To Kill a Mockingbird A review of chapters 22 - 26

Chapter 22

After the trial Jem cries about the injustice of the verdict After the trial Jem cries about the injustice of the verdict. The next day, Maycomb’s black population delivers an avalanche of food to the Finch’s. Outside, Miss Stephanie Crawford is gossiping with Mr. Avery and Miss Maudie, and she tries to question Jem and Scout about the trial. Miss Maudie rescues the children by inviting them in for some cake. Jem complains that beliefs about Maycomb have been shattered: Summary:

he thought that these people were the best in the world, but, having seen the trial, he doesn’t think so anymore. Miss Maudie points out that there were people who tried to help, like Judge Taylor, who gave Atticus the case instead of the regular public defender. She adds that the jury’s staying out so long is a sign of progress in race relations. Summary:

When the kids leave Miss Maudie’s, Miss Stephanie tells them that Bob Ewell confronted Atticus that morning, spat on him, and swore revenge. Summary:

Other Important Points: When Miss Maudie says “…we’re making a step – it’s a baby step but it’s a step” she’s talking about the change (even if it’s slow) to racism and prejudice. As Jem, Scout, and Dill watch the neighbors gossip, he says that when he grows up he wants to be a clown because he will be able to make everyone laugh instead of bringing negativity by gossiping. Other Important Points: Atticus says that it “seems only children weep” with regard to Tom’s guilty verdict. This means that only kids are outraged by the injustice of the verdict.

Chapter 23

Bob Ewell’s threats worry everyone but Atticus Bob Ewell’s threats worry everyone but Atticus. Atticus tells Jem and Scout that because he made Bob Ewell look like a fool and that he (Bob) needed to get revenge. Now that Ewell has gotten that revenge out of his system, Atticus expects no more trouble. Tom Robinson is sent to prison 70 miles away while Atticus appeals his case. Atticus feels that his Tom has a good chance of being pardoned. When Scout asks what will happen if Tom loses, Summary:

Atticus says that Tom will go to the electric chair because rape is a capital offense in Alabama. Jem and Atticus discuss the justice of executing men for rape. The subject then turns to jury trials and to how all twelve men could have convicted Tom. Atticus tells Jem that in an Alabama court of law, a white man’s word always beats a black man’s, and that they were lucky to have the jury out so long. In fact, one man on the jury wanted to acquit— amazingly, it was one of the Cunninghams. Summary:

Upon hearing this revelation, Scout announces that she wants to invite young Walter Cunningham to dinner, but Aunt Alexandra expressly forbids it, telling her that the Finches do not associate with trash. Scout grows furious, and Jem hastily takes her out of the room. In his bedroom, Jem reveals his minimal growth of chest hair and tells Scout that he is going to try out for the football team in the fall. Summary:

They discuss the class system—why their aunt despises the Cunninghams, why the Cunninghams look down on the Ewells, who hate black people, and other such matters. After being unable to figure out why people go out of their way to despise each other, Jem suggests Boo Radley does not come out of his house because he does not want to leave it. Summary:

Other Important Points:  Maycomb Social Hierarchy (according to Jem) – 4 kinds of people in the world: (1) the ordinary kind (Finch’s & neighbors), (2) those like the Cunningham’s out in the woods, (3) the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and (4) the Negroes. According to Atticus, people don’t want to serve on a jury because (1) they just aren’t interested in serving on a jury (2) they are worried about retribution, and (3) they will have to make up their mind and declare themselves to other citizens.

Other Important Points:  Jem and Atticus discuss obvious problems with the legal system: (1) there should be more than circumstantial evidence, (2) there should be eyewitnesses, and (3) the law should be changed so that only judges can penalize in capital cases. Atticus says “…it’s all adding up and one of these days we’re going to pay the bill for it.” Atticus is talking about how white people cheat black people every day. He’s saying that sooner or later the white people will have to pay for the injustices committed against the black people.

Chapter 24

In August, Aunt Alexandra invites her missionary circle to tea In August, Aunt Alexandra invites her missionary circle to tea. Scout, wearing a dress, helps Calpurnia bring in the tea, and Alexandra invites Scout to stay with the ladies. Scout listens to the missionary circle first discuss the plight of the poor Mrunas , a poor African tribe being converted to Christianity. Then they talk about how their own black servants have behaved badly ever since Tom Robinson’s trial. Miss Maudie shuts up their discussion with icy remarks. Suddenly, Atticus appears and calls Alexandra to the kitchen. Summary:

There he tells her, Scout, Calpurnia, and Miss Maudie that Tom Robinson attempted to escape and was shot seventeen times. He takes Calpurnia with him to tell the Robinson family of Tom’s death. Alexandra asks Miss Maudie how the town can allow Atticus to wreck himself in pursuit of justice. Maudie replies that the town trusts him to do right. They return with Scout to the missionary circle, managing to act as if nothing is wrong. Summary:

Other Important Points: Tom Robinson dies. He tried to escape from the prison by charging toward the fence and trying to climb over. The guards warned him to stop and then shot to kill. Tom was shot 17 times and probably would have escaped if he’d had 2 good arms. Other Important Points:

Other Important Points: Miss Merriweather says, “If we just let them know we forgive’em, that we’ve forgotten it, then this whole thing’ll blow over.” She is talking about Maycomb’s black community. She is stating that once the black community realizes that the white community has forgiven them, then the disruption caused by the trial will stop, and everything will go back to normal. Other Important Points: Miss Merriweather says, “there are some good but misguided people in this town.” She is criticizing Atticus and his defense of Tom Robinson. She implies that all this did was “stir up” the black community and cause more trouble for the white community.

Other Important Points: Scout prefers the company of men VS women because her experience is that women are gossipy and two-faced. Tom’s last words to Atticus were “Goodbye, Mr. Finch, there ain’t nothin’ you can do now, so there ain’t no use tryin’.” Other Important Points: Miss Maudie shuts Miss Merriweather down when she says, “His food doesn’t stick going down, does it?” She is saying that Miss Merriweather is criticizing Atticus and yet happily eating his food. Miss Maudie is pointing out that Miss Merriweather is an example of hypocrisy.

Chapter 25

It’s September and Jem and Scout are on the back porch when Scout notices a roly-poly bug. She is about to mash it with her hand when Jem tells her to stop. When she asks Jem why she shouldn’t have mashed it, he says that the bug didn’t do anything to harm her. The news of Tom Robinson’s death occupies Maycomb’s attention for about two days, and everyone agrees that it is typical for a black man to do something irrational like try to escape. Summary:

Mr. Underwood writes a long editorial condemning Tom’s death as the murder of an innocent man. Bob Ewell is overheard saying that Tom’s death makes “one down and about two more to go.” Summer ends and Dill leaves. Summary:

Other Important Points: The white community of Maycomb is cruel, insensitive, and blatantly racist about Tom’s death. “To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a n****r to cut and run. Typical of a n****r’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first change he saw.” Other Important Points: Mr. Underwood, editor of the Maycomb Tribune, compares Tom’s death to “the senseless slaughter of songbirds.” This metaphor is a reference to the book’s title. Theme: the destruction of innocence cause by the cruel and thoughtless actions of others.

Chapter 26

School starts, and Jem and Scout starts to pass by the Radley Place every day. They are now too old to be frightened by the house, but Scout still wishes to she could see Boo Radley. One day in school, her 3rd grade teacher, Miss Gates, lectures the class on the wickedness of Hitler’s persecution of the Jews and on the virtues of equality and democracy. Summary:

Scout listens and later asks Jem how Miss Gates can preach about equality when she came out of the courthouse after the trial and told Miss Stephanie Crawford that it was about time that someone taught the blacks in town a lesson. Jem becomes furious and tells Scout never to mention the trial to him again. Scout, upset, goes to Atticus for comfort. Summary:

Other Important Points: The Radley Place stops scaring Scout because she has grown up and had to deal with more difficult issues like Tom Robinson’s death and Bob Ewell’s threats.