With Dill not being able to come to Maycomb and Atticus leaving for two weeks, Scout had a rough start to the summer. Calpurnia takes care of them during the days and invites Jem and Scout to her church, First Purchase, a colored church. Jem and Scout aren’t expecting much of a difference when going to Calpurnia’s church than their own, but to their surprise, the churches are like two different worlds. Once Jem and Scout get inside the church, they are greeted by Luna, who asks Calpurnia why she brought two white kids to a black church, which is almost like a switch in racism at the time. Calpurnia proceeds on and they find their seats to begin. Scout first discovers that there are no hymn books for them to read from, which confused Scout as to how they would read along as this was a regular at her regular church. Scout and Jem were even announced and welcomed by Reverend Sykes and acknowledged Atticus as they seemed to respect him. “Brethren and sisters, we are particularly glad to have company with us this morning. Mister and Miss Finch. You all know their father… ”(Lee 160). It is almost like everything is the opposite in the church as it is to Scout and Jem’s regular life. Normal things in Scout’s mind, like going to school and having a home would be hard to imagine someone without, but Scout’s visit to Calpurnia’s church changed that. Calpurnia told them that the people at her church could not afford the hymn books and even if they could, they didn’t know how to read. Calpurnia said that most people of color didn’t get an education, which shocked Scout as nearly 10 months of her life every year is school and people were living without it. Scout’s main takeaway is that there is a big difference between being a person of color, and being someone white. Scout now has to learn and understand that she can’t take things for granted even if it is just going to school, being able to have a family and having a roof over her head.
Would Scout have more respect for school if she knew not everyone had the right to go to school? Why did Scout not know this earlier? Should Scout have known this? Should Scout respect Atticus more, now that she knows that the people in the church appreciate him?
Scout has had a type of racial blindness throughout the book, which is due to the neighborhood she lives in and the people she is surrounded with. At her school children are the same way, and they have a racial bias against black people, most likely because of their parents views. School is seen by her like it is scene by many students in the United States, a mediatory "punishment". To many people, back then and modern day, school and education is a privilege to which they appriciate greatly. Scout has only experienced the white racial bias of people in her communities views on Atticus and she hasn't seen much, or any praise of his position in the trial until this moment. Scout and Jem are talking to Reverend Sykes after the sermon, "This church has no better friend your daddy." (Lee 163). At this point Jem and Scout feel even more welcomed into this community of people they had never been exposed to before, and Scout goes on to plan to join Calpurnia again at her home. I do not think Scout should respect Atticus more or less due to this encounter with the church because to her Atticus has always been a fair, courageous man who she admires very much.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Scout’s trip to First Purchase, Calpurnia’s church was a eye opening and important experience for Scout. Scout learned what life was like for a colored person. She also realizes her privileges, like school. Scout never knew these things, because she lives in the white part of Maycomb. Before this she hasn’t ever been exposed to other ways of living. Scout realizes that it is just different from how she lives, not worse or better. At the church, Scout and Jem are welcomed as important people. “... we are particularly glad to have company with us this morning. Mister and Miss Finch. You all know their father.” (Lee 160) Scout and Jem are able to see how grateful this community is for their father. At this church they can be proud of their father for taking on this case. Scout can see how important he is to these people, and that not everyone is against Atticus taking on Tom Robinson’s case. Scout knows that even if people insult Atticus, he is doing the right thing.
ReplyDeleteAs Scout and Jem experienced how different Calpurnia's church is from their church, it opened Scout's eyes completely. She gained a huge interest in Calpurnia's outside life, and how she raised her own son, Zeebo. Scout then wants to see Calpurnia outside of school, to gain more knowledge of the side of her that Scout has never seen before. "Out to your house... Sometimes after work. Atticus can get me."( Lee 168) Scout never paid attention to Calpurnia's outside life once she left the Finch's. At the church, when Calpurnia started to talk totally different Scout was completely shocked. This made it clear to Scout how Calpurnia was being professional at the Finch's because it was her job. "That Calpurnia led the modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one.."(Lee 167) How Calpurnia has a secret life hidden from the kids also refers back to Atticus and how he was a sharpshooter growing up. Scout and Jem didn't know about that, which left them shell-shocked when they discovered his hidden secret. As the story progresses, it starts to unravel the hidden characteristics of the characters that seem boring or " too old" to Scout.
ReplyDelete