For Monday Dec. 10th

[Robin Nourie]

Once again post a passage (or more if you like!) that you find significant in the final chapter of "To Kill a Mockingbird". Take the time, too, to browse the postings from your classmates - you may find a quote that would be great for your essay!

[Carley]

"Mr. Tate stopped pacing.  He stopped in front of Atticus, and his back was to us.  'I'm not a very good man, sir, but I am sheriff of Maycomb County.  Lived in this town all my life an' I'm goin' on forty-three years old.  Know everything that's happened here since before I was born.  There's a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it's dead.  Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch.  Let the dead bury the dead.'"

Not only does this quote highlight Heck Tate's true opinion on the Tom Robinson case for me, but it also brings a question to mind.  When he said that Bob Ewell fell on his knife and killed himself, was this the truth or one of the selective changes of the past that are used so frequently in Maycomb? Did Jem kill Mr. Ewell? Or was it even Arthur Radley? Atticus did not seem to understand that some people are truly horrible, and Mr. Tate wanted to get the point across to him that they are.  Some people get what they deserve.

[jsch...@gfsnet.org]

"But it is ok to hate Hitler?'
"It is not," he said, "It's not ok to hate anyone."

[jsch...@gfsnet.org]

^ This shows Atticus's amazing ability to love everyone and anyone even the people who are truly evil like Hitler. Atticus is undoubtably a great man but this quote arguably shows his weakest side, the belief that there is good in everyone and that even if they are bad you should not hate them. This quote is a very good example of what Atticus believes in.

[caroline caraballo]

"And I still say that Jean Louise will not invite Walter Cunningham to this house . If he were her double first cousin once removed he would still not be received in this house unless he comes to see Atticus on business. Now that is that." 

"But I want to play with Walter Aunty why can't I?

"I'll tell you why" she said. "Because he--is--trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what".

[diabeti...@yahoo.com]

"Thus began our longest journey together."

Atticus wheeled around. His hands dug in his pockets. "Heck can't you even try to see it my way? You've got children of your own, but I'm older than you. When mine are grown I'll be an old man if I'm still around, but right now I'm-If they don't trust me than they won't trust anybody. Jem and Scout know what happened. If they hear of me saying downtown something different happened-Heck, I won't have them anymore. I can't live one way in town and another way in my home."

[Robin Nourie]

Yes - I find this one an interesting one - definitely discussion- worthy!

[mstan...@gfsnet.org]

...Atticus he was real nice...

-"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them"

This really short, but important quote closes a book dealing with lots of hatred with a statement saying that everyone is truly "nice", you just have to see the good in them.  Atticus demonstrates this ability with his earlier comment about Mr. Cunningham being mostly a good man, just having a few blind spots, (a bit of an understatement, as this is the same man that was coming to the Jail cell to most likely lynch an innocent man), and shows his loving-no-matter-what mentality.  This mentality is a big theme throughout the book.

[mstan...@gfsnet.org]

^ Atticus also displayed this mentality with his comment about it not being ok to hate anyone, including hitler.