Monday, November 18, 2013

What are some quotes about racial discrimination in Chapters 14 and 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Although some are subtle, there are several remarks in chapters 14 and 15 that are racially biased.

  • Chapter 14

After Aunt Alexandra arrives, there are several changes in the order of things in the Finch household. One of these is Alexandra's idea that, with her presence in the home, theFinches no longer need Calpurnia, their black maid. After learning the children have accompanied Calpurnia to her church, Alexandra feels Calpurnia has acted out of her place and is negative influencing the children. When she hears Scout telling Atticus about their visit to the African Methodist Episcopalian Church, she puts down her embroidery and stares at the children. Then, she asks incredulously, "You all were coming back from Calpurnia's church that Sunday?"
Scout asks her father if she goes to Calprunia's church again next Sunday, as Calpurnia invited her to do so. "You may not," interjects Alexandra, clearly indicating her feelings that her niece and nephew should not attend an African-American church.


  • Chapter 15

One evening, a group of men stand in the front yard of the Finch home. These men speak uneasily of the upcoming trial of Tom Robinson, wishing there could be a change of venue for this trial. Atticus replies that the trial will be on Monday, only one day from then, asking Sheriff Tate, "You can keep him [Tom] one night, can't you?" Mr. Link Deas expresses anxiety about "that Old Sarum bunch." He then adds that Atticus has "everything to lose from this." Atticus challenges this assumption, which insinuates the black man's life is of little consequence:



"Link, that boy might go to the chair, [implying that Tom may go only because he is an African-American]  but he's not going till the truth's told...And you know what the truth is."



Atticus suggests here that, while Tom may be condemned because he is "just a Negro," Atticus is still going to do his job as an ethical attorney and expose the untruths of the Ewells.


Once again, Aunt Alexandra exhibits her racial bias when she asks Atticus to withdraw from the case and be concerned about the ladies of the community, perhaps suggesting what could happen if the Negroes are "stirred up." Then, Scout overhears Atticus saying to his sister that he is,



"...in favor of Southern womanhood as much as anybody, but not for preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life..."



Later, Jem tells Scout that Aunt Alexandra



"...won't let him [Atticus] alone about Tom Robinson. She almost said Atticus was disgracin' the family."



When the Old Sarum bunch arrive at the jailhouse at night, it is obvious they are a lynch mob when they say,



"You know what we want...Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch."



Luckily, the appearance of the children and Scout's bold move to speak to Walter Cunningham, who had asked Atticus to step aside, diffuses the situation because Cunningham then urges the others to leave without taking Tom.

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