First, thank you! I love this book and have learned so much from your discussion.
I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask this here, but I’ll give it a go. Is it a flaw in the book that Harper Lee uses a mockingbird “don’t do nothing but make music for us to enjoy” to represent Black people? Or is it just supposed to represent Tom Robinson? In the stories “Raisin in the Sun” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” there are highly flawed Black people portrayed. Is Harper Lee condescending by not portraying them realistically, as fully flawed human beings?
This question made me analyze the other characters as well. It seems to me none are as fully drawn as Atticus and the children, but that is probably necessary. An author could never fully develop all the characters of a story like this, but HL has created well-loved characters in the Finches. And that comes across as authentic and true to her own experience. I would add that through Atticus she portrays all the characters as human beings worthy of compassion and respect, sometimes even more than they seem to deserve.
I have a literary term question. In Chapter 17 (page 196 in my hardback), Scout steps out of describing the scene in the courtroom to speak directly to the reader: "Perhaps I'd better explain something now. . . . I'm sorry that I can’t provide any drama in this respect; if I did, it would not be true." Is it accurate to call this an example of "direct address"?
Rereading these scenes this time, I was struck by this statement of Tom's about Mayella: "She says what her papa do to her don't count." I hadn't noticed this reference to sexual abuse by her father before. That puts her testimony in a whole different light, for me. She has all kinds of shame she is trying to cover up, all kinds of slop she is trying to somehow grow geraniums from.
As I was copying down quotes into my commonplace, I noticed the line about Mr. Underwood’s name, Braxton Bragg, and Atticus’ statement that naming people after Confederate generals “made slow steady drinkers”. We later learn that Mr. Ewell’s given name is Robert. E. Lee Ewell. I am sure Harper Lee’s choice was very intentional and I am enjoying all the possible layers. I love that she gives us that nugget and doesn’t explain it, she just lets it be.
First, thank you! I love this book and have learned so much from your discussion.
I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask this here, but I’ll give it a go. Is it a flaw in the book that Harper Lee uses a mockingbird “don’t do nothing but make music for us to enjoy” to represent Black people? Or is it just supposed to represent Tom Robinson? In the stories “Raisin in the Sun” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” there are highly flawed Black people portrayed. Is Harper Lee condescending by not portraying them realistically, as fully flawed human beings?
This question made me analyze the other characters as well. It seems to me none are as fully drawn as Atticus and the children, but that is probably necessary. An author could never fully develop all the characters of a story like this, but HL has created well-loved characters in the Finches. And that comes across as authentic and true to her own experience. I would add that through Atticus she portrays all the characters as human beings worthy of compassion and respect, sometimes even more than they seem to deserve.
Question from Chapter 15: Why doesn't Atticus sit with his family in church (p. 169)?
I have a literary term question. In Chapter 17 (page 196 in my hardback), Scout steps out of describing the scene in the courtroom to speak directly to the reader: "Perhaps I'd better explain something now. . . . I'm sorry that I can’t provide any drama in this respect; if I did, it would not be true." Is it accurate to call this an example of "direct address"?
Rereading these scenes this time, I was struck by this statement of Tom's about Mayella: "She says what her papa do to her don't count." I hadn't noticed this reference to sexual abuse by her father before. That puts her testimony in a whole different light, for me. She has all kinds of shame she is trying to cover up, all kinds of slop she is trying to somehow grow geraniums from.
I’m having trouble finding this statement. Is it later? Or during the court scene? I re-read Tom’s testimony, and I haven’t seen it.
Yes, it's in his testimony. Kinda buried in the middle of the paragraph.
Found it! Just had to read closer 😉
I noticed this too. <3
P.S. I want a T-shirt with "All the church. All the books." Or however y'all said it.
That’s why we go to church and read books - David
Go to all the church, read all the books - Sean
I think it was, "That's why I go to church and read books." Hahaha! I'm about to design the t-shirt now.
As I was copying down quotes into my commonplace, I noticed the line about Mr. Underwood’s name, Braxton Bragg, and Atticus’ statement that naming people after Confederate generals “made slow steady drinkers”. We later learn that Mr. Ewell’s given name is Robert. E. Lee Ewell. I am sure Harper Lee’s choice was very intentional and I am enjoying all the possible layers. I love that she gives us that nugget and doesn’t explain it, she just lets it be.
No cap, this episode was straight fire and I’m here for it
Word.