In chapter 23, Jem is arguing with Scout about what divides people. Jem argues that people are divided because of their background, not who they are as an individual. Jem argues the point that what social class you're in, “the ordinary kind, like us and the neighbors, there’s like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down in the dump and the blacks” (Lee 302), is defined by when your family learned to read and write. This makes Jem’s feelings at the end of the chapter a lot clearer too me. Jem says “If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?...I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley has stayed shut up in the house this whole time… its because he wants to stay inside. Harper Lee put this one paragraph here simply to show what Jem meant on page 302. Jem goes on a rant about how people are defined in this society and why people dislike everyone around them. Jem clearly thinks that people hate each other simply because they have a different background, a different level education.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Chapter 22/23: Explain Jem’s discussion of “Background” and different kinds of folks. How does that help you understand Jem’s feelings expressed at the end of chapter 23 (302)? Why did Harper Lee put this here? (Tom)
In chapter 23, Jem is arguing with Scout about what divides people. Jem argues that people are divided because of their background, not who they are as an individual. Jem argues the point that what social class you're in, “the ordinary kind, like us and the neighbors, there’s like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down in the dump and the blacks” (Lee 302), is defined by when your family learned to read and write. This makes Jem’s feelings at the end of the chapter a lot clearer too me. Jem says “If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?...I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley has stayed shut up in the house this whole time… its because he wants to stay inside. Harper Lee put this one paragraph here simply to show what Jem meant on page 302. Jem goes on a rant about how people are defined in this society and why people dislike everyone around them. Jem clearly thinks that people hate each other simply because they have a different background, a different level education.
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I agree, but I also think there is more to why Harper Lee put this in the book. I think she is trying to show that Jem is maturing and is becoming more and more like Atticus. Scout keeps asking more and more questions to Jem, especially on why background is important. Jem points out, "Background doesn't mean Old family, I think it's how long your family's been readin' and writin'"(Lee 303). All Scout can see is that Aunt Alexandra is trying to make her learn more about "old family", but because Jem is maturing, he understands Aunt Alexandra while Scout can't because she's younger.
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