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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.

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