What makes jem and scout part company

The jury specifically, and the town of Maycomb generally, destroy a good person who has never done harm simply because of the color of his skin. Though Tom is the symbolic mockingbird at the heart of the novel, he is not the only character who fits that description. Heck Tate also specifically describes Boo Radley as a mockingbird, in that he is a harmless person who is the victim of pointless cruelty. Unlike Tom Robinson, Boo Radley is not destroyed, though he does suffer greatly.

In Chapter 11, Atticus shoots a mad rabid dog in the street. This episode serves two important purposes in the novel. Before the incident with the dog, Scout and Jem saw their father as old, reserved, and not particularly powerful. When Scout and Jem learn that their father is known as the best shot in the entire county, they learn to see Atticus with a greater sense of respect.

In a larger symbolic sense, the dog, because it has rabies, is a dangerous threat to the community. In shooting the dog, then, Atticus is trying to protect the community from its most dangerous elements.

Similarly, in defending Tom Robinson, Atticus tries to protect the community from its most dangerous, racist tendencies. In the first sentence of the novel, Scout says that Jem broke his arm. She starts to explain what happened but says that she needs to go back and provide the necessary context in order for the story to make sense. Jem breaks his arm in the struggle. While initially the reader might assume Jem broke his arm through innocent childhood games, by the end of the novel we understand the darker, more complicated truth behind the accident.

In the early chapters of the book, Jem and Scout find several small items, ranging from sticks of gum to a pocket watch, left by Boo Radley in the knothole of a tree on the Radley property. These gifts are the first of several kindnesses that Boo extends to the children, ultimately culminating in Boo killing Bob Ewell to protect Jem.

The gifts also represent one of the ways that Boo tries to engage with the world around him without giving up the secrecy and privacy that he requires. After constantly fighting whether Scout is going to further explore the Radley house, it started to get on Jem's nerves.

The differences between genders also plays a big role in the parting of the Finch kids. With Scout maturing, she will change her opinions and thoughts to be increaslingly similar to those of a girl. When Scout was younger she had more of a boy's personalitity due to the fact that she spent so much time being around Jem. Now that Scout is more independent, the two siblings will begin to "part company".

Will Atticus notice the changes of Scout and Jem's relationship and try to intervene? How will Jem respond to Scout's girlish behavior? What does the rabid dog Atticus shoots symbolize? How did Jem break his arm? What is the significance of the gifts Boo Radley leaves in the knothole? Why does the jury find Tom guilty? What role does Calpurnia play in the family and in the novel?

Why is Dill an important character? What does Mrs. Dubose teach Scout and Jem? Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a brown paper bag? Why does Mayella Ewell lie on the witness stand? What qualities make Atticus a good father? Why does Aunt Alexandra move into the Finch household? Summary Chapters 14— They have no idea that they're breaking a cultural taboo. Many whites would miss the trial before they would sit amongst people of another race.

Ironically, Scout feels like they have a better view from the balcony than they would from the floor — unfortunately, what they're going to see won't be pretty. Significant, too, is that four black people rose to give the minister and three white children their front-row seats. Some would argue that they gave up their seats out of respect for Reverend Skyes; others may say that they gave up their seats out of respect for Atticus.

In truth, they would be expected to give up their seats for any white person who wanted them. Lee introduces an interesting discussion of what makes a person a member of one race or another through the character of Dolphus Raymond — a white man, rumored to be a drunkard, with biracial children. Worse than being black is being "mixed. Colored folks won't have 'em because they're half white; white folks won't have 'em 'cause they're colored, so they're just in-betweens, don't belong anywhere.

When Jem points out some biracial children, Scout can't tell that they're "mixed" and wonders, then, how Jem knows that they aren't also mixed.

Jem has discussed this topic with Uncle Jack, who says that they may have some black ancestors several generations back. Somewhat relieved, Scout determines that after so many generations, race doesn't count, but Jem says, "'around here once you have one drop of Negro blood, that makes you all black.

The importance of place again comes to light in these chapters. As the children watch the town heading for the courthouse, "Jem gave Dill the histories and general attitudes of the more prominent figures. What they take for granted is news to Dill, which forces them to look at their town in a different light. Place is also important in the sense that Dill feels compelled to return to Maycomb, even though that means running away from home.

Dill is unhappy with his new stepfather, but readers sense that summers in Maycomb have become part of Dill's sense of place.

After two summers in Maycomb, he belongs there. Maycomb may not be a very nice town to live in if you aren't white, but for Dill, the town is a sanctuary when things are stormy elsewhere. For Scout, Maycomb and her family are as much a part of her as her own skin.

Listening to Dill's reasons for leaving his home, Scout "found myself wondering. Even Calpurnia couldn't get along unless I was there. They needed me. Later, she and Dill discuss why Boo Radley has never run away — he surely must not feel wanted.