Reading Response #5

1. “Mr. Ewell’s face grew scarlet. He stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. ‘—I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!’ … Jem turned his head. ‘Scout, go home. Dill, you’n‘Scout go home.’ ‘You gotta make me first,’ I said, remembering Atticus’s blessed dictum. Jem scowled furiously at me, then said to Reverend Sykes, ‘I think it’s okay, Reverend, she doesn’t understand it.’ I was mortally offended. ‘I most certainly do, I c’n understand anything you can.’ ‘Aw hush. She doesn’t understand it, Reverend, she ain’t nine yet.’ ” (Lee 231-32). 

Jem brings up the idea that the topic at hand is too mature for understanding of Scout, insinuating that she can’t comprehend what is happening because she is not at the age where topics such as this should be understood. This helps me understand that Jem doesn’t have faith that his sister is at the maturity stage where she should understand what is occurring. This means Jem is at the stage where he is understanding what is happening, which could be connected to the sign that Scout points out that Jem is changing. Jem’s changes could come from the fact that he now understands the conflict in society. 

2. d. Mama: "No---There's something that's come down between me and them that don't let us understand each other and I don't know what it is. One done lost his mind thinking 'bout money all the time and the other done commence to talk about things I can't seem to understand in no form or fashion." (Hansberry 52)

This moment helps me understand that there is some generational difference between Mama and her children. Mama doesn’t quite understand her children because she has different values than them. I believe that Mama assumes that they all are at an equal playing ground, however, the age does serve a difference in understanding. Growing up with different societal expectations and beliefs does change how a generation behaves and what they believe in. 

3. In comparing and contrasting Mama and Jem, they share some similarities. Mama and Jem both believe that the other person/people aren’t at the same ability level as them and this is what causes the conflicts to occur. Mama is saying there is something wrong between her and her children when in reality her children just grew up in different societies. Same for Jem, he believes that Scout does not understand the situation because she is not at the age of understanding. In contrast, the situations being dealt with are very different, in Mama’s situation, it is a conflict of interest over money, whereas Jem’s situation involves understanding discriminatory instances and how age signifies understanding. Although Mama and Jem are similar, Jem seems to be set up more for character success because he still permits Scout to listen and form her own opinions rather than dismissing the claims of the other person as Mama did.

When Jem says “she’s got enough sense to get the judge sorry for her, but she might be just--oh, I don’t know.” when miss Mayellerin takes the stand she is trying to get the judge on her side and is saying that she is scared of Atticus, but it’s had to say if her story about her getting raped is true (lee 205). This helps me understand Atticus better because he does not react when she makes these claims so he is very professional. 

Walter --- "Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you are so crazy 'bout messing 'round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet..."(Hansberry 42) this helps me understand that Walter is more about instant gratification and living day to day and get rich quick rather than long term benefit and studying.

Atticus and Walter are similar because Atticus works hard to take care of his family and so does Walter they are both criticized by there families about there jobs and how they plan to do them. They are different because Atticus responds to these judgments by letting them and just ignoring them. Walter responds by trying to control the lives of the people around him and trying to force them to do what he wants.

“He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, ‘We’ve got him.’” (Lee 202) What’s happening in this scene is that Atticus is proving to the judge that Mr. Ewell’s story about hearing Mayella scream and running over to her after tending to bringing a load o’kindlin’ in the woods and seeing her on the floor squealing and bruises over her is a lie by showing the judge Bob Ewell is left-handed. Jem shows us that he understands that we got Bob Ewell where we want him because the bruises were on her right side and which could occur if the person who attacked her was left-handed, which leaves Ewell suspicious. 

Beneatha: "(Dropping to her knees) Well---I do---all right?---thank everybody! And forgive me for wanting to be anything at all! (Pursuing him on her knees across the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME!" (Hansberry 37) This moment helps me better understand Beneatha because in this moment she’s having to say sorry for her family helping her out in her doctor schooling and should be thankful for having her family support her through her goals and determination with being a doctor and to stand up for herself, to not stand by any stereotypes of what black people and ladies should be or should look like. Beneatha understands the world and she has her own pov on what it should be like, she’s different and rebellious against the stereotypes. 

Jem and Beneatha have the same mindset in life. They’re both against the community and what other people think or say. They’re both determined people to prove what’s wrong is right. Jem, who is with his father on supporting black people while the people are against all of it and Beneatha who is against being ladylike and refusing to play a “women role” and look all ladylike, going against what the people say.  Although Jem is an amazing character at such a young age and on a good path, I think Beneatha has more character success as of right now because she has done rebellious acts such as cut her hair, not marry a rich man, and on the path to a doctor career. She’ll definitely be a good role model for women and black people. She may be a successful black lady, which is hard in their times.

1. “Until my father explained it to me later, I did not understand the subtlety of Tom’s predicament: he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run—a sure sign of guilt” (Lee 260-261).

For context Tom Robinson is explaining the situation to the judge and jury and he shows that he had no malicious intent with the confrontation with Miss Mayella. This helps the reader understand the position that Scout is in. Scout is a kid and can’t fully understand the case and what is happening. This mostly gives you information about Tom though. You will see that his character isn’t this horrible person that he is made up to be. It is shown that he wasn’t in a situation where he wanted to inflict pain on a woman.

• b. Walter: "Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy 'bout messing 'round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet..." (Hansberry 38)

You see in this quote the type of person Walter is. Walter is a person who only cares about himself. He doesn’t want money to be “wasted” because he needs to run his own liquor company. He hasn’t shown a reason why the company will be successful and he is only caring about himself. But, this also shows some things about Beneatha. Beneatha can also be seen as inconsiderate because she is the only one living in the house with no contribution to the household. She is taking up lots of money but doesn’t supply anything. But she works very hard to make her goal happen.

1. Beneatha and Scout are pretty similar characters. Both characters are smart and hardworking. The similarities are shown through the way they handle things as well. They are both impulsive and quick to start an argument. The way they contrast is where they sit in society. Beneatha and that family are all colored and are discriminated against whereas Scout’s family is all white. But, Scout and Beneatha overall share a lot of the same value. For success I think that Scout is more set up for success. Scout is young and has a lot of potential and will be successful in what she wants to do. Whereas Beneatha is older and deals with a lot of discrimination and she is put upon more hardship to be successful. 

Ruth: "No. Mama, something is happening between me and Walter. I don't know what it is---but he needs something--- something I can't give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena." (Hansberry 42)

“I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do’em that way.”(lee 226)

Dill and Ruth are very similar and it shows that in this scene. Dill and Ruth are both sensitive and they both feel what they feel and wont change their opinions for anyone. Dill did not like the way Tom was treated in court so he started crying it did not matter his color, the boy doesn’t see color he only sees the way he was treated and he knows it wasn’t right. Ruth knows her marriage with Walter is not good, she doesn’t like the way they treat each other and she doesn’t know how to fix it. Both of these characters know right from wrong and they will not change the way they think for anyone.

 “Reverend Sykes leaned across me and whispered to Jem. ‘He got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it in Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was a boy… like to bled to death… tore all the muscles loose from his bones—’” (211) 

This helps me better understand the event that is happening because Skyes says this to scout, and it helps Atticus point out the man who raped Mayella. This also helps me understand Atticus a little better when in situations like this. As the dialogue goes on Mayella is raging and Atticus stays calm while trying to help her by asking questions. 

Ruth: “No. Mama, something is happening between me and Walter. I don't know what it is--but he needs something--something I can't give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena.” (Hansberry 42)

This helps me understand Ruth better because she understands the fact that Walter needs something she can’t give him but she still wants him to have that chance to get it. 

When comparing Atticus to Ruth, it seems that Atticus would have more character success in that novel over Ruth. He is a good man that is misunderstood and put down by others because what he is doing is frowned upon by many.

Scout, look! Reverend, he's crippled” (lee 211) this quote is showing that mr robinson's left hand was 1 ft shorter than the other and all contorted. In context mr. Ewall and mr. Tate claimed that the bruises were on her right side meaning only a lefty could have done it and Mr Robinson's left hand is crippled after an accident with a cotton gin. And when mr Ewall wrote his name in front of the courtroom Atticus proved he was a lefty.

1. Ruth: "No. Mama, something is happening between me and Walter. I don't know what it is---but he needs something--- something I can't give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena." (Hansberry 42

These quotes both show that Atticus and Ruth are similar because they both knew something wasn't right and they needed to figure it out. Although I believe that Atticus is more likely to be successful because he knew how to get that information about what isn't adding up proving he is more likely to be successful

“She’s got enough sense to get the judge to feel sorry for her…” Mollified, Mayella gave Atticus a final terrified glance (lee 205) this helps me better understand Atticus because he doesn't let her facade get to him and just keeps going on with the trial like usual. 

Walter: "Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy 'bout messing 'round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet..." (Hansberry 38) this quote helps me better understand Walter because Walter just wants to get rich quick he doesn't want to work for his money we want to get rich as fast as he can. 

I feel like Walter and Atticus are the same in that they both want the most in life and they want to succeed however I feel like Atticus is the one to experience character success because he is more adaptable to change he doesn't yell and scream at people when things don't go the way he wants he adapts and tries to find a way to get things to go his way. 

Reverend Sykes leaned across me and whispered to Jem. “He got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it in Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was a boy… like to bled to death… tore all the muscles loose from his bones—”(Lee 211). 

This helps me understand the event that is playing out because Reverend Skyes tells this information to Scout which ultimately ends up helping Atticus find the man who raped. It continues on with Atticus saying “how” did it happen and while Mayella rages and gets upset Atticus shows how calm and collected he can be. 

Ruth: "No. Mama, something is happening between me and Walter. I don't know what it is---but he needs something--- something I can't give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena." (Hansberry 42)

This quote shows me how giving and understanding Ruth is. She knows Walter needs a change but she simply can’t give it to him. She wants him to have the chance of a lifetime but doesn’t know how to give it to him.

I believe that Atticus will experience more character success. Atticus and Ruth are similar in many ways. But, Atticus is just misunderstood. He is defending a black man accused of rape and is shamed for it but he is just doing his job.  

“Until my father explained it to me later, I did not understand the subtlety of Tom’s predicament: he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run—a sure sign of guilt” (Lee 221). In the events of this quote, Tom is accused of raping a white woman. While Tom is explaining his side of the story, Scout doesn’t understand why he didn’t fight back if what he was saying was true. Scout was a young girl, and even though she was at the court listening to everything that was happening, she didn’t fully understand why these people did what they did or didn’t do what she would have done. This shows the reader that these cases can be confusing to understand, especially for Scout, but because she has Atticus, he can help her better understand everything that is happening later. This also shows that Atticus is smart, and can teach Scout the things she doesn’t understand. 

Mama: "No---There's something that's come down between me and them that don't let us understand each other and I don't know what it is. One done lost his mind thinking 'bout money all the time and the other done commence to talk about things I can't seem to understand in no form or fashion" (Hansberry 52). This quote better helps me understand how Mama feels about everything that is occurring with Walter. She doesn’t understand why Walter is doing the things that he’s doing, along with why he’s choosing to do these things. Mama is confused about everything that is currently going on and blames herself for not understanding. 

I feel like Mama and Scout are similar because neither one understands what's happening. Mama is confused about why people care so much about money and doesn’t fully understand the purpose of it, whereas Scout doesn’t understand why Tom didn’t fight back. Although they are both going through some confusing times, I feel that Scout is able to express more character success because although she was confused at the time she was able to understand later when Atticus explain to her why Tom did what he did. 

“Until my father explained it to me later, I did not understand the subtlety of Tom’s predicament: he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run—a sure sign of guilt.” (pg. 198).
Scout understands Tom’s situation and how the argument came into place. There is suspicion of Tom because he ran away, not from a mistake but from fear. This betters my understanding of Tom by showing how he is unorthodox from other Negroes from how he feels bad and would never hurt a white woman.

Walter: "Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy 'bout messing 'round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet..." (Hansberry 38)
This helps me understand how Walter succumbs to internalized discrimination. He thinks that black people can’t be high-paying doctors and further women. He wants his sister to be an impoverished black woman like the stereotype of their race. He believes that his race is discriminated against and that they lack what others have with nothing to change it.

Walter and Atticus are completely different people. Walter is of black man, while Atticus is a white man. Walter is a poor lower-class man, while Atticus is a wealthy lawyer. Walter succumbs to his race and how he has few rights and freedoms, while Atticus fights for the rights and freedoms that black people deserve. Atticus is more set up to experience character success because he is more educated. He understands the situation better than Walter. Walter is too caught up with money and his current situation. Atticus looks beyond the situation in his case, leading him further to success.

"Reverend, he's crippled!" Reverend Sykes leaned across me and whispered to Jem. "He got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it in Mr. Dolphus Raymond's cotton pin when he was a boy... like to bled to death... tore all the muscles

hose from his bones-".....

"He blacked your left eye with his right fist?" (Lee 211-212) jem points out something that is of important it is important to know that he is crippled because that is something that is important later in the case 

"No. Mama, something is happening between me and Walter. I don't know what it is---but he needs something--- something I can't give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena." (Hansberry 42) ruth knows something isent right but she doent  know what 

Ruth and jem are both similar because they both notice smaller things things that other people might not notice or if they did they might think its not a big deal. Other people might not have realy thought anything about tom being crippled it might have been normal for them just like with ruth the way her and walter hade been acting might have been normal for them. I feel like jem will succeed because he is younger and has more time in his life to do things and also ruth is older so she might not be as up for change as jem is 

“Jem scowled furiously at me, then said to Reverend Sykes, ‘I think it’s okay, Reverend, she doesn’t understand it.’ I was mortally offended. ‘I most certainly do, I c’n understand anything you can.’ ‘Aw hush. She doesn’t understand it, Reverend, she ain’t nine yet.’”(Lee,197) Jem thinks that Scout has no understanding of the trial because she isn’t the age he thinks is where kids should understand it being age nine. This helps me understand Jem more because he is changing more and knows what the real conflict is and he knows Scout doesn’t so he thinks Scout doesn’t understand anything about the case. He sees the real conflict being racism and knows Scout doesn’t understand that but she does understand what is being accused.  

"No---There's something that's come down between me and them that don't let us understand each other and I don't know what it is. One done lost his mind thinking 'bout money all the time and the other done commence to talk about things I can't seem to understand in no form or fashion." (Hansberry 52) Mama doesn’t understand that she grew up in a different time than her kids and the values are different for them. For them money and some topics are normal but for Mama when she was young this wasn’t normal topics. 

Mama and Jem have a lot in common, one being they both think they are in the right and are more “Superior” in a way and they know more because they are older. Mama’s kids grew up with a different world than her because the world changes all the time. Jem thinks because Scout isn’t nine yet that she doesn’t understand anything, she might not understand the real conflict being racism but she knows and understands what the accusations are. The person who has a better character success is Jem, He still does let Scout express her own opinions and her own ideas. Mama just shuts them down and Jem listens to Scout when she has an opinion.

“Until my father explained it to me later, I did not understand the subtlety of Tom’s predicament: he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run—a sure sign of guilt” (Lee 221)

Mama: "No---There's something that's come down between me and them that don't let us understand each other and I don't know what it is. One done lost his mind thinking 'bout money all the time and the other done commence to talk about things I can't seem to understand in no form or fashion." (Hansberry 52)

Mama and Scout are similar because they don't quite understand something happening around them. Scout did not understand why Tom would run if what he's saying is true and he did not do what is being accused of him and mama doesn't understand why money is so important to people. Scout seems more set up to experience character success because she is still young and her father's influence on the situation going on with the case and in real life can lead her to do good things. She may not quite understand everything that is going on right now and the severity of it but in time she will come to understand and learn from everything going on around her.

“Dill had seemed to be all right that day, nothing wrong with him” (Lee 225) Dill is crying which shows the emotion of the courtroom and how it weighs on some people. It helps me understand Dill's perspective on the case by showing his POV of it and how it affects him, unlike other people. It could be a trigger for an emotional panic attack. 

Beneatha: "(Dropping to her knees) Well---I do---all right?---thank everybody! And forgive me for wanting to be anything at all! (Pursuing him on her knees across the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME!" (Hansberry 37) This quote helps me understand Benetha and what she is feeling at the moment. It shows that she is mad and sad that she can't pursue her dreams because her family has held her down. The quote shows the effects someone's actions have on a person and it helps the reader understand Beneatha better. Beneatha just wants to pursue her dream but she can't even do that. 

I believe Beneatha is more set up because of her newfound African love and how her friend has invited her to Africa to learn how to be a doctor. She has nothing left in the United States after her brother gave away all her doctor funds so she really has no other way to pursue her dream other than to go to Africa. they are not very similar but they are both sad about an outcome of a bad situation that has effected them dearly.

Scout. remembers that the nearby African-American houses are clean and inviting, but the Ewell residence is filthy. The point? "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"(pg.173) it helps me better understand scout because she shows character by speaking her mind and saying their neighbor isn't any better because he scrubbed his hands with lye soap with hot water and that he is skin  is white.

Beneatha: "(Dropping to her knees) Well---I do---all right?---thank everybody! And forgive me for wanting to be anything at all! (Pursuing him on her knees across the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME! Beneatha makes me think of her as a person who over forgives and she can get annoying because of how much she apologizes a lot and gets annoying or irritating.

Scout and Beneatha are 2 different personalities in my opinion because they both have different ways of communicating and acting. Scout is more of an out-loud person who speaks what she means and says what she wants to say and doesn't care if she gets in trouble for what she said. Beneatha is more of an apologizing person and apologizes for a lot and gets on her knees to apologize and begs for their forgiveness. Scout seems to be set up for character success because she will speak her mind and will make sure people know what she means. That could also get her into trouble because she is speaking her mind and she could say something bad.

When Bob Ewell is on the witness stand and Atticus makes Bob Ewell write his name on a piece of paper to show everyone that Bob Ewell is left-handed, meaning he could have created the bruises that were on the right side of Mayella’s face, Jem says that Atticus about has the case won but, Scout doesn’t think so, until after Mayella is called to the stand and Atticus has been questioning her a bunch, then he has Tom stand up and make sure that Tom was the person that “took advantage” of her, she said it was, but that is when Scout notices that Tom Robinsons left hand is unusable realizes that he couldn’t have gave Mayella the bruises on the right side of her face. When Scout notices she says, “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right… It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him” (Lee 211) meaning that it was more than likely that Bob Ewell created the bruises on the side of Mayella’s face. Showing what kind of person Bob Ewell could be, showing you why Tom couldn’t have done it, and showing you a physical attribute of Tom.

Walter: “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you're so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people—then go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet…” (Hansberry 38). This shows us that Walter can easily be angered and it shows how he thinks that his sister should give up on her dreams to become a doctor because she is a woman, this shows that Walter is also a bit sexist.

Walter and Bob Ewell are both the head of their family. They both work to provide for their family. They both live in less-than-ideal conditions. Both can be hot-headed and are quick to make excuses for there not so good choices. The differences are of course skin color, so Bob Ewell doesn’t deal with racism because he is white and is a racist. Also, Bob Ewell has around 14 kids and lives in the country, Walter lives in a tiny apartment in the city with 1 kid, his wife, his mother, and his sister. Also, Walter doesn’t beat his kid, unlike Bob.

“Well, Mr. Finch didn't act that way to Mayella and old man Ewell  when he crossed examined them.”(Lee 226)

Dill lets me see the kids' logic side of the court case. He is obviously seeing the wrong and the lies that are coming out of the prosecutor. He hears these things not realizing that it's just part of the system and that these kinds of questions need to be asked even if they seem wrong.

Mama: "No---There's something that's come down between me and them that don't let us understand each other and I don't know what it is. One done lost his mind thinking 'bout money all the time and the other done commence to talk about things I can't seem to understand in no form or fashion." (Hansberry 52)

Mama in this quote, helps me understand how she has trouble understanding her kids, they aren't making any sense or logic to her. On one hand, she sees Walter all caught up in his money, and then she sees Beneatha not being understandable.

 I find these characters similar in these quotes by the way that they can look at the big picture and see what's wrong with it. Yes, Dill is a kid and is emotional, but at least he is sharing the same viewpoint with mama. They both see the corruptness in their situations, Mama sees the money, Dill sees the prosecutor.

227 “his mouth was twisted into a purposeful half grin, and his eyes happy about, and he said something about corroborating evidence, which made me sure he was showing off.

This quote that Jem says helps me understand Atticus’s plan for the trial and how he plans to win the trial by proving that the info that is being used for this trial is wrong.

Walter: "Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy 'bout messing 'round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet..." (Hansberry 38)

This tells me that walter has a lot of built up anger towards his sister so much so that he has become angry and resentful