Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Examine the final line of Chapter 21. What is the significance? -Alex-
In the last line of chapter 21, we learn that there is a significance behind just standing up. When Judge Taylor is done polling the jury, and the trial was over, Reverend Sykes "punches" Scout in the arm because she didn't stand up. Reverend Sykes says, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'" (Lee 283). The significance behind this last line is that while Scout's eyes were glued on her father, she didn't realize all of the other African-Americans that were standing up, and the reason they were standing up is out of respect for Atticus that he defended Tom Robinson. When Scout didn't stand as she was supposed to, Reverend Sykes thought that it was impolite to still be seated so he warned her to stand up. Also, not only did they stand up out of but they also did because it shows how they see Atticus as a symbolic authority of the law. They believe that he is a symbolic authority of the law because he proved to Judge Taylor that it couldn't have been Tom Robinson who abused Mayella due to his crippled arm. The African-American community stood up for Atticus because they now see that he is high in authority and because he is their hero.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you. Also when everyone on the balconies stands up out of respect for Atticus Scout describes how Atticus walks. She says "I followed the top of his head as he made his way to the door. He did not look up"(Lee 283). All of the African-Americans respect him for how hard he tried but Atticus looks down because he feels like he failed them. I think that Atticus probably didn't want to have to make eye contact with anyone in the balconies or on the floor because of how they may think of him.
ReplyDeleteThe line "'Your father's passin" (Lee 248) is really interesting because of it's connotations. Passing means going through or making the cut (with implications of just barely making it). However, passing can also mean being able to'pass' for a certain race. I doubt that that's what Harper Lee meant because it's rather new slang but it's an interesting thought.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with what you wrote. During the scene, Atticus was walking down the aisle after losing the case. The community of African-Americans were all in the balcony section standing up while Atticus as he walked by. Scout, Jem, and Dill at first, did not notice the whole balcony standing up so they sat and watched Atticus. "Miss Jean Louise Finch, stand up. Your father's passin." (Lee 248) This is what the Reverend told Scout. After Atticus represented Tom Robinson so well in a case with an inevitable ending, the African-Americans were forced to give Atticus a standing ovation. All of this is spoken to Scout in those few words. It shows the power of word choice.
ReplyDeleteI agree for the most part with you. I believe that he did non only stand up because he is a symbolic authority to the law, but also because he stood up for what is right, and defended Tom Robinson while appreciating the full consequences from Maycomb's people, who believe that Tom Robinson is guilty. Atticus proved that it was in fact Bob Ewell that attack Mayella Ewell, and he satisfied the African-American community to it's greatest extent, although the white jury was not able to see the innocence in Tom Robinson. Atticus used his mortal integrity to face what is right, knowing the social norms believe it to be wrong, and the African-Americans are thankful for that, which is why Reverend Sykes scolds Scout to stand up when Atticus is passing at the end of Chapter 21, so that she can respect her father along with the others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the African Americans respect Atticus and is standing up for him. The children do not notice other people standing as their eyes were glued to Atticus, a lonely figure walking down the aisle. As Scout looks around, the author says, "I looked around. They were standing. All around us and in the balcony on the opposite wall"(Lee 283). Scout realizes that everyone is standing up for Atticus and this shows that people have respect for what Atticus tried to do for Tom Robinson. Scout is trying to process what is going on as Atticus is walking out. When Reverend Sykes says, that her father is passing, then she realizes what is going on.
ReplyDelete