To Kill A Mockingbird

During the cross-examinations, I find it very easy to see that Mayella and Mr. Ewell made the story up for publicity. Her story was inconsistent and the way she would break down crying and answer the questions made her seem insure of her story so she used it to get out of answering the questions. Also, she kept looking at her dad when she would answer as if to make sure she was telling the story they made up correctly. I think this story is made up and Tom Robinson is innocent. I also think that Atticus will prove this in the end.

TKAM Chapts. 18-20

Well in class we heard about the Stonesboro boys, the 9 boys accused of raping two white women on a train and it was said that it somewhat connects to the story TKAM. In these chapters where instead of unreliable narrator there's a lot of unreliable testimonies all coming from Meyella. I don't see how the jury and or judge can't easily pick apart her story. In my eyes it's quite honestly easy to say she's framing a black man. First off it's said she comes from a crappy family anyways so what makes her any more believable, just because she's white that triangle of society and where people rank is all that gives her the upper hand. To me, anyone with common sense can figure it's a publicity stunt which hopefully will be shown soon.

Tkan chapters 18-20

I think you could cut the tension in these chapters with a knife. When Mayella Ewell took the stand you could tell she was a no good lier. But back then a white women or mans word was believed over a black mans word. You could tell by the way Tom Robinson answered Mr. Gilmers  questions that he was one hundred percent telling the truth but still most did not believe him only because he was black and a white person accused him of rape. This is a sad reminder of how ignerent and uninformed most people were back then about another mans skin color. I also learned from these chapters how strongly these whites felt about the color of ones skin. 

TKAM 18-20

I was really interested to see how the rest of the trial went in these three chapters. The more that Atticus questions his witnesses, the more I think that Tom Robinson is innocent. When Atticus kept repeating "Did your father hit you?" I think it really hit home on Maybella and brought back some painful memories for her. Although the ruling looks to be in the favor of Tom Robinson, I still think that the jury will be prejudiced against him and acquit him of the crime. I was also just absolutely disgusted at how Mr. Gilmer was questioning Tom Robinson. He treated him with complete and utter disrespect and I was appalled that he would do such a thing. Dill and I have the same feelings toward this kind of thing, I guess, since he had to leave the courtroom because of how ignorant Mr. Gilmer was being. I am also wondering what Calpurnia has to say when she came into the courtroom at the end of Chapter 20. This could possibly be a major plot twist that would really change the book.

To Kill a Mockingbird: 18-20

Like I said in my last blog, these court scenes really interest me. I am convinced that Tom Robinson is innocent and he did not rape Mayella. When Mayella was on the witness stand, her statements were not very convincing to me. She seemed very nervous and I am convinced that she is lying. I believe that Atticus is right; Mayella was beaten by her father, not Tom. It seems like that would make a lot more sense because her side of the story doesn't seem to add up to me. Also, Atticus's final speech to the jury was very convincing to me and I do believe that he made a lot of good points. I just hope that the jury believes him when he says that Tom is innocent. I cannot predict what the jury's decision will be because even though I am fully convinced that Tom Robinson is innocent, I am not sure that the people in the jury will feel the same way because of how people felt towards blacks in this time period. 

Chapters 2 and 3

In these chapters scouts new teacher is not well liked by scout because she does not fit in and she is not used to the kind of life her students are living. One of the reasons I think scout doesn't like her teacher is because she said how Atticus taught her the wrong way to read and right. This angers her because scout believes she was born knowing the English language. 

Chapters 12 13 and 14

In these chapters I think that Calpurnia did a good think by taking scout and Jem to her church. It was a good oppertunity for them to see that you don't need much to follow what you believe in. I also wonder why scout lies to Atticus when she said she wants her aunt to stay when we all kno she rather her just go home. I like the part of chapter 13 when it says thr there are just some things that a man can't do. And the things they can't is a job for a woman. 

Chapters 15-17

Chapter 15 showed that Atticus really did care about Tom Robinson and did not just go along with it because he was assigned to the case. Atticus knew that the people acussing Tom were going tryto harm him so he risked his own life to try to protect him. He didn't have to do this because he was only supposed to defend him in court. This just further develops his character and proves him to be a genually caring and kind hearted person like he is to his children. Later on the trial gets interesting. As Mr. Ewell is brought up to testify Atticus confuses him by having hom write his name. This was done to prove that Maybe Mr. Ewell beat his own daughter and blamed it on Tom because he knew that people were more likely togo against him. Now I wonder ehat the reason behind Mr.Ewells actions was because I do believe that he did do it. I think that maybe his daughter was having an affair with Tom. Since Tom was black Mr.Ewell thought that this would bring a disgrace to the family. Therefore he fabricated this lie about sexual assault because this way at least his daughter would have some honor left in her. This also ties in with the documentary that we saw, and that's why I though of this. In the documentary the prostitutes were not respected by the whites but the moment they accused a balck person of rape they  were being defended. Mr.Ewell knew that this was the only way that he could fix the mistake that his daughter made. He was trying to do what was best for her by sending an innocent man to jail. 

TKAMB 12

Since Mrs. Dubose died in chapter 12, jem changed and started to grow up and become more like a father than a friend (like when he yells at her to grow up and tells her what to do) I also feel bad for he because Dill isn't even there that summer to talk to and be kids with. I think Dill is an importent part of Scout growing up and becoming a more reliable narrator

TKAM Ch. 18-20

Once again there is an example in the trial of how Jem and Scout lack of knowledge of the opinions of the people in their town and are completely blindsided by their decision of Tom Robinson.  His account of the story is the more reasonable one than Mayella's and Mr. Ewell's, but in 1930's Alabama a white man's word is better than a black man's word.  That is news to the kids and they are really curious with Atticus because they do not fully understand the society they currently grow up in.  Also, they learn that Mr. Ewell is very angry with their father's representation of Tom Robinson and the futhermore damaged reputation and spit his tobacco juice of Atticus.  I also found the amount of gifts given by the African American community in the town shows that they may be poor, but they still felt the need to show Atticus gratitude for fairly and greatly representing Tom Robinson.

To kill a mockingbird Chapters 18-20

From these chapters the trial gets more intersting. Mayella's testimony I feel was a little played. I don't believe that Tom raped her. I think her Dad was the one who beat her and she is covering up for him by saying Tom was the one who had raped her. I believe her dad is the one who is making her say this. Why else wouldn't they call a doctor? From Tom's testimony he seems like he is telling the truth and that he is a respectable guy. I think he try to help Mayella with her chores and did just but that. I think that Mayella is lonely and does nothing all day and wanted some company to talk to. I also think that her dad is mean and beats her and that is why she talks to know one. I like the way the trail is written and it is told in a very instresting point of view. 

To Kill a Mockingbird 18-20

These chapters I feel, are the most intense ones out of what we have read so far. To start in Chapter 18 when they called up Mayella to the stand, I knew that this was going to be interesting. Obviously when Mayella was questioned she was clearly lying through her teeth. Her guilt was finally clear Atticus asked her, "Then why didn't the other children hear you? Where were they? At the dump?", and did not answer him nor the questions immediately following. In Chapter 19 when Tom takes the stand I sensed from the start that he was a innocent man. You could easily tell that he was innocent when the Judge stated to him, "Tom, you're sworn to tell the whole truth. Will you tell it?" and then "Tom ran his hand nervously over his mouth". Tom was scared to tell the truth because he already knew what he was in for even if he hadnt been telling the truth. He knew that the jury wasnt going to believe a word he said because of the tone of his skin. But being the inncocent man he is, he told the truth even if the outcome for him isn't good. What really stuck out to me in this chapter though was when Dill stated, "I don't care one speck. It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do 'em that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talkin' like that-it just makes me sick". Finally in Chapter 20, Atticus says the iconic speech that makes this novel unforgetable. Being set in a time of segregation and brutal racism, it takes a real human to say what Atticus stated. And every word the Atticus stated was true. What the Southerns in this time period didn't quite seem to understand is that, "All men are created equal". Atticus is the most important character in this novel. 

To Kill A Mocking Bird Chapters 12-14

I always felt that Atticus was a poor father. However, I believed that the setting and time when the story takes place could be the blame. In the 1930's, women normally took care of children, while the father works. However, Atticus is a single father, so he does not normally look after his children. However, at the end of Chapter 13, Atticus tells his children to "act more like a gentleman and lady", and even the narrator recalls that this was the first time Atticus was motherly. I believe that while he is working on this case, he is learning to be a better parent as well.

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 18-20

Mayella's testimony seemed coniving to me. She cried to make a scene and tried to gain sympathy from Judge Taylor. Luckily the judge did not buy it. She wanted to make it seem like Atticus was trying to sass her but he was simply interrogating her. Atticus remained calm through the whole scenario and knew how to ask the questions in a way to make her think and become speechless. Atticus raised a valid point that I had predicted was a a possibility early on in the trial. It is possible that her father abused her and was trying to blame the incident on Tom Robinson. I feel disheartened for Tom Robinson the same way that Dill did at the end of chapter 19. It came as a major plot twist when Tom testifies that Mayella tried to kiss him because she was a lonely person that had no friends. It makes her situiation seem sad, but its not helping Tom's case because he had been over the house before. He comes off as such an innocent man and it makes my heartbreak to hear him being interrogated that way. I likes the way Atticus ended chapter 20 by saying that Mayella had not commited a crime, but had a broken a racial rule created by society that has never been done before. 

Chapter 12-14: to kill a mockingbird

Chapter 12: I feel bad for Scout, Jem was like one of her only friends and since mrs. Dubose died he changed and started to grow up and become more like a father than a friend (like when he yells at her to grow up and tells her what to do) I also feel bad for he because dill isn't even there that summer and I think she really missed him. it was an interesting chapter because cal took Jem and scout to a "black" church- I didn't know she was black beforehand. Why was lula so upset that Jem and Scout were there when everyone else was okay with it? Also I found it strange when they didn't raise enough money so they locked the doors and wouldn't let anyone out until the had $10. Why is aunt Alexandra there? 

Chapter 13: this chapter confused me, why did it matter what last name you had? Why is aunt Alexandra here?- I don't really like her, she try's to make scout not be herself and act more like aunt Alexandra. Why did she make Atticus talk to the kids about a last name? It's just a name- everyone is different you can't group people saying they are all the same if they have the same last name. 

Chapter 14: DILL CAME BACK!!!! Yay!! I don't understand exactly why he did but I think scout is happy he is there. Jem and scout got in a fight because Jem is trying to control scout like saying he will spank her. Also why is aunt Alexandra bothered that scout wants to go see cal and trying to get rid of cal? She makes a big deal out of things that shouldn't matter

TKAMB

I think these chapters can conmect to the activity we were doing in class. In class we learned about these 2 girls, who werent classy, who accused men of rape, then gained alot of power. In this situation, Scout learns that it was Bob Ewell who accused Tom Robinson of rape. She wonders why anyone actually beleives him, because lets face it, are the Ewells a trustable family?! I dont think so, so i beleive scout is onto something, and i believe that she may be able to influen s the court case somehow. 

To Kill a Mockingbird: Chapters 12, 13, and 14. dD

Jem is now twelve, and has decided to become more assertive! However, along with that he's also taken on different views on how Scout should act, and become somewhat wiser, which I would suppose is just a benefit of growing up in general.

Dill had to leave, with his new father. Dill promises Scout that they'd get married once he's old enough and has enough money, which is a neat showcasing of quite young love. Not entirely sure if love is actually a fitting word there, more like "young fondness" or something along those lines, mostly because it doesn't seem as concrete(one would hope) or noticeable as real love, however the author never touched upon their relationship much so I assume nothing particularly interesting occurred. (keeping in mind their young age, as well.)

Calpurnia takes Scout and Jem to a church with mostly African American people. They're generally well received. Singing and religious stuff ensues!

Scout asks what rape is after hearing about some details of the Tom Robinson case. Calpurnia can't really give her a good answer(it's not the easiest thing to explain to a child, after all).

Aunt Alexandra has arrived, bringing with her the intention to make Scout more feminine! She decides to stay "for awhile", a nice vague answer that really is as good as not saying anything at all.

Atticus speaks with the kids- presumably via Alexandra's request, and tells them "the facts of life", or something along those lines.  The final sentence of chapter 13, "I know now what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work.", makes me think about how Atticus is trying to play the role of both the mother and the father, due to there being no mother figure, and even with Alexandra, she isn't exactly my definition of a caring mother, honestly.

Scout feels that this is a good time as any to ask about rape, and Atticus is now presented with the challenge of a finding a tactful answer!

After he does indeed find a tactful answer, Scout requests to go to Calpurnia's house, however Alexandra decides to veto her request via sneaking up and suddenly saying no, which is honestly kind of a unnecessarily mean way of declining a request

Jem threatens to spank Scout for antagonizing Alexandra, but it soon degrades to a boxing match. Atticus has to come and break them up, sending them to their rooms. I find it interesting that Scout wishes to be seen as Jem's equal; perhaps she wants to feel that she still has some control over things in her life.

After both kids go to bed, Scout finds Dill under her bed, you know, it's a common occurrence and Dill says he ran from his father, kept alive by some farmer who fed him food through an airvent, and then he ran to a circus and washed a camel after breaking the chains on the walls via sheer force of will. After traveling all over the state with the animal show, he just so happened to know he was in the county the kids were in and decided to visit them.

He was probably trying to impress Scout and Jem with that story, because I doubt that it really happened at all.

Dill requests to not be sent back, and then sleeps in Scout's bed with her. Dill reveals that his father didn't actually lock him up, but he just wasn't fond of his father and decided to run away. Dill then promptly asks for a baby, because why not, she then asks where they'd get one.

Scout and Dill do not know much about where babies come from, it seems.

Had a good few things to think about over these past few chapters, it was quite interesting to see how Scout misinterpreted things due to generally not knowing about certain topics.

Thanks,
~B.E.

datadyne

TKAM 12-14

In these chapters you see Jem growing older and acting more as a parent figure to Scout.  She doesn't understand that he is going to act differently than she is not only because he's a boy but now hat he is even older. He threatens to spank her in chapter 14 which I thought was humorous because they're siblings. It's was a little weird that full showed up at their house and I think it's hard to believe that he went through all those places just to get to scouts house. The last line of the chapter about Boo Radley was interesting and I think it's going to be significant line that affects chapters later on in the book

To Kill a Mocking Bird Chpt. 12+13+14

That was one of the first summers that Dill did not come down for it. But then, he shows up out of nowhere and in Scout's room. That just screams creepy. Did his dad really just did not like him or did he want to see Scout? I find it weird that he is trying to marry her and that they sleep together. They are around 10. Atticus should supervise them more but I think Auntie is taking it way too serious. Let the kids be kids. They still are only children.

TKAMB: 12&13&14

Jem is now in middle school and is now "grown up" . Atticus is away and calpurna their cook takes them to her church for the day. They went to a black church and quickly notice thedifferences. I found it shocking that most people were okay with the white kids at the church. I also found it rude that they got locked in until they gathered $10. then scout asks calpurna what rape is and she won't explain it. They ask calpurna if they can visit her. She says yes. Aunt Alexandra comes again in hopes of making scout more feminine. Jem and scout still don't get along with her. She still talks about family pride and "streaks". Atticus then tells them a story and they start to cry. Alexandra then backs off. Atticus explains fk scout what rape is but I'm still not sure she understands it because if I hadn't known what it meant that definition would not have cleared things up for me. Scout then sees Dill in her home, he had run away scout and him talked in her bed. Awkward😮