson", the defendant. Atticus, the defendant's attorney, questions Mr. Heck Tate, questioning him why no doctor had been summoned. It is also revealed that Mayella's injuries had been condensed on the right side of her face. Finally, after the questioning, the witness, Bob Ewell, is summoned. An abundance of information on the Ewell's background begins to be revealed. The Ewells live behind the town's dump, in a small cabin. It is unknown how many children Mr. Ewell currently has. Bob Ewell testifies that he had been coming out of the woods, with materials to start a fire, when he had heard his daughter screaming. When he had arrived at his house, he comes to find Tom Robinson "raping" her. When caught, Tom had fled, while Mr. Ewell runs for Mr. Heck Tate, the officer. After hearing his testimony, Atticus questions Mr. Ewell why a doctor hadn't been called, and had also asked for the plaintiff to write his name. Mr. Ewell states how a doctor would have been to expensive, and writes his name. The jury notices that he is left handed, which is unfortunate for Mr. Ewell, as the injuries had been concentrated on the right side of Mayella's face, an easy target for an individual who is left-handed.

"'Well, Mayella was raisin; this holy racket so I dropped m' load and run as fast as I could but i run into th' fence, but when I got distangled I run up to th' window and I seen-'" Mr. Ewell's face grew scarlet. He stood up and pointed his finge at Tom Robinson. '-I seen that black n****** yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!" (231)

"'You're left handed, Mr. Ewell,' said Judge Taylor. Mr. Ewell turned angrily to the judge and said he didn't see what his being left-handed had to do with it, that he was a Christ-fearing man and Atticus Finch was taking advantage of him." (237)

An example of symbolic language would be, "He seemed to grow ruddy again; his chest swelled, and once more he was a red little rooster." (236) This display of a metaphor allows the reader to have a further understanding of what is happening during the trial, about how Mr. Ewell had believed that Atticus had been an easy match. This gives readers an example on how Mr. Ewell must've looked when he had been questioned, by Atticus.

The theme statement of this chapter is that, "Twisting your tongue, will eventually lead to a tangle." This theme statement is clearly expressed throughout this chapter, when Bob Ewell, the plaintiff, is forced to write his name in front of the judge and the jury. Since Bob Ewell is determined to be left-handed, the chances of him being the attacker, and a liar, increases, due to the fact that Mayella's injuries had been concentrated on the right side of her face, meaning the attacker is most likely left-handed. Since lying as a whole isn't respectable, lying about a huge ordeal, that in the end may be a hoax is catastrophic for both Tom Robinson, and Mr. Ewell, as they have both sworn on the Bible that they cannot lie. Since Mr. Ewell is "white", and is deemed to be more, "trustworthy", as compared to Tom Robinson, the consequences of lying may ruin Tom Robinson's life, leading him to live life in prison as an innocent, without a chance at a fair appeal, due to his skin color.

Todd Quan

Today, the great court trial is happening, and everyone around Maycomb is coming to attend the trial. Everyone from Mrs. Stephanie Crawford, the large gossip lady, to Mr. Dolphus Raymond, the affluent man who had been involved with black woman, at a point having "mixed" children. The only person that is known that will not attend it Miss Maudie, as she states that watching the trial would be the equivalent of, "attending a Roman Carnival." The large crowd that accumulates sets camp in the town square, eating lunch before the large trial. The group of troublemakers, Jem's, Scout's, and Dill's managed to go into the courtroom, but didn't manage to steal any seats. Instead, Reverend Sykes, the African American church Reverend offered them seats. From the court seats high above, they have a great view of the whole court room, from Atticus, the defendant's lawyer, Tom Robinson, the defendant, the Bob Ewell, the plaintiff, and the judge, who is none other than Judge Taylor. Although Judge Taylor seems to have a reputation for running court informally, he seems to be patient, and a firm believer of the law. This trial seems to be an interesting one to watch, to see either if Tom Robinson, the accused African American is found to be guilty or innocent.

"'Why's he sittin' with the colored folks?' 'Always does. He likes 'em better'n he likes us, I reckon. Lives by himself way down near the county line. He's got a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun.'" (214)

"The witness stand was to the right of Judge Taylor, and w hen we got to our seats Mr. Heck Tate was already on it." (221)

An example of symbolic language would be, "The courthouse square was covered with picnic parties sitting on newspapers, washing down biscuit and syrup with warm milk from fruit jars. Some people were gnawing on cold chicken and cold fried pork chops." (214) This display of imagery further improves our imagination, and makes it seem as though we are currently experiencing the festivities before the trial

The theme statement of this chapter is that, "Being involved in other's affairs should be looked down upon." This can be shown by Miss Maudie, whom is the only person who doesn't show up at the trial. She states how going to see a trial that determines one's life is, "…morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. Look at all those folks, it's like a Roman carnival." (213) When a passerby asks her, "He that cometh in vanity departeth in darkness!" (212), she responds wisely with, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance." (213) This shows that although many have told her about the trial, and that everyone other than Miss Maudie is going to the trial, she believes that she doesn't need to go, and that her well-being is worth much more than to go to the trial.

Todd Quan

"Still I Rise"

By Maya Angelou

1978
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

The poem is a large rhetorical question about how the creator, Maya Angelou, states how everyone in her life wants to criticize her, and to see her "down in the dumps", due to her skin color. Since the poem is a large rhetorical question, many of the stanzas are rhetorical questions as well. Since her ancestors, Maya Angelou states how all the "dirt" that people talk about her won't affect her, as right after every other stanza, she states how she would rise from the "hate".

The poem relates to the novel, due to the main theme of the poem being, determination. Maya Angelou speaks through words of empowerment throughout the entire poem. Statements like "You may kill me with your hatefulness. But still, like air, I'll rise," portray on example of the theme because the reader feels the authors determined tone. Much like the movement of empowering African Americans after slavery, and giving them more rights, the theme of To Kill a Mockingbird also corresponds with the poem, because Atticus is trying to defend Tom Robinson, an innocent African American, who had been wrongly convicted. Although in the end, Tom loses the case, it is a step forward for African American's rights, and how they are treated throughout the world.

A significate feature of Jem that he displays is that he grows and matures a fair amount through the course of the novel. A tree grows as well, not noticeable at first, but surely the results will show. For example, in chapter 15, " Jem shook his head. As Atticus's fists went to his hips, so did Jem's, and as they faced each other I could see little resemblance between them: Jem's soft brown hair and eyes, his oval face and snug-fitting ears were our mother's, contrasting oddly with Atticus's graying black hair and square-cut features, but they were somehow alike. Mutual defiance made them alike." (Page 203) Here Jem defies Atticus for the first time, demonstrating growing independence and maturity.

Vy Nguyen

After Scout and Jem come home from the Halloween pageant, they are followed by a mysterious figure, who at the time, they believe is Francis, the kid who called out Atticus, their father for being a, "n***** lover". After continuing walking, they find out that the figure following them is none other than Mr. Bob Ewell, the man who had convinced the court that Tom Robinson, an innocent African American had raped his daughter. Since Mr. Ewell had been convinced that Atticus and his family had supported the "n******", he had a grudge on the family. After the attempted murder, he had been pulled away, and had been killed by Boo Radley. Although there hadn't been a trial, and everyone had known that Boo had killed Bob Ewell, the quote, "Let the dead bury the dead," shows the "punishment" of Bob Ewell, for wrongly convincing the court that Tom Robinson had raped his daughter.

We believe that this moment is a highlight, and a pivotal to the message of Harper Lee, because it shows how some people are different from how they are portrayed. Boo Radley had always been portrayed as sort of "villainous", and a secondary antagonist. Since we didn't have much background on Boo Radley himself, we had come to the conclusion that he was a troubled person. The theme of, "don't judge a book by it's cover," can also be used to describe this highlight. Although Boo Radley, himself, is portrayed as an "evil" person for killing his dad, and for all the rumors surrounding his name, he had been a good person deep down, saving both Jem and Scout from death. In the process, he kills Bob Ewell, who Heck Tate, the sheriff, writes off as an accident, as he doesn't want Boo Radley to have the full wrath of the neighborhood.

Although this doesn't happen much anymore, and a murder would always result in a trial, even in self defense, the overall theme of, "don't judge a book by its cover," plays a large role for Boo Radley. Although he may seem like a bad person on the outside, from all the things that we have learned about him from the rumors, on the outside, he is really a nice person, and had cared for the children all along.

Todd Quan

(Sorry for the photo quality being so bad)

I chose to use Bob Ewell as a leaky water boiler for my character as a symbol. Bob Ewell is an abusive father who kind of randomly has outbursts of anger, be it on his children or against those he doesn't like. However, sometimes he acts predictably and sometimes not, just like a boiler with leaks. Additionally, he builds up pressure over the course of the book and since it is kind of left unchecked, it bursts in the end, which could have caused harm to others, and more importantly, caused himself to be "broken". In fact, that seems a bit too similar to how a boiler breaks: pressure is built up, then explodes causing a potentially harmful burst that breaks the vessel. Plus, an off-brand boiler which could leak is easily overly confident in how it works correctly, but wouldn't want to see their products under scrutiny. A quote to signify this would be, "The witness made a hasty descent from the stand and ran smack into Atticus […]" (Chapter 17) Bob Ewell is trying to avoid going through the details and wants to leave as quickly as possible.

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