Group+2

​ = = =Abbey, Melaine, Stephanie, Caitlyn, Derek, Melissa=

When Scout finally meets Boo Radley at the end of the book, did she react the way you thought she would? If not, how did you think she was going to react to seeing him for the first time? Melissa 11/5/10 9:58 PM

In a sense she did, the children were always terrified of Boo, but I think that started to fade away when they were getting anonymous presents in the tree from someone. They were very kind gifts, and the children suspected they were from Boo, which they were right. After that I did not think that Scout would be scared if or when she met Boo, and it showed that she wasn't. Stephanie 17/5/10 11:01 P.M.

Scout did react the way I expected her to. He wasn't a threat just a man that was trying to help. After so much speculation the frightening sense of boo had almost all but dissapeared. As the children got older and their imagination dulled slightly boo was no longer a terrifying subject. Melaine 18/5/7:27am

In the book you notice a lot of racism and lots of people prejudging african american people. Tom Robinson receives a bit of an unfair trial because of his colour. Do you think things like that happen today? Derek 5/10/10 8:28 PM

No, I do not think that the trial in To Kill A Mocking Bird would happen in this time and in this area. Firstly I highly doubt a case like that would even go to trial nowadays, and if it did, cases today are all about the evidence. If you have no evidence to back up your case you have nothing, as they say innocent until proven guilty. We now have the universal declaration of human rights and you are protected under that right no matter age, race, or gender. Back then Tom Robinson did not have the rights that everyone has, or should have now. Today if someone was treated unfair in trial because of their colour that act alone could make a possibly bigger trial than the one present. Although, I am not naive enough say that this would necessarily never happen in the world today, I'm sure people in third world country's and so-on are illegally discriminated against on account of their race, cetera. In North America, we are fortunate enough to have freedom and rights, I do not believe anything like the Tom Robinson case would happen in Canada. Stephanie 10/5/10 11:09 P.M.

Today the evidence in the trial would be enough to clear Tom Robinson's name in a heart beat. With that it is also enough evidence to convict Bob Ewell of the wrong doing in this situation. In some places I'm sure color still gets in the way of peoples' thoughts, however most have put it in the past and it is unjust to determine a conviction by skin color. Melaine 11.05.10 12:58am

I found that in the novel TKAM was full of racism even if you didn't notice it. The entire trial was full of racism, the even thought of a case like Tom Robinson's being open to a large amount of people would never take place. It would be a closed trial and not open to public, also racism was a large factor of the jury. The entire jury men were all male, none of them were female. That is where the female racism took place. Overall, yes i do believe that their was a lot of racism, thank goodness times have changed. Abbey 12.5.10. 9:32 am

Overall, i found this novel was a good read and enjoying through-out the entire book. The racism in this novel was well expected and it was of course a tad over the top, but that's what is expected in novels of fiction. As i said before, the whole trial was very surreal to us teenagers today as we see complete opposite to people being convicted of anything now a days. This was daily entertainment back in the 30's, times sure have changed. Abbey 16.5.10 7:48 pm

TKAM of course had racism in it, the plot and morals of the story were about people being treated unfairly on account of their race. It really is shocking to comprehend that not even 100 years ago people were being treated with such inequality. Even today, we can still relate and learn from the moral of this novel, its not just meant for race, its meant for anyone that has ever been treated unfair for being different. The circumstances have changed throughout time, however we are still dealing with the same kind of things that we were that long ago, and we always will. Stephanie 17/5/10 9:22 P.M.

I think that it does still happen today, but its just not as common and isn't really noticed. For the most part racism has been ereased from the courts, but at the same time, is done more descretely. Today, trials are defenitallly way more fair because the outcome of the trial is based almost completely on evidence. Melissa 17/5/10 10:00 PM.

Racism definitely does still happen today. We most of the time don't notice it or turn a blind eye to it. The racism exhibited in TKAM was outstanding, today that would have never been exceptable. If a court were to judge like that today they would all be sentenced and the wrongly accused set free because of peoples' stupid prejudice. It plays a high role in every day life even if it isn't all toward colored people. It could be anything from being racist to giving people lables now. Melaine 18.5.10 7:31 am

Mr. Dolphus Raymond perceives himself as a drunk, because he feels that people would be more okay with him befriending African-Americans if he was. As Scout said, "that ain't honest, Mr. Raymond, making yourself out bedder'n you are already." Do you agree with Scout that he should not be lying about this? Or do you feel that he should be so people don't scrutinize him more than they already do? Stephanie 4/5/10 5:36 P.M.

I disagree with Scout. Everyone has their own way of doing what is right for their life. People are probably at the point where it wouldn't surprise them if Mr. Dolphus Raymond confessed being sober and still enjoying the company of colored people. He has been that way so long people have just stopped fussing so badly over it. Some people would indeed be outraged, such as Miss Stephanie Crawford, but most wouldn't think anymore of it then they already had. Scrutiny was never a problem for Mr. Dolphus Raymond, it was his friends, I think, he was more concerned about them scrutinizing. Melaine 04.05.10 11:19pm

I agree with Melaine, people in this community would go absolutely judgemental if they found out the truth about Mr.Raymond. People were against black people and wouldn't be able to understand why someone would want to hang out with someone who isn't the same race as your own family. I believe that Mr.Raymond should do whatever he wants, if he doesn't mind his entire community being against his thoughts and beliefs, then why turn back now and do as everyone else desires. Abbey 05.05.10 6:30 p.m.

I think that I would chose to stay like that for two reasons: number one, he isnt a drunk. And number 2 I think people would give him much more grief for befriending black people than they would for him being a drunk. Derek 08/05 10 5:13 pm

Personally, I think that Mr. Raymond should keep perceiving himself as a drunk, I find it rather witty, and he is saving himself more grief by doing this than by doing it "sober." Scout makes a valid point remarking that this is not honest, however sometimes the truth is better left unsaid. Stephanie 9/5/10 5:31 P.M.

Mr. Raymond is, i agree, a man of witts. Going back on what has already been said and done would just cause hub bub that no one needs right now. Melaine 11.05.10 12:55am

Why do you think Calpurnia went to so much trouble to get the children to look good, when taking them to her church? What do you think of Calpurnia's 'double life'? Caitlin 26/4/20 6:13

I believe that Calpurnia tried to make the children look good, because she knew what everyone would say about the kids she brought along with her in the first place, that they didn't belong with them' black folks. First of all, everyone knows and is certain that the Finch Kids are well off and perhaps she wanted to keep up their reputation in their town. I think that Calpurnia's double life is rather entertaining, it shows the two different sides to her life and how much different white and black people were back then. It goes to show, how much race issue have changed today. - Abbey 28/04/10 8:46pm

I kinda came up with two reasons why she would want them to look good. The first simply because its church and because you are supposed to dress up when going to church. The second because she wanted them to look better then her so that everyone established that they were with her. I also think that back then people that had money or dressed like it would have been respected more. I would not call it a double life. She is respectful to the Finch's but talks normally around her friends. This reminds me a lot of the relationship between me and my parents. Derek 28/4/10 10:03 pm

Calpurnia's double is just the same as any other black gil at her time. The children in their time were to always look good when going to church. Melaine

I assume Calpurnia's reason to get the children to dress up and look presentable was so the people at her church knew that she was doing her job and keeping the children she's supposed to take care of clean and tidy. She may have thought it would gain respect with her friends and peers or wanted to keep respect she had. I don't really feel that Calpurnia leads a double life, the children were very surprised when they heard Calpurnia speaking to her friends like she was uneducated, but really I just don't think they fathomed the idea that she had a life outside of their home. The reason I would not call this a double life is because people speak or sometimes act a little differently when they're with other people, certain people bring out certain sides of you--if Calpurnia started talking like she does with the Finches her friends would look at her like she had two heads and she wouldn't feel very accepted. Stephanie 29/4/10 9:58 P.M.

Calpurnia, in my opinion, wanted to children to dress up and look good for two reasons. One, because back in the time this book was written, it was considered disrespectful to be dressed casually for church, and second of all, to show the church the Scout and Jem were the children she watched over. I don't believe that Calpurnia was leading a double life. I think that she knows how to separate her personal life form her professional life. She also wants to set a good example for the children by speaking properly and not letting see where she comes from. Melissa 1/5/10

I agree with Melissa in saying that it was considered disrespectful to be dressed casually for church in that time, because it really was. The 1930's was a much more strict time, there was more discipline and more rules. Even from watching old movies and so-on I remember comprehending that you were to always dress up very nice for church as a sign of respect--I'm sure some people would dress up as a sign of wealth as well. Stephanie 2/5/10 1:52 P.M.

I agree with Steph, as she previously said, the 30's were a time where church was taken very serious. It would be a very rare sight if someone was not fully dressed up to their best ability to look good in front of others in the town and only to respect the minister you would dress up. Dressing up would also indeed show how much money you had. Still today, people dress up to show off the amount of money you have in your family. Not much has change in this society. Abbey 2/5/10 2:40P.M.

I agree with Stephanie, even today most people dress relatively nicely when they go to church. I Also agree with Abbey, the more money people get, the better they seem to dress. Derek 2/5/10 7:58pm

Certainly most people do dress nicely when going to church these day. I agree that Calpurnia was dressing them nicely to show she was doing her job. Melissa is right when she say Calpurnia was setting a good example for the children by speaking properly infront of them. Also Calpurnia leading a double life means that she doesn't make her friends and family feel lower than she is. Mlaine 05.03.10 2:13 am

In our book Mrs Dubose is a Morphine addict. When Scout and Jem went to read to her she seemed to have progressively less fits everyday. Do you think Jem and Scout realized this before Atticus told them that Mrs Dubose had been slowly dying? Melaine 20.04.10 7:27

No, I do not think they did realized that Mrs. Dubose was dying. They had a hunch that something was off, and Atticus would tell them that Mrs. Dubose could not be held responsible for her actions because she was ill. They thought she was having fits, even a seizure, but they did not come to the conclusion that her illness was soon to be followed by death. I feel the children are to young to understand drug addictions and the symptoms unless they've had a personal encounter. Stephanie 20/4/10 7:34 P.M.

I think hey did realise something was wrong with her, and they knew she was old, so im sure they had an idea that she was close to dieing. Though they might have thought she was getting better, even though it became increaingly long and tedious for them to sit with her, while she was in a foul mood all the time. But im doubting they come to the conclusion that she was going to die very soon. Caitlin 21/4/6:16 p.m

I don't think that they realized because they probably wouldn't know what morphine is at their age. I believe that they just thought she calmed down because she wasn't so lonely all the time. Derek 21/4/10 6:58 p.m

No, i don't think they thought anything was wrong with Mrs.Dubose. They are only young children and at that age they only notice the obvious, something like being addicted morphine would never cross their minds. I think they thought, like said above, that is was just the normal Mrs.Dubose. She was just a calm old lady. At that young age it would be very difficult to recognize when someone is about to die. Therefore, i do not believe that the children notice anything out of the usual, prior to Atticus talking to them. Abbey 22/4/10 6:09p.m

They probably just thought she was a crazy old lady, when you're a child you don't analyze things like you do when you get older. Children don't try to come up with conclusions as to why something like that is happening, I think they are just aware it is and didn't think that something may have been wrong with her. A normal child's assumption wouldn't be that she must be sick because of her behavior, they would just think that Mrs. Dubose was mean and cruel. Stephanie 25/4/10 1:27 P.M.

I agree with Stephanie. I remember when I was a younger child this old, scary lady lived around the corner. All of us kids, would be always nervous to even walk by her house. As young kids we have no way of recognizing when someone older has problems with their health. Poor Scout and Jem, but they may have rather remember her as a lady who is mean and cruel, rather than a lady who was a drug addict. Abbey 25/04/10 7:15pm.

In todays world, females and males are treated equally and aren't prejudged by their traits of knowledge or sense of nature towards activities that do not associate for their gender. Back in the setting of : To Kill A Mockingbird, why do you think girls Scouts age are expected to be very lady like and do you think that Scout's traits will change as the story continues. As well, notice how Scouts teacher demands for her to stop reading novels at home with her father, do you think this may have to do with her being female? Provide your answer with descriptions from our novel. - Abbey = =

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I think girls Scouts age are expected to act very lady like because they want girls to be that way when they're older, they are teaching her how to act, for when she's no longer a child, and no longer has adults guiding her. They want to build good members for their society. I predict Scouts tom-boy attitude will change to some degree, once she becomes older and becomes a woman she will have different feelings towards things. However, I could also see Scout being a true tom-boy at heart-- an example from the novel would be Scout always protesting that she does not ever want to be like a lady. Personally, I do not feel Scout being told to not read at home by her teacher was simply because she is female. I think the new teacher is just trying to take control of her class, and wants the children to learn at the pace she planned for them, which is wrong. Children similar to Scout that excel in something like reading should not be held back from further improving their intelligence. Stephanie 14/4/10 6:55 P.M.======

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I agree with stephanie for the most part. I believe that she is being taught how to act when she grows older and becomes a women. I believe this because back then for the most part women had their assigned rolls and men had their own. Im not sure why Scouts teacher wouldn't want her to be reading outside of school. Im not sure if it has to do with her sex or not. If I were to put myself in the teachers prospective i would say that the teacher doesn't want her to get ahead of the class. Derek 14/4/10 9:08 P.======

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They are expected to be lady like because in that time period everyone (for the most part) was prim and proper, they were taught at an early age so they would be use to it and improve as they got older. Scouts traits are very likely to change in the book as she gets older, Atticus is already enforcing a little bit of change as is her brother by not letting her play with him and Dill anymore. I don't think that Scout's teacher making a fuss over her reading has to do with her being a girl. It's just that the teacher has never seen anything like it and doesn't think it's right for her to be so far ahead of her class mates, Miss Caroline says that reading is taught in first grade and writing in third. Melaine 15.4.10 7:24am====== I also think that she is being taught how to act as women are expected to. But she may always be a bit of a tomboy, and that may not change as she gets older. She is very stuborn, and unlikely to change, just because she is expected too. But as for the teacher discouraging her reading at home, i don't beleive it is because she is a girl, i think it is because the teacher doesnt want her too far ahead of the other students. But this is another example of scout's stuborness, because she is continuing to read at home. caitlin 16/4/10 6:24

Overall i agree with all of the responses above, about Scout and her Tom Boy ways. Young girls around her age all go through a stage where they just want to fit in with the boys and go and play in the dirt and have fun. Scout is more prone to act as a boy because she is surrounded by boys on a daily basis. She will eventually grow out of it. I agree with Melaine when she says that in that time period girls were encouraged to act lady like, that may be also why Atticus is enforcing her behaving to change, by not allowing her to play as often with her brother, Jem, and her friend, Dill. I also agree that Miss Caroline is just trying to adapt with controlling a class for her first time. - Abbey 17/4/10 7:05pm

I have to disagree with Abbey on the note of saying Atticus is not allowing Scout to play with her brother often because he wants her to act lady-like. Atticus is enforcing her behavior to change but not her personality. He does not want her to act up every time someone says something that upsets her, he's trying to show her that violence resolves nothing and there are much better ways to deal with your emotions. I feel it doesn't bother Atticus whatsoever that Scout is with her brother often and does not necessarily dress or entertain herself the same way other young girls her age do. Their father encourages being different and thinking differently than the norm, I think that he accepts Scout the way she is and sees nothing wrong with his daughter being who she feels comfortable being. Stephanie 18/4/10 2:02 P.M.

I agree with stephanie. I believe that Atticus is just trying to be a good father to her. I think that being a girl and growing up in a family with boys she would learn to be more like them. And i think that Atticus, being a man, doesn't really know how to raise a girl very well. Derek 18/4/10 3:58 pm

My agreements vary between all the responses posted here. Scout will most definitely stay a Tom boy and the more outgoing one. However Jem is starting to grow up and realize there is more to the world than three doors down the road. Atticus trying to enforce Scout to leave well enough alone about his trial is going to become a bigger and hard change in scout's life. Melaine 19.04.10 2:43 am