What is ironic about the lesson Miss Gates is teaching the children? - Rose
At the end of Chapter 26, Scout’s third grade class is having a discussion about Hitler. Miss Gates, Scout’s teacher, asks the class what a democracy is, “‘Equal rights for all, special privileges for none,’ I quoted. ‘Very good Jean Louise, very good,’ Miss Gates smiled. In front of DEMOCRACY, she printed WE ARE A. ‘now class, say it all together ‘we are a democracy.’’”(281). This lesson is ironic because nothing in Maycomb has been democratic. The Ewells have a horrible reputation in Maycomb. The family has been labelled by the Maycomb way as “animals”. Atticus proved that Mr. Ewell and Mayella were lying during the trial. The Ewells won the trial because they are white. If Tom Robinson was a white man, he would have won. The people of Maycomb chose to avoid the fact that the Ewells were lying and had a bad reputation, and they made a decision based on race. Scout notices this at the end of the chapter. She asks Jem, “Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home?”(283). This is a huge moment for Scout’s growth because it shows she understands the racism in her town. The irony of Miss Gates’ lesson is that she is telling the class that nobody in America gets special privileges, but the result of the trial proves that some do in Maycomb.
What are some other examples of white privilege in the novel?
How does the conversation Scout has with Jem symbolize her growth?
How is the fact that Scout isn’t afraid of Boo Radley anymore symbolize her growth?
The lesson is strange because of what has gone on in Maycomb. It seems like Miss Gates knows this, but chooses to ignore it. Scout sees how her teacher does not really believe in democracy because she does not believe in rights for black people. I agree that Scout sees an even more racism in her town, understanding that her town in some ways does not even consider them people. When Scout says she isn't scared of Boo, it shows a dramatic shift from her 6 year old self. These words would have never come out of young Scouts mouth. It shows how she has been through so much the past year, that the idea of Boo does not even phase her. She has learned to be more fair and not judge people as much based on what she has heard and she can put herself into Boos shoes and feel bad about tormenting him. It may seem small, but the fact that what was once Scouts greatest fear does not even cross her mind when going by the house shows that she is more mature. Do you think she would be scared if she met Boo, even if she is ok to walk by his house?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Scout isn't scared of Boo Radley anymore shows how she has advanced from accepting lessons to internalizing them. She doesn't need to think about putting herself in other's shoes anymore, nor does she need to remember specifically what Atticus has taught her; she has already grown up enough to figure those things out simply because she knows. Scout knows not to bother Boo, she knows not to torment him, and not because she'll get in trouble if she does; it's because empathizing is natural to her now. This shows how far Scout has progressed--from thinking Boo was a monster, to being curious, to wanting to be his friend, and now to accepting who he is in a mature and adult way.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Scout isn’t afraid of Boo Radley anymore shows how she has grown up from a terrified little girl to a fearless girl. From the beginning of this novel, Harper Lee illustrates the fearful character of Scout when it comes to Boo Radley. It has always been Jem and Dill’s ideas to go and get a glimpse of what he looks like and Scout is always backing out as she is afraid as she says it’s not safe. She is also always petrified about her brothers ideas when it comes to Boo Radley. This is especially displayed in the movie, when it comes to the scene when Jem’s pants get ripped. Scout is shaken and terrified especially when Aurthor Radley shoots his shotgun. In chapter twenty six we are introduced with something unfamiliar. For the first time, Scout is thinking about how she wants to go and find out who Boo is without all the games from Jem and Dill. This shows Scout's growth because when she was younger she was petrified with the name, Boo Radley, but now wants to go and figure out who he is all by herself.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of TKAM, Scout and Jem both have an extreme fear of Boo. They believed that he was a scary monster that was a danger to be around. But as the time passes, they have learned more about him and learned that he is not actually dangerous. Later on in the novel, Scout talks about how she wants to see Boo. This is a really big deal because the fact that she wants to see Boo really shows the change that she has made throughout the book. Lee also specifically made it so that she would progressively get more and more interested in meeting him. Starting with them looking at his house late at night to try to see him, than to passing him a note, and now to wanting to see him all shows the growth that she has made towards wanting to meet Boo. What do you think the next thing she will do in order to try to meet him?
ReplyDeleteScout has viewed Boo differently throughout the novel. At the beginning, he was a zombie that ate squirrels and had blood stains all over him. Now in Scout’s mind, he’s a man that greets her when she is walking home from school. Harper Lee has this as a build up to Boo. She has given Boo so many appearances that the readers are just waiting to see what he’s really like. She uses Boo to give the reader interest in the book. Scouts growth can be seen through Boo clearly than others examples because it is the main attention to the novel.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Scout is not afraid of Boo Radley anymore shows Scout’s growth because she is maturing out of her childhood. Scout used to be scared of Boo, but now she realizes that Boo is just another person living in Maycomb. After watching the trial and hearing about Tom's death, Scout understands the racial injustice of their society. She then mentions that she understands why Boo stays inside because he wants to hide from the inequalities in Maycomb. Now Scout is able to connect to Boo, therefore she is not scared of him. She has empathy for Boo which shows a way she has grown. She has more empathy for others, which she did not have when she was younger.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Scout is no longer scared of Boo Radley show how she's moved out of Dill's imaginary where Boo is a 6 foot 5 guy with a scar across his eye and bloody hands. In this chapter, Harper Lee is showing how Scout has moved on and how her thoughts have developed. She now knows not to bother Boo and feels empathy for him. Her growth has affected her to see Boo as more of a human which is why she no longer feels the need to see what Boo looks like. Do you think Harper Lee is going to have Scout meet Boo now that she isn't scared of him?
ReplyDeleteIn Maycomb, there have been many instances of white privilege, it’s like a part of their daily life in Maycomb.The most significant example of white privilege that has happened in the novel is Tom Robinson’s case against Mayella Ewell. There was so much evidence provided for Tom’s side of the case but almost no evidence provided to go against Tom and try to prove him guilty. The jury only said Tom was guilty because it was a white man’s word over a black man’s word which is an example of white privilege in this novel. Harper Lee includes Scout’s conversation with Jem to show how she’s matured and is realizing that there’s no point to have bad opinions on an entire race. Even while being around all the racist people in Maycomb, she still believes everyone is equal. Scout also matured by realizing that Boo Radley is probably just a normal person like many others, she starts putting herself in other’s shoes.
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