Skip to main content

Describe the lecture that Mrs. Amos gives Bud in the novel Bud, Not Buddy.

The lecture that Mrs. Amos gives Bud in Bud, Not Buddyis as self-righteous, insulting, and dishonest as her character proves to be.  Bud has awoken in his foster home to Todd Amos, his foster brother, shoving a pencil up Bud’s nose.  Bud slaps Todd in a knee-jerk reaction, but Todd retaliates by kicking Bud again and again.  This is when Mrs. Amos enters the scene and gives the lecture.  Bud realizes immediately that it...

The lecture that Mrs. Amos gives Bud in Bud, Not Buddy is as self-righteous, insulting, and dishonest as her character proves to be.  Bud has awoken in his foster home to Todd Amos, his foster brother, shoving a pencil up Bud’s nose.  Bud slaps Todd in a knee-jerk reaction, but Todd retaliates by kicking Bud again and again.  This is when Mrs. Amos enters the scene and gives the lecture.  Bud realizes immediately that it does not matter what Bud says.  Mrs. Amos was only going to hear what Todd had to say.  Mrs. Amos’ lecture follows.


Mrs. Amos begins her lecture by calling Bud “boy,” an insult with racial overtones.  Mrs. Amos peppers her lecture with more insults to Bud when she refers to the “ingratitude” and “foolishness” of “vermin” such as Bud. The self-righteousness in Mrs. Amos’ speech is telling:



I do not have time to put up with the foolishness of those members of our race who do not want to be uplifted. … I do hope your conscience plagues you because you may have ruined things for many others.  I do not know if I shall ever be able to help another child in need.



These statements prove that the character of Mrs. Amos believes her character (and her family) to be far above all others, and especially above Bud.  Mrs. Amos also uses the incident as an excuse not to help orphans anymore.  In this way, she judges all orphans through her erroneous thoughts about the conduct of one orphan.  Further, Mrs. Amos' lecture shows Bud that escape from this foster family situation is now necessary.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more