Verbal assault is anytime one person uses words to hurt, belittle, or demean another. There are many verbal attacks thrown in the direction of the Finch family before the Tom Robinson trial in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The first verbal assault comes at the beginning of chapter 9 when Cecil Jacobs tells everyone at school that Scout's father "defends niggers" (74-75). Scout holds her temper and doesn't beat up Cecil for his accusations, but she does go home to ask her father about the truth of Cecil's words. Atticus explains the situation to her and reminds her to keep herself out of fights over the course of the next year until the trial is over. Unfortunately, Scout can't get too far along in the year, though. During Christmas, and in the same chapter as Cecil's remarks, the next verbal assault comes from Aunt Alexandra's grandson, Francis. Francis says the following to Scout:
"Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'" (83).
In the above passage, Francis provokes Scout by reiterating what he has heard from his grandmother about Atticus. It's bad enough for Francis to be saying such hateful comments, but to know that Aunt Alexandra first said them compounds the problem and makes Scout very upset. As a result, Scout loses her temper and beats Francis up.
Finally, and probably worst of all, are the verbal assaults thrown from Mrs. Dubose, an elderly neighbor. This old woman doesn't care who hears her. Nor does she care how much harm she causes for Jem and Scout who are her victims. Mrs. Dubose's worst verbal assault is as follows:
"You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady! You'll grow up waiting on tables if somebody doesn't change your ways . . . Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers! . . . Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (101-102).
As if these verbal attacks aren't bad enough, Mrs. Dubose continues to tell the children that their father is a "nigger-lover" every day when they go to read to her before she dies. Atticus doesn't take offense to her words, or anyone else's, but the hateful attitude behind what she says is highly offensive and meant to hurt.