![]() The children are further surprised to hear Calpurnia talk like other black people. Both Reverend Skyes and Zeebo are quite glad to have them and tell them so. However, just as every white resident of Maycomb isn't prejudiced, not every member of Calpurnia's church is, either. This experience will give the children more compassion toward Tom's treatment from a white jury. In this instance, the children are like mockingbirds - they're just there to please Calpurnia and worship. There, a churchgoer named Lula confronts Calpurnia with, "'I wants to know why you bringin' white chillun to nigger church.'" Prejudice appears to run from black toward white as much as from white toward black. Consequently, the children are surprised when they ironically experience prejudice while attending Calpurnia's church. The children don't understand prejudice at its basest level, and Calpurnia seems to not possess it either. She is fanatical about Jem and Scout's cleanliness and attire when she takes them to church with her because "'I don't want anybody sayin' I don't look after my children.'" Cal really does think of the Finch children as her children, yet she is black and they are white. However, in these chapters, they begin to understand the importance of other people's opinions about them, especially Aunt Alexandra who "never let a chance escape her to point out the shortcomings of other tribal groups to the glory of our own."Ĭalpurnia worries about what others think as well. These small disappointments and challenges hint at the larger inconsistencies and unexpected outcomes of Tom Robinson's trial, which follows.įor some time now, Scout and Jem have railed against people who insulted Atticus' decision to defend Tom. Finally, Aunt Alexandra arrives to live with them, seemingly unannounced. Then Scout receives word that Dill is staying in Meridian this summer, and Atticus is called to an emergency session of the legislature. Scout loses Jem as a regular playmate, causing her to fume. The minor hardships that start the summer foreshadow the much bigger dilemmas that the children will face during Tom's trial and its aftermath. She doesn't understand these changes, but the adults around her expect them. Lee hints at this by noting the changes in Jem: He doesn't want Scout "pestering" him Calpurnia begins referring to him as "Mister Jem," a title reserved for adults and he develops "a maddening air of wisdom" that only annoys Scout. In fact, during this summer, she, Jem, and Dill will probably learn the most important and lasting lessons of their lives. With school out, Scout's real education will begin again. The third and final summer chronicled in To Kill a Mockingbird begins in these chapters. She announces that at Atticus' request, she's coming to live with them for "a while." Aunt Alexandra goes to great pains to educate the children in the importance of the Finch breeding, going so far as to have Atticus deliver an uncharacteristic speech - a speech he ultimately recants - to Scout and Jem. Upon their return from church, they find Aunt Alexandra waiting on the porch for them. With Atticus at a special session of the state legislature, Calpurnia takes the children to church with her. ![]() To add to Scout's disappointment, Dill won't be coming to Maycomb this summer, although Calpurnia eases her loneliness somewhat. ![]() ![]() Full Glossary for To Kill a MockingbirdĪs summer begins, Jem is now too old to be bothered by his little sister, which causes Scout great dismay.Famous Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird.Comparing To Kill a Mockingbird to Its Movie Version.Racial Relations in the Southern United States.Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie Atkinson.
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