To Kill a Mockingbird--Post 4!

Molly Walsh

April 17, 2012

Post 4 for To Kill a Mockingbird

            As we can see at the beginning of chapter 9, racism is starting and becoming more apparent in the book.  The “n” word is being thrown around like it’s nothing and people around town are reacting to Atticus defending Tom Robinson.  It’s sad and weird how people can be so hateful and mean to someone they don’t even know just because of the color of their skin.  This book definitely brings up the struggle of standing up and doing what is right, even when everyone around you is going to degrade you and slam you because you don’t have the same view as them.  Atticus realizes that his kids are going to have to grow a thick skin because of all the flack they are going to have to endure, but he knows that defending Tom Robinson is the right thing to do even though it is the tougher path. 

            As the story progresses, disillusionment is starting to become a theme.  The carefree childhood that Scout and Jem had was disappearing due to the Tom Robinson trial and all the turmoil surrounding that.  Scout would have to learn to keep herself composed in the midst of criticism from others and try not to pounce on them every time they attacked her or her family.  Atticus knew that would be known that would be a challenge, but that she would grow stronger as she grew up.  Sometimes, though, the temptation to retaliate was too much for Jem and Scout and that is exactly what happened when Mrs. Dubouse verbally attacked the children.  Due to Jem destroying flower bushes to get back at the mean old woman for being a jerk, he had to read to her.  During his punishment, she was a pain to work for because Jem had to suffer through even more emotional abuse.  She was sickly and not well, with a nasty complexion, small eyes, liver spots, and a morphine addiction that is later revealed by Atticus.  She is just one of the many people that Jem and Scout have to suffer through, but people like that make it easier for the children to ignore and move on from insults and slurs that are thrown at them.