From page 328 to 329 Scout’s teacher, Miss. Gates, explains the definition of democracy to her students. Scout tells the class that democracy means equal rights for all, special privileges for none. “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Prejudice” (Page 329). What Miss.Gates describes is irony. Maycomb is extremely prejudice towards to blacks, but when it comes to Adolf Hitler’s actions, they think it is horrible and uncalled for. In some ways, aren't the citizens of Maycomb doing the same thing to their black citizens? In the umbrella of democracy- do you think Maycomb acts like a dictatorship according to Miss. Gates definition? How?
On page 331 Scout explains to Jem what she overheard Miss. Gates telling Stephanie Crawford the night they were all at the courthouse. “I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us.” Miss. Gates seems to have different points of view upon the acts of being prejudice. Do you think Miss. Gates is prejudice or do you think she is acting this way because she wants the approval of Maycomb’s society? How do you get the approval of Maycomb’s society?
During chapter 26, Harper Lee shows Scout’s maturing and how she has taken a large step toward adulthood. She has almost reached her moment of doing so. This chapter is foreshadowing because it shows that Scout has almost had her “Cement tree moment” and will have it soon. Do you think Boo Radley will also be part of Scout’s important maturing moment? Why and how?
The definition of Democracy by Miss. Gates was very flawed. Persecuting has nothing to do with democracy. Maycomb is under a democracy, but there is more persecution there than in many 'socialist' countries. If you were to think of democracy as the was Ms. Gates put it, then yes, Maycomb is a dictatorship. They are forbidden from basic human rights (at least African-Americans are), and they are persecuted. The Negroes in Maycomb probably feel the same way the Jews in Germany felt, they are hunted, they are tortured, and imprisoned. Being African in Maycomb makes it hard to keep an open mind, as you see the white people having much more that you with no hope of advancement. This is what a true Dictatorship is, not where you don't elect the leader, but where you have no real power.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Scout has already had her "cement tree moment" at the courthouse during the trial. The events that are building up are only showing Scout's maturity. Scout has already come to an understanding about Boo Radley, and refers to him as "Arthur" now. She also looks back to the past summers when she, Jem, and Dill tried to make Boo come out of the house, and feels bad for what they did. Boo already is a part of Scout's maturing, and will continue to be so as the book continues. Scout views him as a person, but is still confused by his character, especially since he left the gifts in the tree. When Scout is able to understand Boo's character in more depth, she will have reached the peak in her maturity.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that you can get approval of Maycomb's society. I think this because no matter who you are in Maycomb, somebody doesn't approve of you. This is true in Atticus's case because the black people and some white people approve of him defending T-Rob, but most white people in the town don't approve of it. It also goes the other way because the black people and Atticus disapprove of Bob Ewell, but many of the white people in the town approve of him.
ReplyDeleteDo you agree? Do you think anybody in Maycomb has approval form the whole society?
Not a single Jew lived in Maycomb and so most people living in Maycomb have never scene or met a Jewish person before, so Jews are very exotic to all of them. Since Jewish people were so rare, nobody in Maycomb had ever had a negative interaction with one, in fact no interactions at all which makes all Jews seem very innocent and benign. So, it seems very weird for this man to being tormenting and hating this group so much after they, in the eyes of the people in Maycomb, did nothing to deserve it. Yet, the people in Maycomb were taught as they were kids and adults that black people are inferior, so they are only known to them being treated poorly as if they were not equal. That is just how life goes in Maycomb. When the class was discussing Hitler, Cecil says "They 're white, ain't they?" which shows that he thinks white people are superior and should not be the people being treated so wretchedly.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that Boo Radley will be part of Scout’s maturing moment. As children, Scout and Jem obsessed over Boo. But, as Scout got older, she becomes more and more disinterested in Boo. Also, Jem’s maturing moment was when the knot-hole was filled with cement and that was his last link to Boo. After that, he doesn’t really care about Boo anymore and moves on to different and more mature activities like the football team. So, I think that Boo will have a big role in Scout’s important maturing moment because he is the last link to Scout’s childhood and that will bring their relationship full circle.
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