To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 23 Chapter

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 -23 Chapter Summaries The Trial Continues… Racial Themes Jem’s Development Closing Remarks

PLOT SUMMARIES To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 -23

THE TRIAL CONTINUES COURTROOM LINGO – CLOSING ARGUMENT: The lawyer summarizes their argument to the jury and issues a plea for them to act ‘accordingly’. Lack of medical evidence Unreliable witnesses Offering of ‘real events’ with Mayella Ewell Do not assume all black people are guilty Jury deliberations… Twelve men must agree on a conviction or an acquittal. Jury takes longer than expected Jury does not look at Tom Robinson upon reentering the courtroom To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 -23

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 -23 RACIAL THEMES Chapters 20 -23 continue to explore racial themes, though Harper Lee attempts to be optimistic. How? Length of jury deliberation (Ch. 21) Judge appointing Atticus as Tom Robinson’s defender (Ch. 22) The town has taken “a step—it's just a babystep, but it's a step. ” (Miss Maudie, Ch. 22) Cunningham juror wanted to acquit (Ch. 23) At the same time, Bob Ewell begins to harass Atticus and make threats against the Finch family. He (and Mayella) have been shamed due to the accusations made in the trial. Ewell represents the racist society but he also connects to Dolphus Raymond, who must act like an alcoholic as an excuse for his actions. Neither man truly makes any sense. Therefore, at this point in TKAM, is society racist or is progress being made?

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 -23 JEM’S DEVELOPMENT Jem’s character is a focus within these four chapters. Readers see Jem develop into a young man and see his childhood innocence taken away. Injustice of verdict – Social issues Jem’s loss of innocence (sees hatred in world) causes him to become a mockingbird. His innocent views of justice and the world have been crushed Jem somewhat mirrors Dolphus Raymond Similar reaction to verdict Similar views of ‘shattered’ community: “You haven't seen enough of the world yet. You haven't even seen this town, but all you gotta do is step back inside the courthouse. ” Important for Jem not to believe this view or he will turn sad and cynical. Must embrace Atticus’ optimism.

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 20 -23 CLOSING REMARKS Chapters 20 -23 summarizes some of the novel’s important themes: Moral Beliefs Racial Inequality / Hate Loss of childhood innocence Optimism for Advancement of Society Judgement – Boo Radley: Is he trying to avoid all of this? The children’s characters have developed a great deal throughout the novel: SCOUT: Learning lessons about people and the world though too young to make a judgment yet. JEM: Has learned lessons and old enough to respond to them, (sometimes in conversation, other times through emotion – link to childhood) Have the adult characters developed? Atticus? Bob Ewell? Miss Maudie? Maycomb?