Skip to main content

What are some quotes that depict Mrs. Dubose's forgiving nature in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose is portrayed as an unapologetic racist who verbally insults the Finch family as Jem and Scout walk past her yard. Jem loses his temper after hearing Mrs. Dubose's hateful comments and ruins her camellia bushes on his way home from the store. Atticus punishes Jem by making him read to Mrs. Dubose every day, except on Sundays, for two hours. After Jem's punishment is over, Mrs. Dubose passes away, and...

In Chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose is portrayed as an unapologetic racist who verbally insults the Finch family as Jem and Scout walk past her yard. Jem loses his temper after hearing Mrs. Dubose's hateful comments and ruins her camellia bushes on his way home from the store. Atticus punishes Jem by making him read to Mrs. Dubose every day, except on Sundays, for two hours. After Jem's punishment is over, Mrs. Dubose passes away, and Atticus explains to the children that Mrs. Dubose suffered from a chronic illness. He also tells them that she was addicted to morphine, and her final wish was to break her addiction before she died. Atticus mentions that Mrs. Dubose died free and says,



"She still disapproved heartily of my doings, and said I'd probably spend the rest of my life bailing you out of jail. She had Jessie fix you this box—" (Lee 148).



When Jem opens the box, he finds a white, waxy, perfect camellia inside. Atticus then says,



"I think that was her way of telling you—everything's all right now, Jem, everything's all right. You know, she was a great lady" (Lee 149).



Mrs. Dubose's gift to Jem portrays her forgiving nature. She appreciated the time Jem spend reading to her because it helped her break her addiction. The white camellia represents her feelings of forgiveness towards Jem and serves as a keepsake to remember their time spent together.

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

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

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

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more