To Kill a Mockingbird

AUTHOR INTRODUCTION

Nelle Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama, on April 28, 1926. Her parents named her Harper after Selma's paediatrician Dr William W. Harper, who saved her sister Louise's life. Her first name, Nelle, was a reverse spelling of her grandmother's name, and the name she used, Harper Lee, was primarily a pen name. She was a well-known novelist in the United States. Her notable works include "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Go Set a Watchman." Lee was involved in the adaptation of Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" to Horton Foote's 1962 Academy Award-winning screenplay, and he stated, "I think it is one of the best translations of a book to film ever made." "To Kill a Mockingbird," her 1960 novel, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and has become a modern American literary classic. Lee has received numerous honours and degrees, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for her contributions to literature.

SETTING 

Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird has remained enormously popular since its publication in 1960. Recalling her experiences as a six-year-old from an adult perspective, Jean Louise Finch, nicknamed "Scout," describes the circumstances involving her widowed father, Atticus, and his legal defense of Tom Robinson, a local black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. In the three years surrounding the trial, Scout and her older brother, Jem, witness the unjust consequences of prejudice and hate while at the same time witnessing the values of courage and integrity through their father's example. Lee's first and only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird was published during the Civil Rights movement and was hailed as an expose of Southern racist society. The heroic character of Atticus Finch has been held up as a role model of moral virtue and impeccable character for lawyers to emulate. To Kill a Mockingbird has endured as a mainstay on high school and college reading lists. It was adapted to film in 1962 as a major motion picture starring Gregory Peck.

To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the small, rural town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the early 1930s. The character of Atticus Finch, Scout's father, was based on Lee's own father, a liberal Alabama lawyer and statesman who frequently defended African Americans within the racially prejudiced Southern legal system. Scout and her brother Jem are raised by their father and by Calpurnia, an African-American housekeeper who works for the family. Scout and Jem meet and befriend seven-year-old Dill Harris, a boy who has arrived in Maycomb to stay with his aunt for the summer. Lee has stated that the character of Dill is based on young Truman Capote, a well-known Southern writer and childhood friend. Together with Dill, Scout and Jem make a game of observing "Boo" Radley, a town recluse who has remained inside his house for fifteen years, trying to provoke him to come outside. Local myth holds that Boo eats live squirrels and prowls the streets at night, and the children's perception of him is colored by such tales. In the fall, Dill returns to his family in the North and Scout enters the first grade. Scout and Jem begin to discover mysterious objects, designed to intrigue children, hidden in a tree on the Radley property.

ANALYSIS

CHAPTER 1

In this chapter, a brief introduction of the Finch family is Given by Scout. Simon Finch established a homestead, ‘Finch’s Landing’, on the banks of the Alabama River. He Died a rich and prosperous man. One of his sons, Atticus, Studied law; the other had studied medicine. Although both Sons left Finch’s Landing, Alexandra, their sister, remained. Atticus practiced law in Maycomb, where he lived with his Two children, Jem and Scout, and the cook, Calpurnia. Atticus’ wife died when the children were young, and Scout Hardly remembers her. The children’s boundaries for roaming were Miss Henry Lafayette Dubose’s house and the Radley house. The Radley House had always fascinated the children with its spooky Exterior. The children used to imagine that a vicious Phantom resided in the house. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Radley Were a couple who kept to themselves. Their son, Boo Radley is believed by children to have maniacal tendencies And so is kept at home. The children played games around The Radley house and dare one another to touch the wall of The house to prove how brave they are.

CHAPTER 2

Scout is to begin school, and Jem is assigned to escort her On the first day. Jem makes it clear to Scout that she is to Stay with the first graders and not try to follow him or ask Him to play with her. Scout is excited about her first day at School but is disillusioned because she is rebuked for Already knowing how to read and write. It turns out that Atticus and Calpurnia had introduced her to reading and Writing at a very early age, but the teacher is unable to see. The genuineness of this attempt and feels that it is only a Hindrance to further learning. When Scout tries to explain the reason why Walter Cunningham would not accept her money for buying lunch, She is punished by the teacher.

CHAPTER 3

Jem manages to stop the fight between Scout and Walter Cunningham and on spontaneously invites him for dinner. Scout makes an involuntary remark about Walter’s strange Eating habits at the dining table, and is severely Reprimanded by Calpurnia. Back at school, Miss Carolina is disgusted to see a louse in Burris Ewell’s hair and sends him home to get clean. The Boy’s rude behavior shocks the teacher and one student Offers an explanation about the lifestyle of the Ewells, who Breach all rules and live a life of sloth. Back home, Scout Wonders aloud to her father, whether she too could skip School and stay at home like the Ewells. Atticus explains to Her that sometimes rules are bent to maintain the harmony In society, but Scout would have to go to school.

CHAPTER 4

On this particular day, as Scout runs back home from School, she sees something glistening on the oak tree Outside the Radley house. Taking courage, she retraces her Steps to investigate and finds some chewing gum wrapped In tin foil and stuffed into a hole in the its trunk. Jem, on discovering it, makes Scout spit it out. But the very Next day, when they pass by the same place, they discover A box containing two shining pennies in it. Initially they Decide to inquire if anybody has lost some pennies, and if There would be no claimants, they decide to pocket it Themselves. Dill arrives in a blaze of glory and a fanfare of fantasies. While they are playing together, Scout gets into an old tire Which is pushed over by Jem. It starts rolling down the road And stops right outside the Radley house. In her fright, Scout runs back, leaving the tire behind. Jem, with much Ado at bravery, ultimately retrieves it. Then they plan out a Pantomime game, with Jem pretending to be Boo, Continually howling and shrieking away. They even act out The scene where Boo had supposedly plunged a knife Through his father’s pants.Unfortunately for them, Atticus catches them at it and the Game is stopped. Scout remembers that on the day she had Rolled into the Radley front yard, she had heard a low sound Of laughter from inside the house.

CHAPTER 5

Their neighbor Miss Maudie, is also a friend of the children. Scout questions her about Boo, and Maudie explains that There is nothing wrong with Boo, or rather Arthur( his real Name). Mr. Radley had been a Protestant Baptist, with Strong religious notions which Miss Maudie didn’t believe in. She then assures Scout that all the stories built around the Radley house are imaginary ones. Dill and Jem have, in the meantime, formulated a plan Delivering a note to Boo, inviting him to come out and meet Them. Scout is petrified, but agrees to carry out her part of Guarding the area, for fear of being labeled a girl and a ‘sissy’.However, their plan does not succeed as Atticus arrives and Dissuades them from tormenting Boo, instructing them to Leave him alone.

CHAPTER 6

Jem and Scout get permission to spend the last night with Dill before he goes back. Dill and Jem had already planned Out a night walk across Boo’s place. They reach the house, And Dill climbs on their shoulders to look in. He sees Nothing, however, as it is too dark. Then they suddenly see A shadow of a man wearing a hat. Just when they think that He is going to lay his hands on them, the shadow walks Away. All three run off in terror and they hear a shotgun go Off behind them. On reaching home, they find Nathan Radley, Atticus, Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie Crawford, Miss Rachel and Mr. Avery standing outside their house. It turns Out that Mr. Radley had taken a shot at the Negro intruder. Atticus, meanwhile, notices that Jem’s pants are pants (which he had lost while climbing through the fence) and Comments on it. They are left alone after some feeble Attempts at giving explanations. In the middle of the night. Jem returns to the fence to retrieve his pants.

CHAPTER 7

School has reopened and now Jem and Scout return home At the same time unlike before. Jem reveals to Scout that The night he had returned to retrieve his pants, the parts Which had been tattered had been sewn, though crookedly, And it had been neatly folded and kept across the fence. Both wonder at this new dilemma: who could have been Behind this? Later, they even find a ball of gray twine in the Knothole of the oak tree, and after waiting for three days to See whether somebody else takes it, they finally pocket it. Further, they decide that whatever they will find in the Knothole would be their property. As time passes, they continue to find things hidden in the Knothole. They find two small images carved in soap, of a Boy and a girl, that are exact replicas of themselves, a Whole packet of chewing gum, a tarnished medal and the Biggest prize of all – a pocket watch on a chain with an Aluminum knife. After that, they write a letter of Appreciation for all the gifts they have received but when They reach the tree, they find that the knothole has been. Nathan Radley has done this, putting forward the Explanation that the tree had been dying. But Atticus Informs that the tree is quite healthy. Jem is upset about This but is unable to do anything.

CHAPTER 8

Winter arrives in Maycomb County. Mrs. Radley expires, but This causes no ripples. Scout is frightened on seeing the Snow. Since school is declared closed on account of the Snow, Scout and Jem decide to visit Miss Maudie. They Borrow the snow from her yard and build a snowman which Resembles Mr. Avery. In the night, Scout is woken up from her sleep, and is Informed that Miss Maudie’s house has caught fire. Atticus Orders the children to stay near the Radley house while the Fire is being put out. Later, they discover that a woolen Blanket has been thrown over Scout’s shoulders. How it has Come there is a mystery to both Scout and Jem. Then, Atticus is told of all the mischief that they have done around The Radley house. On being told that it may well have been Boo who has put the blanket, Scout is terrified.

CHAPTER 9

Scout is pushed into a fight with her classmate, who had Jeered her father for defending the ‘niggers’.On being Questioned, Atticus does agree that he defends niggers, in Particular the one named Tom Robinson. He explains that Though the case is a tricky and a complex one, it is Important for his own self-esteem. Moreover, his conscience Compels him to suffer on behalf of the injustice carried out By his community. Another reason for taking up the case is That if he did not, he would not be able to represent their Country in the legislature. Besides, the case is equally Important for him to be able to stand up to his anti-racial Stance. Christmas arrives with mixed feelings for Jem and Scout Since they have to spend it at Finch’s Landing, with Aunt Alexandra, Atticus’ sister. They receive air rifles as Christmas gifts from Atticus. Getting acquainted with the Relatives once again seems a tiring job and Scout finds her Cousin Francis a terrible bore. Aunt Alexandra is outraged That Scout is still in breeches and not in a dress. The Children make a very amusing comparison of Aunt Alexandra with Mount Everest Scout and Francis have a quarrel first over Dilland then Over Atticus, whom Francis calls a ‘nigger-lover’.Uncle Jack Mediates between them. Uncle Jack is unable to Comprehend Scout’s way of thinking and admits to Atticus How he himself is better off for not having married at all.

CHAPTER 10

Atticus refuses to teach the children how to shoot and Uncle Jack takes up the charge of giving them the lessons. Atticus Only tells them that they may shoot at anything but a Mockingbird. He explains that mockingbirds hurt no one; They only sing for people to enjoy, so killing a mockingbird iIs definitely a sin.While going for a walk across the Radley house, they notice Tim, Mr. Harry Johnson’s dog, behaving strangely. The Children rush home to inform Calpurnia. It turns out the dog Had turned mad, and Calpurnia rushes around, informing Everyone about it. The sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate request Atticus to shoot down the dog. Atticus kills the dog in one Shot! The children who had never been aware of their Father’s shooting prowess are truly stunned. It turns out Their father’s nickname in his younger days was ‘ol,’one-Shot’. Miss Maudie then explains to the children that though Atticus was such a fine shooter, he had decided long ago That he would shoot only when it would be absolutely Necessary to do so. She also describes him as a very Civilized being at heart.

CHAPTER 11

Jem and Scout have outgrown the practice of bothering Boo. They now encounter Mrs. Dubose, an old woman with A wrathful gaze and a vitriolic tongue, who never fails to Shower abuses on Jem and Scout, as well as on Atticus and The entire Finch family. One day, in his anger, Jem cuts down the tops of every camellia bush owned by Mrs.Dubose. Atticus, of course, makes Jem go back and Apologize to her. As a punishment, Jem is ordered to go to Mrs. Dubose’s house and read out to her for a month. Everyday, he would read out till the alarm clock, set beside The bed, would ring, signaling the time for him to go home. A month later the reading stops. Some days later, Atticus Informs them that Mrs. Dubose had died, leaving a box Containing a waxy perfect camellia for Jem. Later on, Jem is Told that the reading sessions had been conducted only as a distraction for her to overcome her morphine addiction. Mrs.Dubose had died a free woman.

CHAPTER 12

Jem reaches the age of 12 and wants Scout to stop pestering him. Scout eagerly awaits the arrival of summer and the arrival of Dill. To Scout's disappointment, Dill does not come to Maycomb this summer. Instead, he sends a letter that he has a new father and he will stay in Meridian for the summer. To make matters worse, the state legislature is in session, which means that Atticus must travel two days a week. In his absence, Calpurnia decides that the children to the "colored" church. Maycomb's only black church is called first purchase because it was bought with the earnings from the first freed slaves. Lula, a church member, criticized Calpurnia for bringing the children to their church, but the congregation is generally friendly and even Reverend Sykes welcomes them. The church has no hymnals so the congregation repeats the spoken words of Zeebo ( Calpurnia's eldest sona nd town garbage collector). During the service, Reverend Sykes takes up an offering to help support Helen, Tom Robinson's wife. Helen cannot find work since her husband is accused of rape. After the service, Scout discovers that Tom is being charged by Bob Ewell. She cannot believe that anyone would believe a Ewell. When the children return home, they find Aunt Alexandra waiting for them.

CHAPTER 13

Aunt Alexandra explains that she will stay with the children for a while to give them a feminine influence. Maycomb welcomes her and she soon becomes a part of the social circle. Alexandra is proud of the Finches and spends a lot of time discussing the various families of Maycomb. She discusses the ancestry of the town and how all the families have their quirks and eccentricities. She believes that Scout and Jem lack pride in their history, and implores Atticus to teach them more. Eventually, Alexandra makes Scout cry.

CHAPTER 14

As the Tom Robinson trial draws closer, the Finch children become the focus of whispers and talk amongst the townspeople. Aunt Alexandra forbids Scout to return to First Purchase and attempts to make Atticus fire Calpurnia. That same night, Jem tells Scout not to antagonize Alexandra. Scout dislikes her brother's attitude which prompts a fight between the two. Atticus breaks up the fight and sends both children to bed. Dill says he has run away from home because his mother and his new father did not pay enough attention to him. He confesses to having taken the train from Meridian to Maycomb junction and walking the remaining fourteen miles to the Finch home. Jem tells Atticus that Dill is in the house, and Atticus requests that they give him more food. Dill climbs into Jem's bed to go to sleep, but eventually climbs in Scout's bed to talk things over.

CHAPTER 15

As the trial nears Tom Robinson is moved to the Maycomb jail and concerns of a lynch mob arise. Jem informs Scout that Alexandra and Atticus have been fighting about the trial and Alexandra believes Atticus’s decision to represent Tom will bring disgrace to the Finch family name. Atticus takes his car to the town center. The children follow behind and see him sitting in front of the jail reading the paper. Jem suggests not to disturb Atticus. At that time, a group of men drive up and demand Atticus to move from in front of the jail door. Scout runs out from her hiding place to aid her father. Jem and Dill follow. Atticus orders the children to return home. Jem refuses and one of the men tells Atticus that he has 15 seconds to remove his children. Scout look around the group and notices Mr. Walter Cunningham. She tells him to tell little Walter “hey”, Mr. Cunningham is ashamed and quickly tells Scout he will tell his son hello. He tells his companions to clear out. The men leave and Mr. Underwood, the owner of the newspaper, leans out a nearby window with a double barrel shotgun and tells Atticus he had him covered the entire time. Atticus takes the children home.

CHAPTER 16

The trial begins the following day and people from all over the county flood Maycomb. Miss Maudie refuses to attend the trial saying that watching someone on trial for their life is like a Roman carnival. Jem, Scout and Dill wait for the lunch group to reenter the courthouse so they can sneak in without their father noticing. They wait too long and all the seats are taken. Reverend Sykes lets them seat in the balcony with all the other blacks. Judge Taylor, a white-haired old man, presides over his courtroom. He is notorious for running his court in an informal manner.

CHAPTER 17

The prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer, questions Heck Tate about the events that occurred on November 21 at the Ewell residence. When Tate arrived, Mayella was beaten and bruised. She accused Tom Robinson of rape. Atticus cross-examines Heck who tells him that no doctor was called to Ewell home, and that all the bruises were concentrated on the right side of her face. Bob Ewell takes the stand. Bob Ewell and his children live behind the town garbage dump in a tin-roofed cabin and that the front yard is full of trash. Ewell testifies that on the night in question, he was coming out of the woods with a load of kindling when he heard his daughter scream. When he reached the house, he saw Tom raping his daughter. Robinson fled as Ewell entered the house. He checked on his daughter and ran for the sheriff. Atticus cross-examines and asks why no doctor was called. Ewell says it was too expensive and there was no need. Atticus has Bob Ewell write his name so the court can see. The jury sees that he is left-handed and a left-handed man would be more likely to leave bruises on the right side of a girl’s face.

CHAPTER 18

As the trial continues, the town is glued to the proceedings, and cannot wait until Mayella takes the stand. When she does, she is terrified. She says she called Tom Robinson inside the fence and offered him a nickel to break apart an old dresser. Once Tom was inside the house, he raped her. In Atticus’s cross-examination, Mayella confesses that she has seven unhelpful younger siblings, a drunken father and feels mostly alone. Atticus asks her why she didn't’t put up a better fight? Where were the children? And finally, how could Tom physically perform these actions with a left hand that was destroyed by a cotton gin when he was a child. Atticus pleads with Mayella to admit that there was no rape and that her father beat her. She shouts at Atticus and calls the courtroom a bunch of cowards if they are afraid to convict Tom. Mr. Underwood notices the children in the balcony but Jem tells the others that we won’t tell Atticus. The prosecution rests and Atticus calls only one witness – Tom Robinson.

CHAPTER 19

Tom testifies that he passed the Ewell house everyday on his way to work and often, Mayella would ask him to help her with chores. He recounts that on one occasion he was asked to help repair a door, but once he got to the door nothing was wrong with it and all the other children were gone. Mayella told him she had saved her money and sent them to buy ice cream. Then she asked him to lift a box down from the dresser. When he stepped into the chair, she grabbed his legs and scared him so much that he jumped down. She asked him to kiss her. As she struggled, her father appeared at the window, threatening his daughter. Link Deas, Tom employer, stands up in the courtroom and declares that in eight years of work, he has not had a single problem with Tom. Judge Taylor expels Deas from the courtroom. Mr. Gilmer cross-examines Tom and has him admit that he was once convicted of disorderly conduct and even though disabled he is still strong. Mr. Gilmer implies that Tom had motives for always helping Mayella. Tom eventually declares that he felt sorry for her. This comment puts the courthouse ill at ease – since in Maycomb, black people are not supposed to feel sorry for white people. Mr. Gilmer accuses Tom of lying about everything. Dill begins to cry and Scout takes him out of the courthouse. Dill complains to Scout about Mr. Gilmer’s treatment of Tom.

CHAPTER 20

Outside the courthouse, Dill and Scout run into Mr. Dolphus Raymond, a rich white man who has married a black woman and had mulatto children. He offers Dill a sip from his drink. Scout (as does the town) presumes the drink to be alcohol, but once Dill drinks it he reveals that it is nothing more than Coke. He says he drinks the coke this way to present an image to the townspeople and provide an explanation for his lifestyle, when in fact, he prefers to be seen this way. Dill and Scout return to hear Atticus’ final remarks. He makes a personal appeal to the jury to spare the life of Tom Robinson. The prosecution has provided no medical evidence and both Ewell testimonies are questionable. The physical evidence supports that Bob Ewell beat Mayella, not Tom Robinson.He speculates that Mayella was lonely and depressed and welcomed the visits by Tom. She then concealed her shame by accusing Tom of rape rather than admit the truth. Atticus pleads for Tom’s life. Calpurnia arrives at the courtroom at the end of the chapter.

CHAPTER 21

Calpurnia arrives and passes a note to Atticus letting him know the children have not been home since noon. Mr. Underwood informs Atticus that the children are in the black balcony. Atticus tells the children to go home and have supper. They beg to stay and hear the verdict, but Atticus sends them home saying they can return after supper, knowing that the decision will be made by then. Calpurnia takes the children home and feeds them. They eat quickly and return to the courthouse before the verdict is read. Evening comes and the jury continues to deliberate. Finally, after eleven, the jury returns. The twelve men enter the courtroom and do not look at Tom Robinson. They find Tom guilty. As the courtroom empties, Atticus begins to leave and the entire colored balcony stands a sign of respect.

CHAPTER 22

That night, Jem cries over the injustice of the verdict. The following day, the black community of Maycomb delivers food to the Finch household. Jem confesses that his illusions about Maycomb have been shattered. Miss Maudie tells Jem there were people who tried to help like Atticus and Judge Taylor. She adds that the jury staying out so long constitutes a sign of progress in race relations. Miss Stephanie Crawford informs the children that Bob Ewell spat in Atticus’s face and swore revenge earlier in the day.

CHAPTER 23

Bob Ewell’s threats worry everyone in the family with the exception of Atticus. Atticus presumes that the situation had come to a close since Ewell spat in Atticus’s face. Tom Robinson has been sent to another prison seventy miles from Maycomb until his appeal is finalized. Atticus believes Tom has a good chance of being pardoned. Scout inquires as to what will happen to Tom if he is found guilty. Atticus tells her that rape is a capital charge in the state of Alabama and Tom Robinson will go to the electric chair. Atticus and Jem discuss the verdict and how twelve men could condemn Tom to death with the evidence presented. Atticus tells Jem that a white man’s life is worth more than a black man’s. Atticus confesses that one of the jurors wanted to acquit, Mr. Walter Cunningham. Scout insists on having young Walter over for dinner, but Aunt Alexandra forbids it saying that Finches do not associate with trash. Scout grows angry with her aunt, and Jem takes her out of the room. Jem says he is going out for the football team in the fall. Jem and Scout discuss the class system. Jem suggests that’s why Boo Radley doesn’t come out of his home. Because he doesn't’t want to see the way people treat one another.

CHAPTER 24

One day in August, Aunt Alexandra invites her missionary circle to the Finch home. She invites Scout to stay and be a part of the meeting. Atticus arrives and calls Alexandra into the kitchen. He reveals to Scout, Miss Maudie, Alexandra and Calpurnia that Tom Robinson was killed as he was trying to escape from prison. He was shot seventeen times. Atticus takes Calpurnia with him to tell the Robinson family. Alexandra continues to question Atticus’s loyalty to the family name. Miss Maudie replies that the town trusts Atticus to do what is right.

CHAPTER 25

Jem and Scout are on the back porch when Scout discovers a roly-poly. She is about to crush it when Jem tells her not to kill it. She takes the bug outside. When Scout asks why she shouldn't’t have killed it, Jem responds that the bug did nothing to her to warrant death. Scout believes that it is Jem who is becoming more and more like a girl. Scout reflects on something Dill told her. When Jem and Dill were on their way home from swimming, Jem convinced Atticus to let him go with him to the Robinson home as he told Helen about her husband’s death. Everyone in Maycomb says it’s typical for a black man to do something so irrational as to attempt to escape. Mr. Underwood writes a long editorial condemning Tom’s death as the murder of an innocent man. Bob Ewell says that Tom’s death is “one down and about two more to go”. Summer ends and Dill leaves Maycomb.

CHAPTER 26

School starts and Jem and Scout walk past the Radley house each day. Both are old enough to no longer fear Boo, but Scout longs for one opportunity to see him. Jem is so enraged by the discussion of the trial that he yells at Scout and tells her to never mention the trial again. Scout goes to Atticus for comfort.

CHAPTER 27

In October, Bob Ewell takes a job with the WPA, one of the depression job programs. He loses the job a few days later and blames Atticus. Later in the month, Judge Taylor sees a shadow creeping around his porch. Ewell begins to follow Helen to work. Link Deas threatens to have him arrested, and he gives Helen no further trouble. Alexandra is worried and fears anyone involved in the case is in danger. The town sponsors a play at the school for Halloween. The play is an agricultural pageant in which every child portrays a food. Scout is dressed as a ham. Both Atticus and Alexandra are too tired to take Scout to the play, so Jem takes her.

CHAPTER 28

On the way to the pageant, Cecil Jacobs jumps out and scares Jem and Scout. As the pageant begins, Scout has fallen asleep and misses her entrance. Scout is accused of ruining the pageant. She is so ashamed she and Jem wait backstage until everyone has gone before they make their way home. On their way home, Jem hears noises, but assumes it’s Cecil trying to scare them again. Their pursuer runs after them as they approach the road. Jem yells for Scout to run, but in her costume, she gets tangled and falls. Alexandra removes Scout’s costume and explains that Jem is unconscious, not dead. The doctor arrives and says Jem has a broken arm and a bump on the head. Heck Tate investigates and finds Bob Ewell dead. He has been stabbed under his ribs.

CHAPTER 29

Scout tells everyone what she saw. Heck Tate examines her costume and explains that Bob Ewell tried to stab her but the costume saved her life. Scout examines the character in the corner. He is pale, with torn clothes and a thin, pinched face with colorless eyes. She realizes it’s Boo Radley.

CHAPTER 30

Scout walks with Boo to the front porch where Atticus and Heck Tate are arguing.Heck calls Ewell’s death an accident, but Atticus, thinking his son killed Ewell doesn't’t want him protected by the law. Heck says Ewell fell on his knife. Jem did not kill him. Heck knows that Boo killed Bob Ewell to save the children. Heck says Boo doesn't’t need the attention of the town brought to his door. Tom Robinson died for no reason, and now the man responsible is dead.

CHAPTER 31

Scout takes Boo upstairs to say goodnight to Jem then walks him home. He goes inside his house and she never sees him again. She returns home and finds Atticus in Jem’s room. He reads one of Jem’s books to her until she falls asleep.

THEMES 

1.Significance of Moral Education:

Because exploration of the novel’s larger moral questions takes place within the perspective of children, the education of children is necessarily involved in the development of all of the novel’s themes.

This theme is explored most powerfully through the relationship between Atticus and his children, as he devotes himself to instilling a social conscience in Jem and Scout. The scenes at school provide a direct counterpoint to Atticus’s effective education of his children: Scout is frequently confronted with teachers who are either frustratingly unsympathetic to children’s needs or morally hypocritical. As is true of To Kill a Mockingbird’s other moral themes, the novel’s conclusion about education is that the most important lessons are those of sympathy and understanding, and that a sympathetic, understanding approach is the best way to teach these lessons. In this way, Atticus’s ability to put himself in his children’s shoes makes him an excellent teacher, while Miss Caroline’s rigid commitment to the educational techniques that she learned in college makes her ineffective and even dangerous.

2.Involvement of Good and Evil :

The novel approaches this question by dramatizing Scout and Jem’s transition from a perspective of childhood innocence, in which they assume that people are good because they have never seen evil, to a more adult perspective, in which they have confronted evil and must incorporate it into their understanding of the world. As a result of this portrayal of the transition from innocence to experience, one of the book’s important subthemes involves the threat that hatred, prejudice, and ignorance pose to the innocent: people such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are not prepared for the evil that they encounter, and, as a result, they are destroyed. 

3. Justice:

Though the trial of Tom Robinson takes up only about one tenth of the book, it represents the narrative center around which the rest of the novel revolves. This trial seems intended as an indictment of the legal system, at the least as it exists of within the town of Maycomb. Procedurally, the judge carries out the trial properly. The lawyers select the jury through normal means, and both the defense and prosecution to make their cases. But the all-white jury does not interpret the evidence according to the law, but rather applies their own prejudices to determine the outcome of the case. Tom Robinson’s guilty verdict exemplifies the limitations of the law, and asks the reader to reconsider the meaning of the word “fair” in the phrase “a fair trial.” 

4. Untruthfulness: 

There are two lies at the heart of To Kill a Mockingbird. Mayella Ewell says that Tom Robinson raped her, and Heck Tate says that Bob Ewell accidentally stabbed himself. The first lie destroys an innocent man who occupies a precarious social position in Maycomb because of his race. The second lie prevents the destruction of an innocent man who occupies a precarious social position in Maycomb because of his extreme reclusiveness. Taken together, the two lies reflect how deception can be used to harm or to protect. The two lies also reveal how the most vulnerable members of society can be the most deeply affected by the stories people tell about them. Social status also determines who is allowed to tell a lie.