Mr. Gilmer's Strategies

In the Chapter we meet the plaintiff Mr. Gilmer, and we learn his strategy so far. Atticus had to work hard and have a deep cross examination on Heck take while all Mr. Gilmer has to do is ask what happened the night of the arrest. Why is this? You probably already know the answer. Mr. Gilmer is using the town's ignorance to his advantage. He has no other way to win. He knows there's no proof. The only witnesses are the Ewell and there known to be a very dysfunctional family. There aren't any record of Mayella's injuries. So what does he have left. The biggest trump card there is, IGNORANCE. As long as he can keep the jury thinking that Tom might have done it then they will kill him. If Atticus does not completely prove that Tom didn't do it then it's over. As long as there is the possibility of rape then the jury will come to the decision to kill Tom. Gilmer probably feels like he's got it in the bag. There ignorance is his strength and as long as they are ignorant, he is strong. This shows that Atticus must win the case by showing that there is no evidence. That is the weak point in the case if can beat that then he can beat the system. But I predict that Mr. Gilmer might have another trick up his sleeve to play into the racism of the town. I think that Mr. Gilmer will have a backup if he's a good lawyer, and I bet that he is. Mr. Gilmer will become the worthiest opponent that Atticus has ever seen, or he will be terrible and the jury will want to kill tom anyway and it will create conflict. However, I want him to be a worthy opponent because I think that, that will make the book more interesting and add a whole new antagonist.

Atticus is a Clever Man

So far in chapter 17, we have gotten to see the start of the fifth step in the trial process which is case-in-chief. The first witness that was called by the prosecution was Sheriff Heck Tate.  Heck Tate explained that the arrest of Tom Robinson happened last year on November 21. He stated that Bob Ewell had called him, and told him that somebody had beaten and raped his daughter Mayella. When he arrived, Mayella was definitely beaten due to her bruises and black eye on her right eye, and he only confirmed that she was raped by her words, not evidence. When Atticus performed a cross-examination on him. Heck Tate looked very suspicious. Neither Bob Ewell nor himself had called a doctor. Also, it took him awhile for him to remember where on her body was Mayella hurt. In class, we talked about the person who beat her had to be left-handed due to her black eye on her right eye.

I  think that the jury will start to side with the defense even though they are mostly white people that are ignorant and racist. They will realize that the prosecution can not be trusted due to Heck Tate. The only way that Tom could be found guilty is if he he is left-handed. However, I have my own prediction. The real culprit is... Bob Ewell. Atticus during the cross-examination will ask Bob a question relating to Bob's handedness. If Bob Ewell is left-handed and Tom is not, I can almost guarantee that Tom is innocent unless the jury is overcome by racism and ignorance. Atticus will make a strong closing argument that will destroy the prosecution. If the prosecution wants to win this, they will need more evidence to show Tom is guilty in the following events and hope that the jury gives in to their ignorance and racism.

How Much Better Can This Book Get?

We just read a good part today. Who actually believes that Tom went into an ignorant white persons home, and raped a woman if he knows he would get in trouble for it. Tom is already married, and has children. I think that the Ewell's are making all of this up. We have some proof that Tom may be innocent.
Atticus is a good man, and also a good lawyer. Atticus is very sly with his thinking, and the way he questions. He made Heck Tate say what side the injuries were on like five times, and I was laughing. I thought that Atticus was just asking questions to ask questions. He was like a old partially deaf man, and made everyone repeat everything. Then Mr. Boyle made us punch our neighbor in the right eye wit our right hand, and it felt totally wierd. I wonder how much Atticus had to think about that if ever, and if anyone ever got it. Atticus is a sly man very sly. I hope that in the mock trial, I could be that smooth, and sly, but it takes a grind to be like Atticus.
There was one time that I told a really big lie, and kept on building on to it. It was a horrible feeling, and when the person found out the truth, I was in trouble, and I felt terribly guilty. The feeling of lying, and building on to it is overwhelming. That is problem how Heck Tate feels, and Bob, and Mayella. They most likely made up this whole deal, and are just building on to it, and Atticus is digging up the buried truth, and proving that Tom is truly innocent. I think that Atticus is the correct one, and that maybe Tom is truly innocent. I am so glad that we know about the law, otherwise this whole deal would be SUPER confusing. Will Atticus win, or will Tom be killed. We will have to see.

WARNING very personal

Every single one of us, can relate to a character in this book. I can relate to both Jem and Scout. Jem and Scout grew up without a female role model in their life.  That mean that they would lose the influence of a mother. It also meant that they would grow up differently, and having everyone in the whole community try to help them to grow up properly. This is extremely hard for scout, because she doesn't have a female to lead her in the ways to be a proper women. In the worksheet that we had to do for this, really opened my eyes up to see exactly what is expected as a woman and a young lady.

The way that I relate to this, is with my family situation. My father isn't really in the picture, and because of that, I feel that I have lost some adult influence in my life. My father has been missing out on so much in my life lately, and it's been really hard for me to keep pushing myself forward. This is really hard for me, because my father has the opportunity to come and join in my life. However, he chooses not to, and its been hard lately, but I have learned to use this as a way to push myself Evan harder, so I can prove to him that I can be successful without him. Just like Jem and Scout, I have gotten a lot of influence, by an adult that i wasn't blood related to. In my case, it is my step-dad, who has been there for me in so many ways. And in the case of Scout and Jem, there influence, comes from Calpernia. She tries the best she can, however it is very hard because she has to take the place of a parent. I have my step dad, to thank for this life. If he wasn't here for me I honestly don't know what would have happened. He has been involved in y life, more than my Father has. that this wasn't supper personal But i don't like to be personal in front of a lot of people. I just want to restate that it is hard for Scout and Jem,to look forward and get help by others. However that's not me, and i wish that I could just have a normal family. A family that \Jem and Scout probably both want. 

The Trial Starts...

In this chapter, we read that Atticus was taking Jem, Scout, and Dill back home and they had to be quiet as they came in so aunt Alexandra wouldn’t hear them. Jem put Scout to sleep next to him. When scout actually realized that Atticus had almost got in real trouble, she began to cry and Jem came over to her and comforted her, which I think  it was something nice Jem actually did. The next morning, Jem was the only one who had a big meal since he ate three eggs. Aunt Alexandra got mad at Jem and Scout and told them that children who snuck out at night were a disgrace to the family. Atticus told Aunt Alexandra that he was actually glad that Scout, Jem, and Dill came for him. Scout told Atticus that she was going to beat up Walter Cunningham since his dad almost got Atticus Killed. But Atticus told her to forgive Walter instead of beating him up. After dinner,  Atticus left to the trial and Dill same in for breakfast as Aunt Alexandra told Jem, Scout, and Dill to not leave the house nor go to the trial and on stay on the yard. As they were outside, they saw mostly everyone from town head to the trial. As everyone was passing by, Jem told Dill about them and their backstories. Jem, Scout, and Dill went over to Ms. Maudie’s house and asked if she was going but she said that she was not because she thought it was “morbid” to go on a trial for a man’s life. Stephanie Crawford said she was going to the trial since she knew every detail of it. When Atticus came home for dinner, he said that they were just choosing a Jury  for most of the time and that the trial didn’t even start. Jem, Scout, and Dill went into town anyways even though they were told not to go. I was always get caught for doing it and never really learned my lesson until I became more mature. The trial was full and looked like a County Fair. Dill noticed a white man who was with the African Americans drinking whiskey out of a coca cola bottle. Jem said his name was Mr. Dolphus Raymond and that he enjoyed being with the  African Americans better than the others but the other white people do not understand him. He even had mixed children . As the trial began to start, everyone began moving and Jem and Dill had lost scout in the crowd. When they had found Scout, Jem was mad at her since she had basically lost them seats. As they were searching, Scout saw Reverend Sykes and he gave them seats on the balcony. everyone began to quiet down when Heck Tate began to talk on the witness stand.

I can connect to this because when I was younger this would probably be something that i would do as a kid when I was told to not do something and I would just get really tempted into doing it anyways. I have done some bad mistakes and have gotten punished for them. One time, my parents were cooking dinner and I was told not to touch the stove. It made me want to touch the stove even more so I did it. The pain was really bad and I was crying ( i was about 4). I didn’t get much of a punishment from my parents since I already got one from not listening to them.

We are all HUMAN

       In the reading, Atticus shows the readers what is the true courage. He knows that the mob from Old Sarum will go to the jail and kill Tom Robinson before the trial starts. They don't want a black man who is accused of raping a white woman is innocent. Atticus drives to the jail and sits there. He is not gonna use any weapon to stop the mob. He will use his word to convince them not trying to kill Tom Robinson. He is scared but he doesn't step back because he knows it's not the right thing to do. He has to protect his client and Tom's family. Their lives are in his hand. Atticus knows the mob including his friend, Mr. Cunningham, could kill him any time. Then, Scout, Jem, and Dill appear in front of Atticus. He doesn't know what to do so he just tells them go home. Scout, an eight-year-old girl who doesn't know what is happening, asks Mr. Cunningham how he is doing and if he remembers her or not. There is a silence and Mr. Cunningham doesn't answer Scout's questions. Then, Scout continues saying that she is Walter's friend, his son's friend and he has come to her house for dinner once. Scout's words change Mr. Cunningham in the mob from Old Sarum to Mr. Cunningham who is a friend of Atticus and a father of Walter. The mob leave as Mr. Cunningham orders. On the next day, Jem and Scout ask Atticus if Mr. Cunningham is still his friend and his answer is yes. Atticus says Mr. Cunningham acts that way because he has his blind spot which is African-American.
       To me, this reading is the best so far. There are a lot of lessons I can take from this. The biggest lesson is we are human, we always make mistakes and we learn from it. Atticus knows he could die if he stops the mob but he still does it. Although his friend, Mr. Cunningham, might have killed him, Atticus still says that they are friend. The reason is because Atticus knows Mr. Cunningham is a good person in individual. He has a tremendous capacity for forgiveness that hard for anyone else to do. Not only Atticus teaches me lesson about life but Scout teaches me too. She shows me how innocent, how curious, and how honest a child is. She just asks some simple questions  and introduces herself to Mr. Cunningham but no one knows that that small conversation changes Mr. Cunningham's mind. For a moment, those short question put Mr. Cunningham into Atticus' shoes that remind him he is a human, a father of a child, and a friend of a person that stands in front of him. I really admire Atticus for all the things he has done in the book and Scout, too. I hope that there will be more lessons for us the readers from this book in the next chapters. And remember, we are all human.

Scout being a lady?

Today in class we were talking about how scout was not a proper lady in 1930s. In the 1930s it was really hard since it was the great depression. There was not a lot of money and people didn't have a lot of clothes. People that did and had clothes the ladies had to wear dresses all the time. There hair was always curly. It was really hard for them since they had to stay home the whole time to be a housewife. They had to take care of their children and had to cook for their husband. If I was in the 1930s I would be really bored, because I would have nothing to do in my house. I would be all by myself. No wonder Curly's wife will always go to the ranch. Women had to have different activities and they could not do nothing that the men's did. Scout is really different. She does not wear dresses just special occasions., when she had to go to church with Calpurnia she wore a dress. She wears overalls all the the time and pants. I think she dresses up like a boy since she did not have a mother no one told her how to dress and Atticus did not care. Scout said that if she wears a dress you get to do nothing with a dress on. It is true for me it's sometimes really hard to were a dress and then you need to worry about a lot of things, for example if the dress is too short, does it show to much, and is it appropriate. It's not really easy to find a dress that is appropriate. It could be really difficult. You can't really do nothing with a dress you cant run, jump, and get dirty. In my opinion I will rather wear pants the whole time, because I can do everything and I don't need to worry bout nothing. Since it's cold in Minnesota my legs suffer. This also shows that Scout stands up for women's right, about how they don't need to empress a boy or men just to look pretty its not about there looks its about there looks. It's about there personality and why also women should do things that men do. A lot of things have changed the past years now women can have a better job and they can dress however they want. People won't judge. If people judge you by your looks those people are ignorant. No one likes people that ignorant. I think Scout is someone to look up to. To not care what people tell you to wear and just be yourself you are not trying to be another person.

The Mixed Children

        In chapter 16, we know that the trial finally start. Everyone in Maycomb goes to the courthouse to watch the trial, Jem, Dill, and Scout join with them at the courthouse. When they are in the courthouse, Dill sees a group of African-American in the corner of the square. They sat quietly in the sun, dining on sardines, crackers, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond sits with them. Mr. Dolphus Raymond drinking out of a paper snack, inside it is Co-Cola bottle full of whiskey. Dill wonders about why Mr. Raymond sitting with the African-American people and he asks Jem about this, Jem says that Mr. Raymond likes them better than like us. Mr. Raymond also has a colored woman and the mixed children.
        The mixed child is a half white and half colored, they don't belong to anywhere. During the Great Depression, the mixed children always sad and lonely, no one accepts them, they are not white, also not colored, they're between. I feel kind of sad when I read this, the mixed children also a human, but because they are between white and colored so they're not equal to the others. I can understand their feelings, although I'm not go through it but I have known it from many actions of people in every day, also from many books I have read. Sometimes, the most painful thing of some people is not recognized from the other people, they have to live their own life, always alone. Today, we don't have it anymore, we don't discriminatory people like in the Great Depression but I think this is a good thing we need to know. For me, the thing I learned from this is at any time, we need to have the tolerance, we have to treat everyone equally.

The Best Way to Stop Mob Mentality

     Scout unknowingly becomes her father's savior and saved him from a very likely attack from a group of men from Old Sarum. Atticus was sitting outside of the jail Tom Robinson was in. He was hoping to talk with men he knew were coming to kill Tom Robinson before his trial happens. The men are afraid that Atticus is going to actually try to have Tom Robinson look innocent, which no other white lawyer has done for an African American. Although Atticus was once known as ol' one shot back in the day, he brought no weapons, no threats, and no violence. He only brought a newspaper to keep himself busy until the group came. Atticus' plan was to persuade the men of Old Sarum to not kill Tom however he was interrupted by his daughter Scout, who he didn't want to be there. She ran up happily and greeted her dad. She wasn't aware of what was happening, but realized soon as she saw her father's hand shake. Although he seemed calm, Atticus was afraid. There was a huge risk trying to stand up for Tom, but he did it anyways. This is TRUE courage. Doing something you know will possibly get you hurt or killed to save others. Atticus could have easily use cheap threats against these men and broughten a gun with him but that's not true courage. Although Atticus is a brave man for doing this, he is still afraid, and Scout notices this. She also notices one of the men in the crowd. It's Mr. Cunningham, a poor man who's son went to school with Scout and Jem. Scout talks to Mr. Cunningham and calls him by his name and singles him out. He is brought out from the plan to murder a man to reality, where he is talking with one of his son's friends. Scout is able to make Mr. Cunningham step into her father's shoes. He thinks about how he wouldn't want to hurt someone with kids, especially with the children being right in front of them. He thought of his child and how terrible that would be. He then decides to lead the group home. Tom is safe. Atticus is safe. Scout is safe.
     I thought this moment in the book was very interesting. I thought it was interesting how mob mentality can change everything about someone because they want to fit in. I also thought it was interesting how Scout was able to stop the possible outcome of anyone being hurt by singling out Mr. Cunningham. She was able to make him remember that he has asked for help from Atticus before on separate occasions. She makes Mr. Cunningham feel horrible about his decision. I think that this is a very useful skill that is needed to make violence stop. Violence creates more violence. What I mean by this is that it isn't a good idea to just shoot people to make them go away. It will make them afraid at first and sure, they do go away. However this is a temporary thing. As soon as they have enough power to over take you in a battle, they won't be afraid anymore and your attempt to get them away will disappear. However, if you are able to talk things out and make people feel bad about their actions, they won't want to feel that way ever again and won't try to do whatever they did ever again.

Chapter 16

Atticus is probably a hero. A person that doesn't need guns or superpowers to defeat enemies. When it was the night of when the men came for Tom Robinson, Atticus was there. He was there to defend Tom Robinson not by shooting the men, or punching them starting a fight, but he simply wanted to talk it out with the men. He didn't mean any harm. Atticus is probably one of the best role-models I have ever seen. Football players, singers, or celebrities may be role-models but Atticus is a true role-model. He does his job as a parent well. He does his job as a lawyer well. I bet the the sheriff would have shot the men who wanted to kill Tom Robinson, and expect be a hero for it. Of course Scout came in and had the men leave because she put Cunningham in Atticus' shoes. It was in the morning, right after a little incident happened. Atticus was watching Tom Robinson, so he wouldn't get killed. Scout put Cunningham in Atticus' shoes and he ended up leaving Tom Robinson alone. Everyone was in the kitchen. Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Atticus, and the two kids. They were talking about Cunningham and how Scout put him in Atticus's shoes. Scout picked an individual out of the group, and when your in a group you usually do things that are wrong, things you wouldn't do as a individual. Scout picked someone from that group and asked what was going on, made him feel bad that he was doing something wrong. Scout broke Cunningham's confidence and they ended up leaving because of Scout's actions. I can relate to this, one time a few of my friends and I were running in a store and I knew someone that worked there. They picked me out of the group and starting asking why  I would do that, and I understood that I shouldn't do wrong things like running in a store whether i'm in a group or not. I just stopped doing wrong things in stores. Aunt Alexandra made the kids stay in the yard because it was Sunday, and I remember when I wasn't allowed to leave the yard when it was Sunday. I didn't like it at all. I then realized it wasn't just because it was Sunday, it was about the case. She probably didn't want the kids getting into trouble with someone that is mad about the case. When they get there, they see Reverend Sykes in the court. He took Scout and Jem on the balcony, and a few African Americans gave up their seats for Scout and Jem. I think the the African Americans where just trying to be respectful of the white children because there was racism during the Great Depression.

Atticus=True Courage

       Atticus has an amazing talent in some eyes. He performs with a gun so well he nailed a rabid dog a hundred yards away when he hadn't shot in thirty years. Atticus has a true talent in my eyes. I think it is amazing what he can do. If I had that talent, I would remind people about it when they treat me bad. Atticus is hated by everyone, so the easy thing to do is remind them. That's where Atticus and I differ. I try so hard to be like him, but sometimes I fall short. I couldn't stop playing basketball because I feel I had an unfair advantage. Atticus gave up something he loved because he felt he had an unfair advantage.
       The night where he was defending Tom, he could have brought a gun. He could have easily reminded them that if they were a hundred yards away, he could nail them. Atticus isn't like that. He brought a newspaper. He was going to defend Tom with words and a paper. Atticus was scared. These men were there to kill a man, and if Scout hadn't been there, Atticus could have been seriously injured. Atticus didn't go to sleep thinking that he hoped Tom survived the night. He faced his fears of possibly being killed to protect his client. He risked his life for another man that he probably doesn't know on a personal basis. Atticus probably knows some things about Tom, but not everything. Atticus is showing us what TRUE courage looks like.

How can't the People See How Nice the African Americans are, and be more Tolerant?

         In this chapter Jem and Scout and Dill are going to Tom Robinson's trial even though Atticus told them they shouldn't. On their way there the whole town is going and some foot washing baptists go by Miss Maudie's house and insult her because she puts so much care into her garden. She then says a bible verse back to them proving that God thinks her flowers are beautiful. When Jem, Scout, and Dill get to the courthouse there are no seats left. Reverend Sykes see that they don't have seats, he invites them up to the balcony with the African Americans to sit, and they go up and get seats there.
         I think that this is a very nice thing for Reverend Sykes to do. Also I think it was nice how he let Jem and Scout go to his church with Calpurnia. As we can look back on these times through this book we can tell that the white people were being ignorant towards the black people, but we also see through Atticus how that it is way better to be tolerant than ignorant. In my life I try my hardest to be tolerant and not ignorant towards people, as well as trying to be nice and make people happy. 

TKAM- Saul R.O.

It's the day of the trial. Everyone is getting excited to go to the trial even though there is nothing to be excited about because a man may lose his life. Atticus has to go early in the morning to go to the trial so they can begin.He says the whole morning was just then picking a jury.When the trial was actually beginning people started acting like the trial with some sort of state fair or something to get excited about. However Miss Maudie did not want to go to the trial. She thinks it's stupid over someone going to this big event and a man may lose his life but yet people still go. I find it very annoying how people just go to an event and make it feel okay that someone may lose their life but they go either way. They are just waiting for an answer something bad to happen. That way they can go around gossiping to the others. 🤦‍♂️

This really annoys me because when people like this want some sort of action in their life day still take those chances because they just want some thing to happen bad. And they want answers. they want answers if Atticus is really a n****r  lover. I know that they want answers but people don't have to make it such a big event. Tom Robinson could even lose his life but people still don't care they just want their answers.

Miss Maudie Wrong or Right? - Faraes Wubshet

Miss Maudie showed us a big part of what type of person she was right before the court, while everyone was going their. Miss Maudie decided not to go, and had quite a attitude going towards why people went their like it was a sports event while a person's life hanged in the balance. So she didn’t go. The obvious answer would be she did the right thing for the right reason, but I would like to challenge that. My main point is why would you just stay at your home and do nothing, instead of giving support to Atticus.

If Miss Maudie went to the court, she could have supported Atticus, instead of staying at home doing nothing. Instead of doing nothing she might be able to help save a fellow human’s life. However she just stayed at home. I believe she could of gave support to Tom Robinson, but I believe the reason she stayed at home, is because if she voiced her opinion, and would get torn for it. I’m not saying she’s a bad person, but I do believe she is making the wrong decision.

It might sound I'm ranting of Miss Maudie, but I’m not. I'm just trying to say you shouldn’t speak up about something, without doing anything about it. I would say Miss Maudie has a point, and why would people be excited to see someone’s life to be taken away, but she should be their instead of not going to protect her views. I see it would be best fit to protect Tom Robinson at court. That’s why I think her response is wrong.

Trial Begins/Good Luck Tom

The trial has started and we're already on the longest part of the trial. Atticus has already given his opening statement, which means we have gone through step four. Now on the case-in-chief, we wish the best of luck to Tom Robinson and his family. I feel terribly sorry for Tom. Everybody knows he is innocent, yet they still want to kill him via electric chair for no reason other than his color. It is depressing to see adults act so childish. They find any small difference, and without giving a second thought, they attack with words and actions. Tom Robinson has no kind of defense, other than Atticus, a truly courageous man. He doesn't solve his problems with punches or triggers, but with words and reason. Atticus will do whatever it takes to help Tom stay alive, even if that means he has to fight off an angry mob with a newspaper and persuasion.

That being said, Atticus better have some very strong words if he wants to persuade an all white jury to let a black man accused of rape live. Even though the chances are almost completely against Tom and Atticus, there is always a chance something can go just right. You'd think that race would be put aside and talk to one another as a fellow human being, rather than talking to a black or white guy, but no. In this time, the Jim Crow Laws time, racial inequality was approved and adored by those who were unaffected. Personally, I am so glad that I was not born in that time. I brown so I don't know if I would be on the white or black side. I might just end up like the kids who are mixed. They aren't wanted on either side because they have a little black and a little white. At least they have each other. I am just so thankful I don't have to be on either side. On one side you are expected to be more powerful and get more privileges than the other side. The other side, you are supposed to let other people boss and take advantage of you, and you can't do anything about it. In conclusion, I don't think Tom will win because of his color, Atticus deserves better than racial names for doing what's right, and the big part of the trial has yet to come. Who do you think will win?

Alexandras Street Cred

In chapter thirteen we find out why Aunt Alexandra is at Atticus's home. Aunt Alexandra came to "make scout more ladylike" and other things involving jem. Alexandra is obviously trying to make the children more accepted so that she will have a great reputation. She is afraid that Atticus will ruin her family name. There is one thing that is different between Aunt alexandra and Atticus. Atticus is tolerant and will do the right thing, but Alexandra is arrogant and will just try to stay popular. Atticus is attacked by the whole town and everybody says that he is not doing the right thing. The whole town believes that Atticus is doing the wrong thing. Then there's Alexandra. Throughout the chapter she has been talked to almost everybody in the town. They all act as if she is the better side of the family and that she is doing the right thing by trying to fix up Atticus and his family. This shows the courage of Atticus. No one likes him but everybody loves his sister who is doing the wrong thing. They are complete opposites showing us what will happen if we make the right choices, and what will happen if we make the wrong ones. Life isn't fair that is why the bad choices receive reward and the good ones are attacked. Aunt Alexandra seems to have a bad effect on the family. She acts as if one of the family members who had to pay a $500 is a good person. She even seems to have some influence on Atticus. At the end of the chapter Atticus comes into the children's room and says that Alexandra doesn't want them to be run of the mill people and he wants them to be the lady and gentleman that they are. This is not their father. Their father is a tolerant man and would not force upon the heavy stereotypes that society says that they should be. It just shows us what a cruel person aunt alexandra can be.

I Think Aunt Alexandra Is Adopted Too Scout

In chapter 13, we find out that the reason Aunt Alexandra came to Maycomb was to be a "feminine influence," and not surprisingly, to make Scout more lady-like. Aunt Alexandra was saying that Scout would eventually like boys and clothes, but Scout disagrees. I bet, like Scout, we can argue that Aunt Alexandra is unnecessary, and we have many reasons for it like Cal's already here and Scout doesn't even like clothes. We find out from Scout more about the history of Maycomb and the people in it. The reason Maycomb is so old and "tired" looking is that Maycomb was started far from the river which was used as the main transportation. the city never improved because not that man new people would come to live in Maycomb because of its location. The people in Maycomb would never barely leave causing most families to marry the same family. This eventually made people look similar even though they were from different families. Aunt Alexandra also talked about how their are tendencies or streaks in certain families. For example, every third Merriweather acted morbid such as Sam Merriweather who committed suicide, or all Buford's have stooped shoulders such as Miss Maudie who is a Buford. Atticus made a comeback for that statement saying that because past Finches were incestuous, that means they a tendency or streak to be incestuous. I found this funny because Aunt Alexandra denied this. Also, Aunt Alexandra occasionally holds small parties with the women of Maycomb. She would ask Scout to come in, and she would be full of regret since Scout would be dirty or muddy.

Now I see more clearly why Scout thinks Aunt Alexandra is adopted. This is because she is nothing like the other Finches we have met, except Francis... ew. Aunt Alexandra is very concerned with her reputation. She is so concerned that she is metaphorically killing a mockingbird. She is putting down Scout because she is a tomboy, and she does not act like a girl should. Also, she is very enveloped with gossip. She talks badly of the different families of Maycomb including her own. This is shown by her talking about negative streaks in families and not agreeing with Atticus's high moral standard and helping Tom Robinson. Aunt Alexandra is unlike Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Uncle Jack. She helps kill mockingbirds while the other four Finches try doing the right things.

When Aunt Alexandra says that she is a Finch even though she is nothing like the other Finches.

I'm Not Trying to be Mean But...

In this last chapter, we learn that Aunt Alexandria has made herself at home. There was alot of things sort of talking about the ignorance of the town. One of the things in it was "If Miss Grace Merriweather sips gin out of Lydia E, Pinkham bottles it is nothing unusual- her mother did the same". This is saying that If she does this odd thing, it isn't unusual, her mother did it, so she does it as well. What if Miss Grace has high moral standards like Atticus, I would assume she would do differently then. I just get annoyed with the ignorance of that town. It becomes too much sometimes.

Then because Aunt Alexandria is in town, Scout has to become a lady. She tells Atticus that Jem and Scout are not living up to the Finch standards. She thins that they are a disgrace to the family. She tells Atticus that he must tell Jem and Scout because they are "embarrasing" her. Now imagine. Your mom or dad going into your room, and telling you that you got a call from your Aunt or Uncle. you get annoyed because they are always annoying or bosy, and you ask your parent what they said. Then your mom or dad tells you to be beter. They tell you that you are a disgrace to the family, Then they just leave.

I would be ashamed, and I am sure you would, too. It would really make you feel emo, and deppresed. This happened to Scout and Jem. Now Atticus wasn't that mean, but he sort of just told his kids to be better. I hope that grt that that would be really hard for a seventh grader, and a second grader to take in. I hope to find out more about this, and try to shape up to my family. Just kidding.

My Overall Thoughts on To Kill a Mockingbird

We have just started section 2 for To Kill a Mockingbird, and there is so much to talk about. there are so many different characters, that come from different social, religious, cultural, and economical backgrounds. However, they might not come together as a community, they come together in this book. From the Ewells, to the Finches. to the Radleys to the Robinson's. They are all together in this book. Now my favorite character by far is, Calpernia. She is to me the one who has pure courage. She stands up for what is right. for example, she stands up for scout and Jem when they are at church saying that these are her children. She also tell scout, the most important life lesson, is that you should not judge someone, by how they look, by their background, or what others are saying about them. To me this is the biggest life lesson that someone can even developed. This teaches them them not to be ignorant towards others. Calpernia has been able to not think of what others say about people. For example, when scout asked if Mr.Radley was stuffed in his chimney, Cal, told her not to believe everything that scout hears from the people of Maycomb, because most of it is untrue. If scout really wanted to know if Aurthur was really alive, then she should just go and knock on the door. Calpernia, is a very important character, and I think that we will be seeing more of her in section 2. I think this, because Cal is usually the first person goes to to ask a question about something. Like she asked Cal what rape was. this a way that we as readers will know just how Scout will lose her childhood innocents.