“Down here we just say you live your way and we’ll live ours.” Quote (Ch21-25)

When I think of “down here” I think of the South. The South is where slavery was most common. It was eventually spread around the world, but it was more dominant in areas or plantations in the South. It can also stand for how the whites are treated higher and blacks are treated in the lower range in society. However, there is nothing that we can do about it. Slavery is somewhat of a personal choice and it’s hard to change other people’s views. People that have to deal with slavery face much hardship in their life. Therefore, people just have to deal with it. We live our life and everything goes on just the way it is. Racism does not have a reason; it just is the way it has to be. However, we can think of it as a disease. The disease is not biased or racist; it can choose anyone that it wants to. However, sometimes there is no cure for a disease, and we are faced to live with it throughout our lives. Therefore, we CAN compare racism or discrimination to a disease, they all share one thing in common, and it’s because it spreads.

I only see in black and white (Ch21-25)

In To Kill a Mocking Bird, racism is always becoming a constant battle. We have the blacks on one side. Calpurnia, who takes care of the Finch kids, is a prime example of slavery. However, she is treated as an equal. Calpurnia brings us back into a whole different realm of understanding. We can’t see it all but would we want to? People have to live like this everyday. When Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to her church, I think that’s when we start to feel a greater respect towards the blacks in the community. I admire the way people handle racism because it’s always an ongoing battle. This town is truly, unmistakably a place that is filled with so much hate. Atticus is not someone that can be compared to any body else in the book. It takes absolute bravery to do what he has done. How would you feel if you were the only one standing a room full of people sitting? Atticus stood for what he believed is right. When no one else will stand for Tom Robinson, he was the one that took his case. Atticus believes for the greater good of the community and I think that he is proven to be one of the most influential people in the book. Nobody is perfect in the book because they all can be categorized as the same. This category can only be named as racist. We are all like that in one way or another, but some show it more than others. However, the more I read and look into each and every character, I see that they are all just stuck in Maycomb. Like Boo Radley is stuck in his house, they have nowhere to go. Therefore, the people of Maycomb can not change their views.

“You’re a strong girl, what were you doing all the time, just standing there?” (Ch17-20)

Mayella is the one that is on the stand.  What she does is lie to the court and say that Tom Robinson raped her. She’s ashamed that she has to go for a black man and she can’t find someone that is her own color. Her ability to make an innocent man go to jail shows that the town is unable to stop segregation from happening. Mayella is someone that does not have any morals because she basically is an example of one of the forces in the book that is cruel. It seems like she can’t get her story right. This shows the indifference of someone that is clearly wrong, not getting blamed for wrong doing.

Mayella was the one that was in control of Tom Robinson. If she was clearly being molested, she would have done something to stop it. However, the fact that Atticus presents does not do so much to help with her story. She could have screamed or tried to protect herself. However, she did not; proving that her story is completely false.

“Maybe he doesn’t have anywhere to run off to…” (Ch13-16)

In this section, Dill asks Scout why Boo Radley never left his house or Maycomb. In this case, we see the citizens as “stuck” because of such a profound ancestry. Even if they could have left, they don’t have anywhere to go. The people are so affected by evil, which they mistakenly start to inflict it on others. Dill remains affected by the cruelty he sees in Boo Radley. Dill is a prime example of innocence, threatened by the concept of racism and neglect. Maybe that’s why he can relate himself to other people because he sees part of himself in them. You don’t really see the reason why people act the way they do. Therefore, you don’t understand the reason why people hate blacks or the other way around. We are not given a substantial reason as to why Maycomb is the way it is, but we can start to see it as the real theme in the book. Even the innocent, is still conquered by evil. We don’t know why, but it just is.

Seeing in Black and White (Ch17-20)

In this section of the book, we see the indifference presented with Dill, Scout, and Jem. We can solely represent them as innocent figures in the wicked town of Maycomb. With the Tom Robinson trial, the children sit in the “colored” section. I would like to point out how the court is separated. Even though this country is supposed to be united, we still see the existence of segregation and how people are still “separate and not equal.” Therefore, we are presented with a racist judge and a biased jury. Everything is different in Maycomb. Even the language and church is separated, just because “whites” can not distinguish their ignorance for which they throw upon blacks. Maycomb is filled with so much history; the town is “too white and too black.” People are affected by evil. They only see in black and white. When, consequently, they need to see in color, which will help them see the brighter side of things. Tom Robinson will not win the trial, even when he is innocent. This is due to the color of his skin. We see how even the innocent is still preceded after evil. During the cross-examination, Dill and Scout have to leave the courtroom because Dill started to cry. The town of Maycomb, a historical place, is still trapped in the past. It hasn’t developed or progressed. Cruelty is presented with such clarity in the Tom Robinson trial, which we start to believe that evil does conquer all.

Mature Decisions (Ch13-16)

When Atticus goes into town, his children follow, along with Dill. Atticus was sitting in front of the Maycomb jail reading a newspaper. It seems that his presence there has not gone unnoticed. Four cars drive out and park near the jail. When Scout runs out of his hiding place, it shows that he is still an adolescent at heart. He has not grown up yet because he is still incapable of making his own decisions. Another point would be to mention the fact that Atticus is starting to develop into a more dominant character. He shows that he is a good parent Scout finds that Dill ahs run away from home. He refused to part from the front of the jail door when the mob members ask him to. The real character that is starting to mature more is Jem. He does not listen to his father’s attempt to persuade him to go home. I believe that Jem does not want to leave his father’s sight in case something serious happens. The mob members do not pose a threat to him. His maturity makes an impression on Scout. Scout, however, lacks the maturity as he is found conversing with Mr. Cunningham during such an intense situation. In this case, when Jem told Atticus about Dill running away, Jem “rose and broke the remaining code of out childhood.” He is now looked at as a traitor. Symbolically, this marks the transition where Jem is starting to progress into an adult.

Quote “She’s dead, son. She died a few minutes ago.” (Ch10-12)

“She’s dead, son. She died a few minutes ago” (Harper 110).

They had not seen Mrs. Dubose for over a month. I think that it really starts becoming more mysterious when she dies all of a sudden. It’s imperative to know that there will probably be more people that will eventually become deceased. As they describe her in the book as the bravest person they knew, I don’t believe it. When Atticus lies to his kids, I think that it becomes more inconsistent with how young they are to be dealing with these issues. That’s why they are so prone to such lies. Mrs. Dubose was such a brave person. And the way Atticus responds to her death is such a pity because she doesn’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve to be dead in vain. Her intentions were good and even though she’s not present in the town anymore, people will still live in memory of her.

Stereotypes (Ch10-12)

I believe that this story is more about segregation than anything.  Since they live in the South, they have to deal with the difference that comes with living in the area.  I think that it is really unnecessary that the education is so differential and that it portrays a town that is not completely stable.  The Church is another prime example of the racism that this book is trying to say.  I think that when they go to the Church, it really doesn’t come to their mind that this was a church that was based on the freedom of slaves.  When the maid brings them to the church, I see it as a ploy to try to get them to believe in something else.  Even though this town is so segregated, it still has a sense of unity that everyone comes together.  In this small town, they start to get a sense that slavery is still an issue.  The kids are still to young to understand that maybe there are still some disturbances in the town such as the reason behind the Radley house.  It says in the book that Jem is still to young to understand some issues that are starting to appear throughout the book.  I think that when it comes to living in this town you have to realize that maybe it is portraying a stereotypical representation of a town during slavery.  When I read this chapter, the thing that came to my mind was how unimportant everyone looks at the issue of blacks and white.  

Quote (Ch5-9)

“Then whose blanket is that?” (Harper 71).

So this quote is about how Scout was watching the fire and how they didn’t realize that Boo Radley put a blanket over their shoulder.  I think that this proves exactly what my point is when I say that they’re arrogant people. Even if Boo Radley comes out of his house, they won’t even pay the slightest attention to what’s going on.  I don’t see why they have to make such a big deal out of something that is so insignificant.  I guess they were too captivated to notice what was really going on.  So they shouldn’t be taking too much of their time on that. Obviously, something is going to happen with Boo Radley.  His house plays such an important role in the story and when they keep going to it, they’re expressing their interest in what is going on.  Bt I don’t think that they will care that much when they meet Boo Radley. And I’m pretty sure that Boo Radley doesn’t give the slightest care if they want to meet him.  In the end, I think that they will try to break in to his house.  And I think that’s wrong.

The People in the Boo Radley House(ch5-9)

I believe that someone IS living inside the Radley house. It seems kind of obvious now. I think that it is pointless for Scout to deliver the note to Boo Radley. If they want him to do something like come outside, I don’t think that he would ever consider it. It seems like there is no life presented inside the Boo Radley house. It’s a house that everyone fears and questions. Maybe the people in there realize that their house is symbolized this way and they pride in this. I think that this is the most important aspect of the story because it’s the one Scout and the guys talk about the most. When Dill and Jem try to see who is inside the house through the window, it shows that someone is living inside the house. When they fire the shotgun, it brings us back to the Civil War times. That’s probably the only time they would carry shotguns in their house. They need it for protection. If the people in the Boo Radley house don’t want to show themselves, then that’s their choice. For what they find in the Knot hole, I think that someone other than Boo Radley is putting the objects in the hole. They probably never will find who put the things in the hole.