Spencer+&+James

//I// Begin your conversation here. Click on the EDIT button to begin writing. Always type the date at the top of your chat for that day.

2/18/09 chp. 1-5 //Why do you think Ms. Caroline is mad that Scout knows how to read and write?//

I think that Ms. Caroline feels insecure in the town and that she has a certain way of doing things. From the way she acts and talks it seems like she comes from a place were things are very organized and complete.

//Yeah I agree, she seems to be very strict about things but doesn't understand how things are done in the town. For example, when she asks why Walter Cunningham doesn't have a lunch and Scout says hes a Cunningham (pg. 22) and Ms. Caroline doesn't understand why this would mean he doesn't have a lunch. I also think the kids should cut her some slack becasue if i were new to a town i wouldn'y know who was rich and who was dirt poor.//

But at the same time they are just kids. Sometimes they don't understand what other people are going through. A good example of this is on page 33 when Atticus is trying to explain to Scout that she sometimes needs to put herself in other people's shoes.

//Ok, but if it is hard for kids to understand things the first time, Why is there such a low tolerance for sassing even when the kids mean no harm?//

2/24/09 chp. 6-10

//Why do you think Atticus took on the trial? Why might the passage about Atticus and the rifle be in the book?//

I think Atticus feels that it's his duty to defend anyone who needs help, regardless of who they are. That's what makes Atticus special. He does things his own way and he doesn't really care that he isn't seen as a normal dad.

//I agree, chp 9, he tells scout that he must argue the case to uphold his sense of justice and self-respect.//

It's also expresses at the end of chapter nine that Atticus is going to want Scout's help and support and that she needs to know that he isn't just a dad that can't do any of the "normal" things the other dad's do. I think the passage about the gun also relates to this by showing that in some ways Atticus is a lot more special than some of the other people in the town. It also really shows how Atticus is a little different than most other people at that time. 3/3/09

//Yes, but it is weird how he never told scout or atticus about him being a good shot. Why would he not tell them something like that? What woudl that do?//

I think part of it might be that they are kids and he doesn't want them to know, but if you think about Atticus fitting in to the average lifestyle in Maycomb, Atticus might be trying to forget about that. Maybe something happend back then that was bad and he might never want to revisit shooting because of it. When you think about it he was making up a lot of excuses for not being able to fire the gun.

//Yeah, it could also be forshadowing to something that might happen between the case he took on and Boo Radley. Like when they were in Radley's yard and then they heard gunshots and there were rumors that he shot a negro.//

It could be but we know that Mr. Radley was shooting the gun so i don't see how that relates to Atticus in any way.

//Yeah they could not even be related. A lot is coming up about Scout and womanhood, or what is expected of women and girls. What do you think of this?//

//I think Atticus is righte about Scout should stop swearingin front of Uncle Jack. Personally I think she should stop swearing in general.

3/3/09

How do you think the trial would be different if it was happening in this era?//

Well for one thing it wouldn't be as much of a big deal as it was back then. Since there is no longer discrimination against African Americans, it would be seen as just another trial. I also think that there would be no question as to who did it seeing as there is so much we can do now in order to collect better evidence.

//I would have to disagree with the fact that we would be able to collect better evidence because it is still one persons word against anothers. Like you really would be able to take DNA evidence or anything like that becasue you might just end up getting bad samples. I would agree with you on the fact that the jury would not be prejudice against African Americans because everybody has the right to a fair trial and no one has prejudice against blacks.//

I mean when I watch the news some nights there will be some random stroy about a trial and that someone is going to jail. When I see this I think, whatever it's just another bad person that did a bad thing and now they are going to jail for it. But thats another thing that is different between Maycomb and the cities that we live in. In our cities the people that we hear about going to jail are often people we have never met and will probably never meet in our lifetimes. But in Maycomb everyone knows each other and everyone knows what any other person in the town is like. This could also add to the fact that the trial is so important and so large in attendance.

3/11/09

//At the end of chapter 25 Mr Ewell is overheard saying that Tom's death makes 2 down 1 to go. Who/What do you think this is referring to? Do you think it is foreshadowing something that will happen next?//

I think this might possibly be going back to when Mr. Ewell told Atticus he was going to kill him, although Atticus said that this wouldn't come to pass and from what we gather from Atticus he is wise and usually right. Other than that however I don't remember seeing any evidence that supports that fact that Mr. Ewell wants anyone else to die. Do you remember any other passages that might show that Mr. Ewell wants anyone else dead?

//Well in Chapter 27 it also says that Bob Ewell started following Helen Robinson (Tom's Wife) to work. I think Atticus may also be a target like you said. But then you would also have someone like Helen as a target. Its kind of like how Hilter wanted all the Jews dead instead of just a couple because they were "impure". Also, he would most likely exceucute and German who helped a Jew hide from the SS or escape.//

If that comparison between Hitler and Mr. Ewell is true, that means that Mr. Ewell will try to get rid of everyone that stands in his way. We all know that Mr. Ewell is a dangerous man, so he is certainly capable of hurting (or killing) Helen or Atticus. But at the same time why would Mr. Ewell go after Helen? She hasn't done anything that has affected him in any way. This raises the question of whether Mr. Ewell means any harm to anyone. He came so close to being convicted that it makes you wonder why he would do anything violet or anything that could put him in court again.

//Well asking why he would go after Helen is acting like why go for Tom. I think just he has something against black people and he is unwilling to look from a different point of view. As far as another trial if he did try to do something to Helen, I think it would end the same way the first one did because there is just to much prejudice against black people in this era in this town.

3/13/09 It looks like I was wrong about who Mr. Eweels intended targets were. But do you actually think he intended to hurt or even kill Jem and Scout or was he just drunk and saw them walking back from the pagaent.//

I think that when Mr. Ewell told Atticus he would "get him" we all assumed that Mr. Ewell would actually try to hurt Atticus. But after reading the last few chapters we can see how Mr. Ewell's way of getting to Atticus wasn't to actually hurt him. It was to hurt his children. So going back to your question yes, I think Mr. Ewell meant to hurt Jem and Scout. I would be a little too ironic if this wasn't the case.

//Yeah i would I agree, Like he might almost be able to hurt Atticus more if he hurts his children becasue Atticus seems like a strong character but he cares deeply becasue they're really all he has because his wife is dead. But despite saying this, Why would Atticus want his son to go on trial if he did in fact kill Mr Ewell in self defense. Even though we know that Boo Radley most likely did it.//

When Mr. Heck Tate told Atticus that it would be best if this was just covered up, Atticus responded by saying that that isn't the way that he has been raising his children. He has been raising them to trust him and if he just went along with what Mr. Tate is saying, then he would be going against what he has been trying to teach his children all of their lives.

//Yeah Atticus has been teaching them always to go on the side of justuce. No matter what the consequences. But i also think that there comes a line where you have to do something even though society and maybe even the law says its wrong. That kind of the theme of the book and the trial. Atticus takes on the case becasue he believes all people should have to same oppurtunities no matter their race or believes.//