Reading Response #5

Atticus was saying, Your not scared of that cowerd are you?

"Son, I said go home. Jem shook his head." (Lee Page 173) Jem relizes his father is in danger and he knows that the angry mob there wants to kill Mr. Robensons and they are willing to hurt Atticus to get in the county jail to hurt him. Jem wants to protect his father by being there to defuse the situation and is trying to give the crowd time to settle down and come to there sences. "Don't you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I'm Jean Louise."(Lee 174) Here we see Scout plow herself into the crowd and start randomly talking. She then try's to find some one she knows in the crowd and she sees Mr. Cunningham. She then goes on to talk about how much of a good boy his son is. This makes him think about Atticus as a single parent trying to provide for his family and calms him down. Later he calls off the mod after calming down. Scout was taught as a child to talk to some one about something they know to make them feel comfortable and that's exactly what she did and this helped defuse the situation. It is imparative we see the situation from her point of view because it makes use read in between the lines and also gives use a better understanding of the situation. 

"No son, those were our friends" (Lee 166). The quote was before the trial had happened. Atticus has chosen to be a Lawyer for a Black man and people in Maycomb aren't very happy about it. Men had came to Atticus to try to get to Tom Robinson and hurt him for what he supposedly did. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Luckily Scout comes into the conversation between the men and Atticus and she is able to get them to leave. After this situation Jem was very affected by this emotionally because he cares for Atticus and wants to make him safe. He was the reason they went out to check on him in the first place. The tension about Atticus potentially being in danger is bothering Jem but Atticus knows that Jem is nervous. So this quote shows Atticus being a good father and trying to get Jem to believe him that the men weren't bad people so that he can calm the situation down. "We've got him" (Lee 202). This is the end of chapter 17 and we are towards the end of the court trial and Atticus has just out smarted Mr. Ewell. Scout being young still doesn't really understand whats going on. But the surroundings shes in is teaching her things. She was able to sit with the African american folks. Not many white people would be willing to do that but I think that Atticus has gained respect from them for helping Tom Robinson. Jem on the other hand being older has a complete different perspective. He learned through out chapters 15-17 how smart Atticus is and from his perspective we could see how he understood what was going on. If we didn't have his perspective then we probably wouldn't help as much to know whats going on in the court. Scout hears him say what he says so Scout probably can put it together that Atticus has successfully defended Tom Robinson. Scout's perspective on the story shows us how differently she sees her surroundings and understands them. She is living during a time where discrimination was happening a lot so it's very hard for her to understand. She doesn't really understand the dangers she puts herself in but she wants to explore and know more which keeps the story moving. 

"No son, those were our friends" (Lee, 166) (before the trial)

"No son, those were our friends." (pg.166 Lee) This was before the trial has started.  Jem's reactions during this make an older audience understand that not only was he not fully sure what was happening but also kind of why its happening.  Also his reactions show that he was also very scared about what was happening and why people where going after them.  Scout doesn't really come out and talk during this part I'm sure she would be just as confused and worried at Jem. "Jem scowled furiously at me, then said to Reverend sykes, 'I think it's okey, Reverend, she doesn't understand it."'(pg.196 Lee)  In this Jem is mostly acting like he knows everything that is happening when he also doesn't understand everything,  This quote also takes place after the trial.  Scout in this is very upset that Jem said such a thing but then she goes onto realize that he actually was kinda right.  It;s important that we are viewing this from her perspective because it helps us see that even though we know whats happening she is very confused and we can see how hard it is for her during this time.

'"No son, those were our friends"' (Lee, 166). ((Pre-Trial time.))

"Don't you remember me, Mr.Cunningham? I'm Jean Louise Finch. You brought us hickory nuts one time, remember?"(Lee pg 174). Scout doesn't understand what is happening around her. In the moment she can sense the tensions are high and remembered what her father had told her to do in the past with tense situations so she tries to make Mr.Cunningham more comfortable. Scout is too young to realize what's really going on throughout the book which makes her overlook a lot of serious situations while Jem is old enough to understand/comprehend what's going on and be concerned about the situation their father is in. 

"Son, I said go home. Jem shook his head."(Lee 173) At this point in the story Jem, Scout, and Dill snuck out and followed Atticus to what looks like a secret meeting or confrontation. They get involved with it and Atticus ask Jem to take all the kids home. He refuses to and I think Jem is starting to act like this as he gets older because he feels like he has more resbonsiblity. He wants to seem rough and tough but he probably didn't even realize the danger he just put himself in by being there. "Don't you remember me, Mr. Cuningham? I'm Jean Lousie"(Lee 174) This is Scout's point of view at the same time. She couldn't really sense the tension but she could sense the awkwardness and tried to make everyone have a laugh or say something. I think Jems reactions and decisions are important in the book because you get the more adult side of the story and situation. I also think Scouts' point is important because we read her thoughts and if she knew everything that was going on it wouldn't really be a book about racism and not understanding or wanting it. 

suddenly Jem screamed "attuicus the phones rigging" Jems trying to distrcat them from talking about how there gonna loose everything. Jem knows that somethings wrong. There scared because they know somethings wrong cause they woulnt have said that.

"Son, I said go home. Jem shook his head."(Lee 173) Atticus understands the danger Jem and scout are in by being there. But Jim at an age where you try to act like you are older than you are. And scout at an age where she most really realizes then tension in certain situations.

It is important to see it in scouts perspective because she points out certain things that can be overlooked by some

"Go home, I said" (Lee 173) Scouts sees Atticus's frustration when Jem does not listen. The angry mob isn't safe for the kids but Jem wants to stay with his father. He sees all these men surrounding Atticus and knows the situation may escalate. Of course, Jem is realizing the danger in the town with the trial approaching but Scout is still young is more focused on Jem, Dill, and Atticus. Jem wants to jump in, help his father, almost be more "manly." While Scout follows, she doesn't completely understand that the men that pulled up on Atticus are bad, she tries conversing with one, Mr. Cummingham. She recognizes a familiar face and immediately starts talking to him, asking him questions like; "I go to school with Walter... He's your boy ain't he? Ain't he sir?" (Lee 174) You would think someone can identify a dangerous situation they wouldn't try to be friendly. In the end luckily for them, they have people like Mr. Underwood looking out for them. "You're damn tootin' they won't. Had you covered all the time Atticus." Mr. Underwood and a double-barreled shotgun were leaning out his window above The Maycomb Tribune office." (Lee 175) Mr. Underwood has Atticus's back, almost without him knowing which shows that not everyone is against Atticus for defending Tom Robinson. 

"I thought Mr. Cunningham was a friend of ours. You told me a long time ago he was." "He still is" "But last night he wanted to hurt you." Atticus placed his fork beside his knife and pushed his plate aside, "Mr. Cunningham's basically a good man," he said "he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us." Jem spoke. "Don't call that a blind spot. He'da killed you last night when he first went there." (Lee 179)

Jems reaction reinforced what an older audience should understand because we understand that although people have different opinions, is doesn't mean you should harm the other person because of it, and that is essentially what Jem is saying here. He's basically saying that it's not an area that should be given forgiveness, because it should be common sense not to harm Atticus because of what he is doing. 

Scouts reactions shows how clueless of what's going on she is. She doesn't realize why Mr. Cunningham was trying to hurt Atticus, so Atticus tries playing it off by saying he is a good man, and just making a mistake. This gives a different understanding because we a a different point of view that knows absolutely nothing of why people are trying to hurt her father. It is important that we are hearing this from Scout's point of view, because we are seeing that alothough racism was a huge problem, it was seen normal to a kid like Scout. She has no clue that because her father is the lawyer to a black man, people want to hurt him, she sees no connection to that. 

Jem, Scout, and Dill have snuck out of the house to go make sure that Atticus is safe. When Atticus gets bombarded at the Maycomb County jail, Jem and Scout run out into the crowd. A man in the crowd gets aggressive with Jem, and Scout comes to his defense. “Don’t kick folks. No-” he said, as I was pleading for justification. “Ain’t nobody gonna do Jem that way.”(Lee, Pg. 173) During the trial, something is said that causes the energy and hostility of the crowd to rise. Reverend Sykes tells Jem that he needs to make Scout go home, but she says he can’t. Jem and Scout have a minor argument as Jem claims she doesn’t even understand the tension in the room. “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, Pg. 197) Jem’s reactions reinforce the seriousness and gravity of the trial, especially when he tells Scout to hush during the trial. “Hush,” said Jem, “Mr. Heck Tate’s testifyin’.”(Lee, Pg. 189) Scout's confusion during the events involving the trial creates a different understanding of the progress of the plot because we’re seeing the point of view of a girl who doesn’t understand the seriousness of the situation. But also the view of a county that does understand the gravity of what’s going on. This is important because it helps us see the perspective of a young child throughout the struggles of living in Maycomb, and how they act in different situations

"'Aw hush. She doesn't understand it, Reverend, she ain't nine yet." (197) directly before this we saw Mr Ewell use some non "Christian Language usage" and Jem tries to convince the reverend that it's fine for Scout (and more accurately, himself) to stay and watch court. Their interactions throughout this whole scene are very interesting, Scout doesn't understand the big deal. She doesn't understand why this this type of thing captivates so many people, she's just along for the ride because she'd feel left out if she wasn't. This entire trial would hold a completely different tone if it weren't from the perspective of someone who wasn't completely confused. It's like Scout knows she should be excited, but she's trying hard to understand and truly can't. If we were looking at this from Jem's perspective we would understand what's going on, because he would put the pieces together within his own head, but since we are from Scout's perspective we are putting the pieces together just as much as she is. Jems reactions help establish how the town and holw the audience are supposed to feel, even if it's beyond Scout's understanding. 

"Son, I said go home, Jem shook his head" (Lee 173) Jem could see that Atticus is in trouble and in danger. By Jem, refusing to go Atticus doesn't get hurt from the mob of men. Jem is now getting older and understanding what is happening with the world and Atticus's case. He is also acting like his age.  "Aw hush. She doesn't understand it, Reverend, she ain't nine yet."(Lee 197) This quote in the book was Jem trying to convise the reverend to let them stay and listen to the case. This is true that Scout doesn't know what the case is about and what they are talking about. This had to do with her age, because she doesn't understand the case it kinda changes the narrative of the story. 

"No son, those were our friends." (pg.166 Lee) during this moment Jem's reaction is to show that he was very scared about what was happening and why people were going after them. Scout doesn't come out and talk during this part I'm sure she would be just as confused and worried at Jem.  It's important as an older advance that we are viewing this from her perspective because it helps us see that even though we know what is happening she is very confused and we can see how difficult her lack of understanding is during this time.

"No son, those were our friends" (Lee, 166) and this was before the trial had started.

An example of a jem and scout's relationship is when Jem gets mad at scout for trying to talk about how miss gates reaction was wrong or right at the Robinson trials. Jem gets mad at scout and kind of raises his voice at her and it is just different than how he used to talk to her.

'"“Aw, Atticus, let us come back,” pleaded Jem. “Please let us hear the verdict, please sir.” “The jury might be out and back in a minute, we don’t know—” but we could tell Atticus was relenting. “Well, you’ve heard it all, so you might as well hear the rest."' (Harper 189) Jem and scout are very much interested in this trial and need to hear the rest. This goes to show how much they really care about the outcome even though they aren't that old and too understanding. Jem is older and realizes how much there father is really under fire from the community. Seeing this story told through the eyes of Scout is interesting, it demonstrates how something so serious can be undermined and not seem as 'big' when you are younger. Its important because it gives you room to think and really realize whats really going on in your own understanding.

"No son, those were our friends" (Lee, 166.) Scout and Jem's relationship varies dramatically throughout the book, but it is at this point in particular that the changes in their connection show out even more. Unlike normal, Jem lashed out and became enraged at Scout for just wanting to talk to him about Miss Gates' reaction to Tom Robinson's trial, rather than talking it out and discussing the problem with Scout to clear everything out. Instead, he lashed out at her. It helps the older audience grasp his mind process and how he doesn't fully understand what's going on, especially with fear thrown into the mix of emotions he's going through. Overall, the mood is tense, and it's evident that they're all terrified and unclear of what's going on and what they should do right now.