Scout learns quite a bit about the tension between white and black people, as well as their way of life that was brought upon them by this tension. Calpurnia is truly indifferent to this, shown by when she suggests that Jem and Scout come to church with her. They enter the church, and most of the congregation treats them with great respect. “When they saw Jem and me with Calpurnia, the men stepped back and took off their hats… weekday gestures of respect” (158). However, this is not all of them. After this show of respect, one woman named Lula comes up and starts to judge Calpurnia’s decision, but Calpurnia fights back. “‘[Lula] wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to n***** church… you ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here - they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?’... Calpurnia said, ‘It’s the same God, ain’t it?’” (159). The congregation then shoos Lula out of there, but still her action is very prominent. This goes to show how even though most of Maycomb’s black population are polite, there are still some that hold a grudge, and really have every right to. They are treated as second-class citizens, and white people brought this inferiority upon them. Therefore, they harbor a hatred for white folks which comes from the white people’s unrealistic hatred for them. However, most of them, as shown by their warmth and appreciation in the church, are very appreciative and kind, and do not generalize when it comes to the roles of races. They see that Jem and Scout have not done anything against them, so they don’t have to be wary of them. Calpurnia especially treats Jem and Scout like her own, and sees that there should be no borders between the two races. “It’s the same God” is what she says, showing she sees no reason for whites and blacks to be any different from one another. But people like Lula have developed a distrust for all white people, and generalize when it comes to who caused her race’s oppression. Overall, in this encounter, Jem and Scout see two sides of the story, and get to experience firsthand the tension they get from varying opinions.
Do you think Scout and Jem will experience more situations like Lula’s as the Tom Robinson trial progresses? Will they also experience hate from white people as well? Overall, how has Scout handled the hate launched at her so far?
I think they will experience more situations like Lula's as the Tom Robinson trial progresses. I think they will get most hate from white people because a white man accused him of raping a women. Since Atticus is defending Tom Robinson white people will see him as not believing a white man over a black man. In this time if a white man accused a black man of doing something the black man would almost always be guilty and I think by Atticus defending Tom Robinson he is trying to change how the justice system works and make it fair for all men and women.
ReplyDeleteI think that Scout and Jem are in a peculiar situation. They will be hated by blacks, as well as whites. As the Tome Robinson trial progresses there will only be more hate and it is going to be tough on the kids to try to cope with all the things that is going on in there life. Scout has handled the hate launched upon her in different ways. In one essence, we see her walk away from a fight with Cecil Jacobs, but in another scene, w see her beat the crap out of Francis. So with that said I think her reactions could go either way.
ReplyDeleteI think Scout and Jem will experience more situations like this. Scout has already encountered this in the school yard about the case. They have already shown that they can back down from fights, and I think that will be in-valuble. These situations are not over yet, though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Scout realizes the extent of racial division in Maycomb (and in the South in general) because Calpurnia is treated as an equal by Atticus. When Scout goes to the church, she meets Lula who is really unfriendly to Cal and the kids. Then they meet Reverend Sykes who is completely the opposite from Lula. He tries his best to make Jem and Scout feel welcome at church. Everyone respects Atticus, so most of them treat the kids kindly. Afterwards, Scout asks Cal why she talked differently with other black people. Cal explains that she talks like the people she is with so she won't be different. Scout realized there was a lot about Cal she didn't know and leans more about the discrimination and tension between races in Maycome on her trip to the church with Calpurnia.
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