Chapter 16
On page 156, Atticus makes the comment about Braxton Underwood despising Negros in front of Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra frowns at this and says that he shouldn’t talk like that in front of them. What do you think she means by this? What do you think Aunt Alexandra thinks Calpurnia will do as a result to this sort of talk?
Chapter 17
On page 171 it states, “All the little man on the witness stand had that made him any better than his nearest neighbors was, that if scrubbed with lye soap in very hot water, his skin was white.” In your own words, describe what is meant by this quote.
Chapter 18
What do you think of Mayella’s crying on the witness stand? Do you think they were real tears or an act so that the judge and jury would feel sorry for her? Why?
Chapter 19
What is your opinion of Tom Robinson? Do you believe he is guilty or innocent? Support your belief with the text.
Chapter 20
Why do you think Mr. Dolphus Raymond portrays himself the way he does? Do you think he should act this way? Why?
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3 comments:
Chapter 19:
I think that Tom Robinson is innocent for a few reasons. First of all, I trust Atticus’ opinion, and I do not think that Atticus would have tried this hard to defend Tom if he believed him guilty. Also, Tom’s testimony made sense. Mayella was, as Scout put it, “the loneliest person in the world” (pg 191). It seems reasonable to me that someone as lonely as Mayella would try to find someone in the world, even if it had to be a married, crippled, black man, who did not want to enter into any kind of relationship beyond helping Mayella with her chores. I also think that if Mayella had not kissed Tom, he could have been her one and only friend.
My opinion of Tom is that he is a good person. Scout realizes that Tom “was probably the only person who was ever decent to [Mayella]” (pg 192) and he “felt sorry for her” (pg 197) because he understood how unhappy Mayella was. Tom tried to help her, because he knew that no one else was going to. He did odd jobs for Mayella for free, and in that way kept her company when she was lonely. This displays that he cares about Mayella because she is a human being and deserves it. In my opinion, anyone who can care about a person despite their family’s reputation and their situation in life is, at least in that way, a good, respectable person.
Chapter 18:
I think that Mayella’s crying on the witness stand was real. You could tell that she was intimidated and overwhelmed by the situation, but I do think she realized and enjoyed the reaction she got from the judge and the jury. Mayella probably thought she did not need people to be sorry for her. The fact that a white woman’s word was socially and politically more powerful than a black man’s would have been all the evidence needed to prove her case (if not for Atticus). As she clearly stated, “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you.” (pg. 188)
Chapter 19:
Good Job! Your opinions toward Tom make sense with the details of the text. You did a good job citing the text to support your answer. I also think that Tom is innocent. There are a lot of details in the court hearing that prove (support) his innocence.
Chapter 18:
Good Job! I like how you used the text to support your answer. I also think the tears were real at first, but I think she played the crying act a little longer than necessary. I agree that she liked the reaction she got from the judge and jury, but really she didn’t need it.
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