The novel is set in the 1930’s in a small community in Maycomb County, located in the South. Although slavery has been legally abolished for many years, the Southerners in Maycomb continued to believe in white supremacy, and the novel projects the social snobbery and the prejudice attached to these southern values.

LIST OF CHARACTERS

A highly respected and responsible citizen of Maycomb County. He is the father of Scout and Jem. An attorney by profession, he is very particular about delivering justice.

Atticus’ darling daughter. An impulsive girl by nature, she keeps rushing into fights and is more emotional than her brother.

He is the son who is deeply motivated to follow his father's footsteps. The important idea of maturity is well depicted in his character as he has gains maturity by the end of the novel.

He is called ‘Boo’ by Scout and Jem. He is an enigmatic character, who never steps out of his house, nor maintains any relation with the townsfolk. Yet, he attempts an indirect friendship with the children. He is a pathetic figure in his need for love and attention.

An uncultured, uncouth, inherently evil character, who drinks up all the relief money, beats up his children, and has no qualms in resorting even to murder to restore his lost dignity among the community members.

Aunt Alexandra

Atticus’ sister who comes to live with them, since it seemed necessary that there should be some feminine influence in the house. Aunt Alexandra seems too stern and forbidding at the beginning, but later on, her soft-heartedness is revealed.

The family’s black housekeeper who has looked after the family since the children had lost their mother. Her presence has contributed to the molding of the children’s character to a great extent.

The closest friend of both Jem and Scout. Through habitually weaving long fantasies, he reveals himself to be a child, deprived of love and attention.

Their neighbor. He is an unrelenting father in that he punishes Boo to a stern solitary confinement. He is a complete contrast to Atticus in the role of a father.

Their neighbor and local gossip, who cannot help trying to be the first one to pass any rumor or to speculate on any piece of gossip.

Boo Radley's older brother. Shares some of the cruel traits of his father.

The children’s confidante who always takes pains to explain human character and its whims to the children.

Bob’s young daughter, who in her search for company and affection, puts the innocent Tom Robinson into deep trouble.

A young Negro laborer. He is honest and helpful but is unfairly convicted and even found guilty for crime he has not committed. The inequality towards blacks reaches a peak in the treatment given to him by the whites.

They are what are termed as the ‘poor whites’, but they are decent self-respecting, hardworking people who always try to pay off their debts in whatever manner possible.

The sheriff of Maycomb county who is a sincere and respected man of society. At the end of the novel, he uses his discretion over the death of Bob Ewell to save a lot of unnecessary speculation.

The seemingly lethargic and disinterested judge for the Tom Robinson - Mayella case but who underneath, is a very alert and perceptive judge .

The bitter tongued, garrulous old neighbor of Atticus, who presents herself as an irritating and corrosive woman to the children, but who really is a very strong-willed and considerate person.

The protagonist of the novel is Atticus Finch, who is the prime initiator and coordinator of various events in the novel. In his involvement with the poor whites of the community, like Walter Cunningham, as well as the deprived blacks, like Tom Robinson, he is portrayed as a just, sincere and a greatly considerate human being. He has clear-cut values and beliefs, and it is his sincere wish that his children too grow up with a broad outlook and an unprejudiced way of thinking. He is indifferent to what others have to say or think about his actions, and he is steadfast in his beliefs of equality and liberty.

Bob Ewell serves as the perfect villain in the novel, with his laid-back way of living and the utter disregard he has for other human beings. In the beginning he comes across only as a slovenly figure, uncaring about his family and brash in his dealings with others. But after the Tom Robinson episode, it is alarming to discover him an unfeeling, pretentious no-gooder who has no qualms about sending an innocent bystander to the gallows. Even after winning the case, on realizing that he has lost his respect in the people (because of Atticus), he even attempts harming Atticus’ children, thus leaving not an iota of sympathy for himself in the reader.

The events in the novel build up to the singularly important and climactic scene of the courtroom, where Atticus tries to defend Tom Robinson from the allegations of Bob and Mayella Ewell. The tension is maintained throughout the trial as to whether Atticus would or would not win the case. Though the audience feels strongly for Tom’s plight and it is apparent that he is innocent, the jury delivers the verdict that Tom is guilty. The immediate response to this is extreme disappointment and dejection, but the jury’s verdict is final.

The most surprising and touching thing is that instead of rebuking Atticus for losing the case, the black community showers him with food, as a gesture of their appreciation for having at least taken up the case and defending Tom. Tom is obviously the most upset, but Atticus is only quiet and exhausted. Ewell, on realizing his lost standing in the community, tries to make life miserable, first for Helen Robinson, Tom’s widow, and then even Atticus. He finally resorts to harming Scout and Jem, but in the process loses his own life. Simultaneously, Scout’s long cherished dream of meeting Boo Radley is also fulfilled. Thus the trial reveals a number of accidental as well as expected outcomes.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird mainly revolves around a small family of three -- Atticus Finch, an attorney, and his two children, Scout and Jem. As the novel proceeds certain characters are linked with the three main characters to form a dramatic story of events, attitudes, prejudices and values.

The novel is set is the quiet town of Maycomb; but the serenity is only superficial. The town is comprised of three communities: the white folk, the black community, and the ‘white trash’. Outwardly there is peace among the three, but underneath prevails a combination of hostility, racial prejudices, and friendlessness.

Jem and Scout go to school together. On their way to school, they pass the Radley house; it is a terrifying place to them, for it houses Boo Radley, who has been labeled a lunatic. At the same time, their curiosity pushes them to try out ways to make Boo come out of the house. Their overtures are, however, suppressed by Atticus who does not want them to torment Boo.

The main plot of the novel revolves around the trial in which Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black, who has been accused of having molested a white girl, Mayella Ewell. She is part of the ‘white-trash’ community. The children follow the case proceedings avidly and are inconsolable when their father loses the case.

The case is lost simply because it was still impossible (despite statutory laws) for a black man to attain victory over a white in the South. This amply reveals the deeply ingrained racial prejudices still prevalent among the white society which cannot give an equal status to a black.

The relation between the children and Boo Radley resurfaces at the end, when it is Boo who saves them from imminent death at the hands of the vicious Bob Ewell. It is ultimately revealed that Boo is not a lunatic, but a simple-minded person with failing health and a childish attachment for Scout and Tom.

The story of the mockingbird recited by Atticus is linked to the theme of the novel. It is considered a sin to kill a mockingbird, since it is a harmless bird which only sings to please others. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are also harmless people. By letting Tom die, the sin of killing a mockingbird has been committed. But by not revealing the facts of Boo’s heroism in rescuing the children, the sin is avoided, and Boo is left to his seclusion. Tom’s death is a defeat of justice and an insult to humanity, and the readers can judge for themselves how much of a sin it is.

The maturing of Scout and Jim is portrayed as well as the exemplary character of Atticus, who is without any racial prejudices or biased views. He is a highly ethical character, who chooses to fight against the ‘old traditions’ of his own community.

The main and underlying theme in the novel is that of black slavery, its abolition and the subsequent lack of its acceptance in the southern community. Harper Lee has portrayed the deep- set traditional way of thinking of the southerners who are unable to accept that the blacks have been released from the bonds of slavery. So, even if externally there are no slaves, the blacks have not yet been openly admitted into the whites’ fold and are denied the equality they deserve and even have a right to. The whites find it difficult and unacceptable to consider them equal. This theme has been illustrated while depicting the lifestyle of the black community and the varied problems they face from the white community.

Along with the major theme, Harper Lee has introduced smaller but no less important themes in the novel. The legend of the mockingbird which only sings to please others and therefore the sense of sin associated in shooting a mockingbird, has been intricately woven into the plot. Tom Robinson’s death is likened to this sin since even Tom was an innocent, harmless person who would never hurt anybody and his death was unnecessary. Similarly, when it is revealed that Arthur Radley is the one who had killed Bob while saving the children’s lives, Mr. Heck Tate refuses to hold him responsible because he feels that it would invite unnecessary speculation, interest and undue attention to Boo Radley, which he does not wish for. To bring him into the limelight would again be like killing a mockingbird, just as Scout, very intelligently surmises.

The theme of morality is also introduced. Morals such as love for human beings, importance of living things, and an open attitude towards others’ beliefs and actions are well demonstrated. These are the subsequent themes in the novel.

The mood of the novel on a general level is light and humorous, especially when it relates Scout’s impulsive actions, Dill’s antics and Jem’s brotherly demeanor. However, the underlying mood throughout the novel is somber and profound, because certain important issues are being valued and dealt with. Atticus’ dealings with the blacks, the negative attitudes of some other members of the community, the trial of Tom Robinson and his gruesome end, depicts a seriousness and a grave reconsideration of accepted norms, which is expected of the readers by the author.

Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She was the youngest daughter of the three children of Amassa Coleman Lee and Francis Lee. She completed her schooling in the Monroeville Public School, and later entered the University of Alabama to study law. Having failed to complete her degree, she moved on to New York. Her experience and knowledge of law, however, aided her a great deal in her writing career.

Harper Lee was part of the generation of writers that emerged after the Second World War. She wrote several essays and three short stories. On her literary agent’s advice, she expanded one of her stories into the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It was on the best seller lists for over eighty weeks and won the Pulitzer Prize and the Alabama Library Association Award. In spite of her success, Lee had no desire to write a sequel to the novel.

Maycomb County, where her novel is set, closely resembles the place where Harper Lee was born and spent most of her life. Though she insists that her novel is not autobiographical, her father was a lawyer and was the inspiration for the character of Atticus Finch.

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.

This chapter merely gives the reader a view of the Maycomb society and its inhabitants. The main characters, of course, are Atticus and his family. Scout, his daughter, narrates the entire story in first person. Since the entire novel is a narrative seen through Scout’s eyes, the visualization is purely from a child’s point of view. This includes the depiction of her morbid fear of the Radley house, about which she has heard a number of stories, drawn out of proportion by the local gossips. The description of Boo, therefore, is a larger than life one: "he was six-and-a-half feet tall, dined on row squirrels -- there was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped and he drooled."

The father’s relation with his children seems superficial in the beginning -- "he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment," yet the fact that the children call him by his name, and even later, as his outlook and conduct are revealed, they only point to the genuine love he has for his children.

Dill is introduced in the chapter. He is a child searching for love in a loveless family; he also has a tendency to fantasize and exaggerate. During the course of the novel, he will prove to a be a good friend to both Jem and Scout.

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.

In this chapter, the reader is made aware of the narrow-minded and idealistic approach to learning which insists on a step-by- step approach. The fact that Scout already knows how to read and write is not appreciated, but is judged by the teacher an irritant to further learning.

The chapter also shows a section of the Maycomb society, where people, like the Cunninghams, are dirt-poor, but honest and hardworking. Scout’s teacher, Miss Carolina, who comes from North Alabama, is unfamiliar with Maycomb society, and Scout’s simple explanation about Walter Cunningham only serves to irritate the teacher all the more. Gradually, the intricacies of Maycomb society are being unraveled by the author.

Jem manages to stop the fight between Scout and Walter Cunningham and then 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.

Another section of the Maycomb County is unveiled here. The Ewells are what was called the ‘white trash’ who live in dire poverty, yet make no attempts to ascend out of it. The society has to accept their way of life and they are merely evaded as far as possible. The Cunninghams, though as poor, are not like the Ewells, in that they posses self-respect, honesty and perseverance.

Atticus, being a lawyer, has to deal with all kinds of people including such as the Cunninghams and the Ewells, and is therefore aware of their particular failings and strengths.

Calpurnia serves as a surrogate mother for the children, who takes them at hand, teaching them rudimentary reading and courteous conduct.

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.

The apparent futility of the new method of teaching makes Scout sluggish in her schoolwork. It is also evident that her fear of the Radley house has not mitigated with time.

The discovery of the chewing gum, and later the pennies, gives an insight into the character of Boo Radley, who is feared by all children but who loves them nonetheless, and therefore shows his interest in them through such covert attempts. Even his laughter, that Scout overhears as she rolls onto his front yard, reveals his keenness in the children’s actions and a fervor in living his life amidst people, as he did before he had been submitted to this severe punishment of confinement.

The game the children indulge in is typical of children who wish to enact things they hear about. And though Boo Radley scares the wits out of them, his life holds prominence too, which leads them to an enact (what they believe is) Boo’s life. Though apparently it is an unkind thing to do, the children are displaying the way they come to terms with the adult world.

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.

Notes

People in the county have a very high regard for Atticus. As Miss Maudie puts it - "If Atticus drank until he was drunk, he wouldn’t be as hard as some men are at their best."

Dill and Jem’s desire to bring Boo out of the house not only shows their sincere attempts at befriending him; it is also an innocent need to see him and find out if he is for real. It is an innate curiosity of knowing what has never been clearly revealed to them. All such hopes are, however, quashed by Atticus who doesn’t believe in interfering in other people’s private lives.

Dill’s childish desire of marrying Scout and his subsequent neglect towards her also indicates the evolving behavior of children who at one point, want to do what grown ups do, and the next minute, get busy doing juvenile things. Scout’s angry reaction of giving Dill a thrashing is also very typical of her temperament: she always likes to behave boyish and this is a chance to display her aggressive trait.

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. On reaching home, they find Nathan Radley, Atticus, Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie Crawford, Miss Rachel and Mr. Avery standing outside their house there. It turns out that Mr. Radley had shot a Negro. Atticus, meanwhile, notices that Jem’s pants (which he had lost while climbing through the fence) are gone 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.

The children, apparently, are undeterred by Atticus’ instructions to leave the Radley family alone, and thus they dare to make second attempt to meet Boo in the night. But once again their plans backfire.

Jem is embarrassed at being caught without his pants in front of a gathering. So that their lie of having played strip poker, is not discovered, Jem has to attempt going into that area again to retrieve his pants. Scout’s fear, as she awaits Jem’s safe return, has been portrayed touchingly. Along with this, the added fear of Atticus waking up and catching Jem not at bed, is awesome. But all is well as Jem returns, holding up his pants quietly.

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 cemented. 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.

The reader can guess that Boo Radley wishes to befriend the children, in a covert manner, though. In fact, it is Boo who has not only stitched and folded his pants, but he has also been gifting them fantastic objects. The children, of course, are yet unaware of the truth, but wish to show their gratitude to this unknown friend of theirs.

This attempt, however, is thwarted by Nathan Radley. His apparent lie probably implies that he is against any friendship between his son and anyone. His self-imposed punishment to his son includes a total abstinence from any kind of normal and healthy relationships, which includes friendships with such children. Therefore, he comes across as an excessively stern character. Atticus on his part is probably aware of this attitude, which explains why he discourages the children from irritating Boo Radley.

Undoubtedly, Boo is portrayed as a pathetic personality, craving for friendship and attention, however little it may be. The various articles he leaves in the knothole is probably a cry for attention that any human being requires so desperately. The reader cannot help feeling sympathy towards him.

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.

The fire at Miss Maudie’s place creates quite a stir, but Scout’s close encounter with Boo, albeit without her realization of it, causes more topic for conversation. Boo’s love for the children is noted when he places the blanket on Scout’s shoulders. It is obvious that Boo has done it, since Nathan Radley had been near Maudie’s house, helping to put out the fire.

Though her entire house is razed to the ground Miss Maudie is still not disturbed and has recovered her sharp sense of humor. Her plans of setting up a new house, large enough to room her azaleas, portrays her as a practical and a worldly woman.

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 Dill and 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.

Scout cannot help picking a fight when her father’s position at stake. Her behavior and her use of expletives is greatly abhorred by Uncle Jack, but he is not able to sort out the confusion.

Uncle Jack has a talk with Atticus about the children, and Atticus, knowing that Scout is listening says that he hopes the children would trust him and come to him for answers instead of depending on the local gossips. Scout is surprised that her father knows she has been listening --"and it was not until many years later that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said."

Atticus again displays his rich character through his penetrating sense of child psychology. He realizes, as do few adults, that sometimes children abhor being told what is to be done. In a very adept manner, he maneuvers the conversation with Jack Finch in order to let Scout know (who he knows may be overhearing) that he hopes that his children would not be like the rest of the other citizens of Maycomb society, who refuse to associate with the blacks.

Scout, child that she is, is amazed at her father’s perceptiveness. Harper Lee has very skillfully sketched the depth of this father - daughter relationship.

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 is 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 requests 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.

The mockingbird is mentioned for the first time. Atticus insists that a mockingbird, whose sole ambition in life is to bring pleasure to others, should never be killed, it being a virtual sin to do so. The reference to the mockingbird is important for Tom Robinson’s trial, as well as in relation to Boo Radley.

Atticus’ excellence in shooting greatly astonishes the children who have never seen their father shoot at anything. Maudie’s explanations clears up the confusion. Atticus maintains an appreciable sense of propriety and civility in this chapter. The children’s respect for their father is raised several notches now. Jem, especially, who is at the stage of emulating his father, is very proud of his him, which is demonstrated when he says jubilantly, "Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!"

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 off 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.

Jem and Scout have grown up, but they still cannot overcome their anger if anyone passes a comment on their father. Mrs. Dubose comes across to the children as an acidic and garrulous woman who can only say harsh things about others. Yet, Atticus is scrupulous enough to insist that the children respect her for her age.

The evenings in her house, reading to Mrs. Dubose, is a hard task for the children, but the essential reason for it is revealed only after her death. Her desire to get rid of her morphine addiction before her death, reveals her as a strong character, who would rather go through a grueling experience to break the habit of addiction than die as an addict. Her gift to Jem is also typical of her perceptive character. The gift of the camellia shows that she had understood Jem’s anger when he had cut off her camellia bushes. Presenting him with the same flowers is her way of letting him know that she understands his feelings and acknowledges the same.

Atticus emphasizes the fact that whatever Mrs. Dubose went through revealed indisputable courage -- "Its when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through, no matter what." The children learn a great deal about strength of character and grit through their experience with Mrs. Dubose.

Jem shows the typical signs of growing up, with inconsistent moods and a short temper. Scout is advised to let him alone.

When Atticus leaves for town for some official work, Calpurnia takes the children for a service to a black church. Their presence is acknowledged by all the members of the church, except for Lula, a troublemaker, but her stance is overlooked. Scout is amazed at the proceedings, especially at the lack of hymnbooks. She is later told that most of them are uneducated except for a few, including Calpurnia. Calpurnia’s sudden switch to the colored folks’ way of talking, also surprises them, and they realize the somewhat dual life that Calpurnia has to lead.

The preacher, Reverend Sykes virtually commands the people to donate money for Tom Robinson’s wife and children. Jem and Scout donate from their own pockets.

On returning home, they are disappointed to see their Aunt Alexandra in their front porch.

The suffering that Jem undergoes through the process of maturing are not fully comprehended by Scout, who misses his company as well as Dill’s. And her growing is evident too, when she finds kitchen work to have interesting prospects.

The day the children’s time at the black church serves an eye- opener for them. They suddenly realize how inherently different they are from the blacks and how they may have to face mild opposition too. But the heartfelt welcome given by the rest of the members speaks a lot of the basic generous nature of the Blacks. Besides, the children also notice the general wish to help out Tom Robinson. The reason behind Tom’s arrest is revealed, that he had apparently raped Bob Ewell’s daughter.

The reader notices how well Calpurnia (essentially a black), has adjusted herself to the way of life of Atticus’ family; having learnt to read, and even speak like the white folk. At the same time, she hasn’t forgotten her origins, and attends the services with her Negro kin of their own Church, and smoothly switches over to their way of talking when she is with them.

Aunt Alexandra, it is realized (in the next chapter) has come to stay and being a strong influence on the children, a fact which is not quite agreeable to them.

Aunt Alexandra makes her presence felt from the first day itself.

Atticus returns home the same day. Aunt Alexandra settles down in the house. She becomes the secretary of the Maycomb Amanuensis Club and holds parties in the house. Whenever she does so, she summons Scout, to get her introduced to the guests. Aunt Alexandra’s attempts at instilling her sense of etiquette into the children is of no avail and Atticus has to speak to them about it. Atticus seems stern and gruff to the children who cannot understand this sudden change in his behavior. But finally, even he relents and allows the children to not take everything that Aunt says, too seriously.

Aunt Alexandra’s presence in the family is not immediately comforting since a lot of adjustments are required. The children, who have never been used to such a rigid upbringing, find themselves at a loss. Atticus has probably been pressurized by his sister to let her stay in his house, to rear the children better, but not being such a stickler to rules and codes of behavior himself, he too finds himself in a dilemma. Alexandra’s basic reasoning of things is right, but having no children of her own, she is not able to comprehend their true nature, and so, many uncomfortable situations ensue. It is Atticus’ practical and non-conforming nature that lets the children believe that things are not as bad as they seem.

Scout asks Atticus the meaning of rape and is given a perfunctory, yet technically correct answer. Further discussion discovers their trip to the blacks’ church. Aunt Alexandra is outraged at this. Later Scout overhears her father and her aunt discuss her. Aunt Alexandra feels that Calpurnia shouldn’t be allowed to work in the house anymore, but Atticus refuses to let her go. Jem advises Scout not to irritate their father as he has too many things in his mind. His advising her seems too high-handed for Scout, who ends up quarreling with him.

Scout discovers something warm and resilient on the floor, and together with Jem she discovers Dill under the bed. Atticus is immediately summoned, who insists on informing his Aunt Rachel about his escape. Dill stays there overnight, and Scout is pleased to have her friend back.

Aunt Alexandra reveals her narrow-minded puritan approach by her distress at the children attending Church with Calpurnia. Atticus, though, not in accordance with her, in any case does not allow Scout to be ill mannered with her, and insists on an apology from her. He is sensitive enough to insist on not throwing out Calpurnia, knowing full well her worth and the children’s proximity to her.

Jem, at a mature stage, seems to understand his father’s tensions and wishes to ease them as far as possible. His reasoning, however, is unheeded by Scout: Jem advising her is something she still cannot digest.

Dill’s return is a harbinger of better times for Scout. She hopes that the three of them can get together as they used to, and enjoy themselves.

Dill with all his fantastic stories, is a pathetic character; a child seeking love and attention, who builds up stories boost his self- esteem.

Dill is given permission to stay at Scout’s house for the summer. One evening, as the family is relaxing, Heck Tate arrives with a few men. A discussion is held over the forthcoming trial, and whether Tom Robinson is safe in their custody. To the children it sounds like a fracas, but Atticus pacifies them. The next day, being a Sunday, is spent in Church, but in the evening Atticus declares that he is going out. In the night Jem prepares to follow his father. Dill and Scout join him in this venture. They find their father going to the Maycomb jail.

As they watch, a group of men join Atticus and get around to talk to him. Scout interrupts them at an inopportune moment and Atticus instructs them to leave. Scout attempts at a conversation with Mr. Cunningham but fails to elicit any response. Finally they leave. Atticus had been protecting Tom Robinson, in the jail, but it turns out that Mr. Underwood had also been covering him (Atticus), with a shotgun, from his window above the Maycomb Tribune office, in case anyone would attack him. Finally, they all return home.

Tom Robinson’s trial is a hot topic for discussion in the Maycomb County, and various stands have been taken over the trial. Atticus demurs from leaving the case, even after some warning. To safeguard Tom’s life before the trial, Atticus even goes out to guards him in the Maycomb jail.

Jem has matured enough to understand his father’s frame of mind. But Scout is still quite immature and her attempts of making conversation with Mr. Cunningham about his entailments, causes a little embarrassment. Scout had earlier overheard her father and Mr. Cunningham discuss about entailments in their house. Atticus had legally solved Cunningham’s problems about his land and Cunningham had been voicing his gratitude. On asking what entailments means, she had been sidetracked by Jem. Hence although she does not know its meaning and the background behind it, she had just mentioned the word to Cunningham. She probably wishes to show that she too is adult enough to participate in a mature conversation. Cunningham, however, gets embarrassed and being reminded of Atticus’ favor, is unable to continue threatening him. Thus, Scout’s innocent remarks, in a way, does prove beneficial to her father.

As the facts stand, Tom, a black man, has raped a white girl. The fact that a black has assaulted a white make the trial extremely precarious. Moreover, that Atticus has determined to take the case (and therefore defend Tom) is not approved by the people in general. Though the supposed victim in the case, Bob Ewell’s daughter, is what they call ‘white trash’, she is a white, and so the chances of Tom being excused are extremely remote.

Aunt Alexandra is disapproving of the children having had a rendezvous in a jail in the middle of the night. The children are worried for their father, especially for the fact that Mr. Cunningham would have tried to kill Atticus, if it had not been for Scout’s timely intervention, with her small talk about entailments.

A group of Mennonites pass by in wagons. As they pass Miss Maudie’s house, they comment upon her love for gardening, considering it a sin. But Miss Maudie is stubbornly unmoved.

It is the first day of the trial, and the place is crowded with people who have come to witness the trial of Tom Robinson. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is noticed sitting with the colored folk, sipping from a brown paper pack (which allegedly contains whisky).

Since the courthouse is fully packed, the children join Reverend Sykes at the balcony, along with the blacks.

The judge is none other than Judge Taylor. Though he gives the impression of dozing through the hearing is actually very sharp in his dealings. The Tom Robinson case begins with Mr. Heck Tate being the first witness.

Aunt Alexandra’s disapproval is an expected one but Atticus, is depicted as a person who doesn’t necessarily take his sister’s side always. He does show his slight irritation at her, once in a while.

The Mennonites were a strict Christian sect who accept no authority except for the Bible and are opposed to anything modern. Miss Maudie’s spending more time in gardening and less time in reading the Bible is considered as sacrilegious behavior, but Miss Maudie is unmoved by their comments.

A brief description of the courthouse and the gathering is given. Whites and blacks have arrived in equal numbers to witness the trial. The scene outside the courthouse, before the initiation of the trial, resembles a picnic spot. However, once the trial begins, there is absolute silence in the courtroom.

The Finch children sitting in the colored balcony with the blacks, is probably symbolic of how their family values endorse equality. However, they are also eager to watch their father handle the case, knowing full well that he would disapprove of their presence if he knew they were inside the courtroom.

Mr. Tate relates his story -- on the night of November twenty first, Mr. Ewell had rushed into his office saying that his daughter has been raped by a ‘nigger’. On reaching their house, he had found the girl on the floor, badly beaten up. She had declared that the ‘nigger’ had been none other than Tom Robinson. Then Atticus questions Mr. Tate as to whether a doctor had been called, but the reply is in the negative.

Then the magnitude of her bruises are discussed. Her right eye had been bruised and marks around her neck could also be noticed. Bob Ewell is called next on the witness stand. Ewell claims that on returning home, he had caught Tom in the act of raping his daughter. Atticus questions him next about the bruises, then makes him sign on an envelope, noticing aloud that he is left-handed.

A description of the lifestyle of the Ewells is given, which gives one a fair idea of the utterly shabby and dilapidated life they lead. Ewell comes across as an audacious person, with no respect for others and a mean manner of speech. Jem realizes that the reason Atticus had paraded Ewell’s left-handedness, is to verify that he could have beaten his daughter, as her bruises are mostly on the right side of her face.

When the talk of rape and sexual intercourse arises, the Reverend deems it better that the children leave, especially Scout, but Jem placates him; the children had no plans of leaving the courtroom however, they miss out on watching their father defend the case.

Mayella, Bob’s daughter is called to the witness stand. She gives her side of the story, claiming that Tom had forcefully entered the house, and had taken advantage of her, hitting her all the while. When Atticus rises to interrogate her, Mayella is extremely frightened. Through his penetrating questions, it is revealed that the family is very poor, the father spends most of the relief money on drinks, and that she is a very lonely girl, bereft of love and affection. On cross-examining her further, as to whether it had really been Tom or her father who had beaten her up, Mayella at first remains silent in terror and then bursts into tears. The court is adjourned for a recess. Mr. Underwood sees the children, and the children perceive that a mention of them would definitely be made in the next issue of the "Tribune".

The courtroom is fraught with tension during the ensuing verbal battle first between Ewell and Atticus, and later between Mayella and Atticus. Atticus has his own style of throwing questions at the person quite casually to disarm one, and at the right moment, pelting questions to and rattle him.

The fact that Tom Robinson is crippled, with his left hand shriveled, proves that he could not have been the one to beat up Mayella, since the bruises were on the right side of her face. The case logically appears to bend in favor of Tom Robinson.

Judge Taylor, for all his disposition of being a lazy man, prone to dozing during the court-scene, is truly a good judge; very sharp at particular points, and not without a sense of humor.

Thomas Robinson is Atticus’ only witness, and he is called to the stand. It is mentioned that he had earlier been in trouble with the law for disorderly conduct. Apparently, Tom used to go across Mayella’s house to Mr. Link Deas’ place to work on his yard. Mayella used to regularly ask him to do some minor chores for her. The other children used to always be around. On that particular day, she had called him in to repair a hinge of the door, which Tom, however, had found to be all right. On inquiring about the children, Mayella says that she had saved up some money so that she could send them to town for ice cream. When Tom climbed a chair to remove a box from atop the ‘chiffarobe’, Mayella had grabbed his legs, hugged him and even tried to kiss him. While he had been fighting her off, her father had entered. Tom had fled away in fear for his life. He insisted that he had not even laid a finger on Mayella, and definitely not raped her. In the middle of all this, Mr. Link Deas rises and proclaims loudly that Tom (while he had worked for him) had been no trouble to him at all. The judge ousts him out of the courtroom.

Tom does admit that he had helped Mayella out of pity for her. This remark is not liked by anyone in the courtroom.

Dill suddenly begins to cry, and Scout is made to take him out. They sit with Mr. Link Deas outside the courtroom, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond joins them.

Through Tom’s relation of his version of the story, he comes across an honest, hardworking Negro, well mannered and always willing to help anyone in distress. Moreover, Mayella’s pathetic loneliness is poignantly portrayed. She is a girl seeking love and attention, and Tom is the only visible source of any affection that she could hope for.

Tom’s fleeing from the house is by itself a sure sign of guilt otherwise, but here he insists that being a Negro and getting caught in such a situation would surely spell deep trouble, and so he had been forced to run away.

The case turns against Tom the moment he confesses that he had felt pity for Mayella. However poor she is, the basic fact is that she is still a white, and it was considered too forthright of Tom to feel pity for her.

Mr. Dolphus Raymond offers a sip from his brown bag to Dill. Dill sips warily, and then grins, realizing that it contained, not whisky, but Coca-Cola. Mr. Raymond explains that it is sometimes better to make people believe that you are something which, in reality, you are not.

The children return to the courtroom. Atticus rises and begins to loosen his clothes slowly. The children are horrified. He then begins to speak. He insists that there is no proof that Tom has raped Mayella; no verdict of any doctor. He also insists that Mayella, too, has committed no crime. She is just a "victim of cruel poverty and ignorance". At the end of his speech, Dill suddenly espies Calpurnia entering the courtroom and heading towards Atticus.

The children are wary of speaking to Mr. Raymond because he’s supposed to be a an alcoholic and a father of mixed children. But, after talking to him, they realize that he is an unusual person, in the sense that he prefers people to have a bad impression of him, so that he can live his life the way he wishes. He has very strong opinions against the way the whites treat the poor blacks.

Atticus’ final speech is a powerful one, which penetrates the hearts of every black and white man present in the courtroom. He doesn’t condemn anyone, not even Bob Ewell nor Mayella, since it is their circumstances that have led them to behave in such a manner. He presents the typical attitude of all whites -- "that all Negroes lie, all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women." He reiterates the fact that all men are created equal. At the end of the speech, Atticus even mutters "In the name of God, believe him", probably perceiving that nothing (not even proof) is going to change the orthodox view of the jury.

Calpurnia has a note for Atticus, sent by his sister, saying that the children are missing. Mr. Underwood announces the presence of the children. Atticus relents in allowing the children to return to hear the verdict. The people have to wait for a considerably long time before the jury return with their verdict. The verdict is that Tom Robinson is guilty.

Aunt Alexandra is outraged that the children had been in the courtroom all the while, and she is all the more upset on hearing that Atticus had allowed them to return to the courtroom.

Jem is certain that his father will win the case, since a jury is expected to be fair. However, these are just childish delusions, and Atticus has to admit that no jury had till date favored a colored man over a white man.

The final verdict declaring Tom guilty, certainly seems unfair, yet one must take into consideration the period. Though slavery had been legally abolished, one cannot expect views of the whites to be mitigated easily. Undoubtedly, the verdict comes as no surprise for Atticus.

Jem begins to cry on hearing this unjust verdict. On reaching home, even Aunt Alexandra seems to have softened her stance slightly. Being after all the Atticus’ sister and the only aunt of the children, she cannot help sympathizing with them. She expresses her concern for not only Atticus but also Jem, who is yet too small to be exposed to the hard facts of life.

The next morning, Atticus says that the case is not closed and that there would be a further appeal. Seeing chicken for a breakfast, a dazed Atticus is led into the kitchen which is loaded with all sorts of food items. These had been sent by the blacks in their appreciation for Atticus for having taken up the case of a black.

As the children walk outside, Stephanie Crawford is full of questions as to how they had possibly been allowed to go to the court, but Miss Maudie icily stops her and calls them in for cakes. She then tells them that their father is one among those who are born to take the charge of doing the unpleasant jobs for the sake of others. She makes them realizes that there had been some people in Maycomb who had tried, in their ways, to support Tom. As they walk towards home, they meet a group of people, and they are informed them that Bob Ewell had met Atticus and vowed to teach him a lesson.

Gifting food is the blacks’ way of showing their appreciation for Atticus. One must take note that though Atticus had failed to save their man, they are still grateful to him for simply defending him, which in itself, was a big deal for the poor blacks.

Stephanie Crawford’s curiosity is that of an idle mind working overtime. Miss Maudie is mercifully able to put a stern stop to her impudent questions. Giving Jem a larger piece of cake also says a lot about Miss Maudie’s acute perception of human nature; that she can realize Jem to have matured. Again Stephanie displays her wretched nature in taking pleasure to inform the children that their father had been jeered by Bob Ewell.

Scout feels that her father should not have listened to Bob Ewell quietly; instead he should have shot him. But Jem makes her realize that Atticus never carried a gun, believing it to be a needless invitation for someone to shoot one. Atticus realizes that his children are sincerely concerned for his safety, and so appeals to them to try and understand Ewell’s point of view. After all, his credibility had been destroyed. Atticus, finally makes them believe that Ewell would do no harm. Tom’s case had reached the higher court and the chances of him being let off this time are pretty good.

Jem is still upset that the jury convicted Tom. Atticus makes him realize that though ideally, a jury should be fair, very often the members carry their prejudices into the courtroom and so their verdict is shadowed. He makes them realize that the jury actually took a few hours to reach their verdict showing that there is hope in this world.

Aunt Alexandra refuses to allow a Cunningham into the house and Scout almost has a fight with her. Jem takes her out, and on the pretext of showing the newly sprouted hair on his chest, implores her not to let auntie aggravate her. He then says that maybe, after all this, he can understand why Boo Radley does not come out of his house; probably because he wants to stay in and avoid contact with this dreadful world.

Ewell is such a perverted character that it is very probable that he would try to harm Atticus for having defended a black and for having grilled him and his daughter at court. The children’s fear, therefore, is justified especially when the reader finds Ewell take his revenge, later on in the story. But Atticus at this moment feels that what Ewell is only serving empty threats.

Jem has shown amazing maturity during these trying times. He even mediates between Scout and Aunt Alexandra hoping for peace in the house. On discussing the various types of people in this world, his comment on Boo choosing to stay inside his house, touches a chord. It seems better to stay at home and be labeled a madman, rather than face a world full of evil and injustice.

Aunt Alexandra has her regular Missionary Circle Meet at the house. Scout has been asked to join them for refreshments. Stephanie Crawford, in her usual cattiness, teases Scout about being present in the courtroom. They all discuss Tom’s trial and are general about their attitudes towards the blacks. When indirect comments about Atticus are passed Miss Maudie quells them icily, for which Aunt Alexandra is very grateful.

Later, Atticus enters, asking to borrow Calpurnia for a while. It turns out that Tom is dead: he had been shot as he had been trying to break away from the jail. Atticus needs Calpurnia to break the news to Tom’s wife and to tend to her. Even Aunt Alexandra is shaken on hearing this and is deeply sympathetic towards her brother.

As expected, shrewd remarks about Atticus’ defense are passed in Atticus’ house itself. But Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra are able to handle the situation tactfully.

The news of Tom’s death is shattering. Atticus is dejected since he had been quite sure that they would have won the case in the higher court. But it seems as if Tom had grown weary of the entire procedure, waiting for white men to do something for him, and so he himself took the chance to escape. Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie realize Atticus’ merit and also perceive that he is being paid a high tribute by the few people in the society who acknowledge his worth.

Things have eventually normalized at the Maycomb County. Jem and Scout spend their time lazing around. They hitch a ride from Atticus and travel with him and Calpurnia to Tom’s house. Helen, his wife, collapses on realizing the reason for their arrival.

The news of Tom’s death lasts for two days, with a few articles about it in the newspapers. Ewell’s name still causes an uneasy feeling in Scout but Jem placates her, saying that "Mr. Ewell was more hot gas than anything."

There is very little of action in this chapter; almost like a lull before the next storm. The interest and excitement over Tom’s trial and his subsequent death has waned. Even the warning given by Ewell to Atticus has lost its force over the children.

Helen’s silent reaction over her husband’s death may seem unnatural, but it is as if she always knew about the inevitability of her husband’s death. His death sentence had already been written the moment Mayella Ewell had opened her mouth to scream. Society had still not improved so much that a black would be given precedence over a white. Both Tom and Helen knew this all the while.

Scout is now in the third grade and the Radley house has ceased to terrify her. She remembers ruefully how she and Jem used to torment Bob Radley and yet he would leave them gifts in the knothole.

At school, in the Current Events class, when each child is supposed to give the gist of a piece of news aloud in class, Adolph Hitler and his prejudices are discussed. When Scout discusses it with Jem and breaches the subject of the blacks, Jem furiously tells her never to discuss that topic again.

Scout has outgrown her fear over the Radley house, but her wish to see Arthur Radley once before she dies, is at once squelched by Atticus. He does not want her to pester that family anymore.

The idea behind discussing news items in class is to give the child better poise, more confidence and to make him word- conscious. Unfortunately, however, half the children did not even have access to newspapers. Nevertheless, the subject of Adolph Hitler sparks of a chain of thoughts in Scout’s mind. She has realized that though one should not hate anybody, at the same time, it was obvious that the people in her society are still very much against the blacks and could never accept them. Her young mind has figured out the fact that people don’t usually practice what they preach.

Three things happen in Maycomb society: firstly, Ewell acquires and loses a government job in a matter of days. Thereafter, he resumes his weekly appearance at the welfare office for his check. It is overheard that he has been blaming Atticus for having lost his the job.

The second thing is that Judge Taylor, one night had heard a scratching noise outside his door, and on investigation had seen a shadow sneaking away. Thereafter, he sits with shotgun across his lap.

The third thing is that Helen who had been employed by Mr. Link Deas finds herself having to take the longer route so as to avoid the Ewells who used to clunk things at her. Deas lambastes at them but Ewell persists in scaring Helen by following her and crooning fowl words at her. But this too is stopped by Deas, with a strong warning.

Scout has to become a pork, for a pageant for Halloween. The costume is made of chicken wire. Since the family cannot come to watch her, she gives a preview of her performance at home.

Bob Ewell has not changed over the years. A brief spurt of industry and he is back to his old mischief. His pestering of Helen is one way to get cheap satisfaction out of an old case. Mr. Link Deas displays his goodness by retaining Helen as his employee and by protecting her from Bob Ewell’s evil tormenting. Atticus is able to sum up Bob’s predicament well : it is because Bob knows that the people in Maycomb had not believed his and Mayella’s yarns that he behaves in such a manner.

Halloween has some unusual connotations this year. The Maycomb ladies have planned out a pageant with children in costumes, representing the country’s various agricultural products. Scout is to be a ham and her costumes of bent chicken wire covered with brown paper is to later cause quite a lot of tension at the Finch house.

Jem escorts Scout, carrying her costume, to school. The program is in the evening. The pageant begins. Scout waiting for her cue soon falls asleep inside her costume. She, therefore, is unable to enter when her name is called out and makes her entrance only much later, when the play is over. Scout is severely embarrassed by the entire episode and prefers to go home hiding herself in the costume.

Jem and Scout begin walking home. It is very late in the night. Suddenly, they realize that somebody is following them stealthily. They realize it is not their friend, Cecil, playing a prank, but an adult. Jem shouts at Scout to run off. She is quite scared by now. She tries to take a giant step but falls instead, unable to keep her balance. She screams out for help. The chicken wire crushes on her and she flounders, trying to escape. Scout hears scuffing and kicking sounds as well as Jem screaming. Scout is unable to get out of the metal wires. She finds herself falling into a man’s arms. She is tightly held by his arms, and the man tries to squeeze the breath out of her. Then he is pushed backwards. Scout hears a man breathing heavily. She treads on a body and gets the stink of whisky from him. Then she walks off towards her home. The doctor is called, and so is the sheriff. Scout is helped out of the costume and the doctor checks her. Apparently, Jem is hurt. Mr. Tate has investigated the grounds of the incident and reveals that Bob Ewell had been lying on the floor with a kitchen knife stuck into him and is dead.

A very eventful chapter. Scout messes up her role and is extremely embarrassed as she has become a laughing stock for the audience.

Ewell’s evil intentions are clearly exposed in this chapter. Here is a man who would stoop to anything to get even with Atticus; the cowardly act of attacking children can also be resorted to. Such a man’s death is welcomed by the reader.

One wonders at this point, who it is that has saved the children and managed to get rid of the detestable Ewell. The reader is kept unaware of the identity of the savior only to be revealed in the next chapter.

It is unclear, though, whether Ewell aimed to kill them or merely terrify them. However, the irony is that he himself ends up losing his life in the process.

Atticus is very upset by the recent turn of events. Bob, it seems had really meant what he had warned. And for Atticus, his children’s lives are undoubtedly far more precious than his own.

Scout is made to relate the events again. They perceive that it had been the chicken wire loop that had saved Scout’s life. Scout then points out that somebody else had also been at the scene of the incident. The same man is present in the room. From his thin frame and blank look, Scout realizes that the man had been none other than Boo Radley.

Bob Ewell’s vindictive nature is finally realized. He is too weak a character to be able to face Atticus in the daytime, and even to frighten his children, he has to take the recourse of a few drinks.

As Scout relates the events, Heck Tate and Atticus realize that Bob Ewell actually meant to hurt the children seriously. The person to save the situation had been the hitherto unseen and unknown Arthur Radley. Scout, who had the long cherished wish of wanting to see him at least once has actually had her life saved by this same man. Arthur’s physical appearance and behavior reveals the fact that he has never ventured out of the house in the daytime. It is the children’s greatest fortune that Boo had come at the right moment to save their lives.

The men seat themselves in the front porch. Scout is thrilled that her lifetime ambition of seeing Boo on her front porch has ultimately been fulfilled.

Atticus perceives that Jem had probably killed Ewell in self- defense, but the sheriff insists that he had not killed him. Atticus feels that the sheriff is trying to save Jem: he does not want the burden of a lie on his and Jem’s shoulder. But Heck Tate insists that a small boy like Jem couldn’t possibly have handled such a big knife, and that Ewell had probably fallen on the knife and killed himself. Atticus is still unsure but Heck Tate has made the up his mind. The truth is that Arthur Radley had killed Ewell but Heck Tate realizes that once the people come to know of it, all the ladies would pester Boo with some kind of food (as is the custom for appreciating one who has rid the society of some evil). Thus, he would be pushed into the limelight which he definitely does not want. So the truth should be squelched and left that way.

Scout sums it up precisely, saying that it would be like shooting a mockingbird. Atticus thanks Arthur Radley for having saved his children.

Atticus, at first certain that his son had killed Ewell in self- defense feels it is wrong to hide the truth. Atticus is a man who would never wish his son to live a life with the burden of a hidden truth. It is finally understood that Heck Tate is insisting that Ewell killed himself not to save Jem but only so that Boo would be spared from the publicity he so keenly avoids. It is anybody’s guess that for having killed an inherently evil man, as Bob Ewell, he would have been smothered by public attention, which he obviously never wanted.

Scout’s comparison of Boo to a mockingbird is absolutely accurate. Since mockingbirds only give enjoyment and never create problem, it is a sin to shoot them. Similarly, Boo had always been a mild character, not interfering in anybody’s business. To harm him, by bringing him into the limelight would therefore, be a sin.

Boo is led to Jem’s bed to wish him goodnight. Scout is very protective and careful with Boo. When the latter requests Scout to escort him home and Scout does so, but by making it seem as though it is he who is leading her. After he goes home, Scout never sees him again.

Scout sits with Aunt Alexandra near Jem’s bed for a while. Atticus is reading out from a book, The Grey Ghost to Jem who has fallen asleep. Gradually, Scout too falls asleep. Atticus leads her to her own bed and returns to Jem’s room to remain there till morning.

The final chapter neatly rounds up all the incidents of the novel. Boo is never seen after that particular night. It is almost as if he had come out of his house that once, only to fulfill Boo’s dream of seeing him once, and then had once again disappeared into his solitude. Scout’s protective demeanor towards Boo is touching. Scout too has matured by the end of the novel and has lost her initial fright of Boo. In fact, she even understands his mental and physical state and therefore guides him home, holding him by the crook of his arm. After reaching him home, Scout looks back at the neighborhood and recollects the past events associated with it.

Atticus feels the need to be with Jem and so he sits with him while he sleeps peacefully. The ensuing conversation between Atticus and Scout again reveals his profound understanding of the children. Atticus does not wish to read out the horror story to her, as she has had her share of fright. But she insists that he go on. Even while Atticus completes the horror story, he tells her that ultimately most people in this world are nice. On this secure and positive note, the novel draws to a close.

Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem, is a highly respected and responsible citizen of Maycomb County. An attorney by profession, he has always tried to instill good values and a sense of moral propriety in his children.

Atticus’ relation with his children is unique. He lets them call him by his name. Though outwardly detached and always busy with his work, he does manage to find the time and patience to explain the intricacies of human nature to his children. When Scout comes home from school, upset at being reprimanded for already knowing how to read, Atticus teaches her to compromise with the situation. By continuing to take lessons from the teacher, and at the same time, reading with her father at home, both could be kept happy. Thus, Atticus teaches his daughter, in her impressionable years itself, the mature demeanor of how to conduct oneself in public, and at the same time luxuriate in one’s own decisions.

For Jem, Atticus is a role model, and Jem’s maturity is largely due to Atticus’ dealings in his work and his conduct at home. Jem follows the Tom Robinson trial very attentively and with much trepidation, and actually starts believing that his father will win the case. So, when the case is lost, Jem feels hopelessly disillusioned. Yet Atticus’ acceptance of the situation and the explanation that a black man has yet to win over a white man, heartens him. Hence Atticus has a great influence over his children’s perspective of things.

Atticus always tries to be truthful to his children and takes pains to explain the things they don’t comprehend fully. The children know that he loves them absolutely. His reassuring presence is highlighted in the last few lines of the final chapter -- "He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning."

Atticus is a typical southern gentleman. He is always courteous towards ladies, even the sharp-tongued Mrs. Dubose. He never raises his voice, even at his children. His behavior with Calpurnia is meticulous, giving her a fair status in the household. He is brave as well -- he faces the lynch mob in Tom’s prison, without displaying any fright or anxiety. Though his speech is cool and formal, one knows that his heart is warm and he extends his amiability to all, including the black community as well as the poor whites, like the Cunninghams.

Atticus is primarily concerned for the welfare of his community which for him includes the whites as well the blacks. Therefore, he works diligently towards this goal. He does not posses the usual faults of Maycomb citizens; of prejudice, arrogance and hypocrisy. Instead, he takes pains to take the side of the blacks whenever needed and never compromises on this stance of his.

Atticus believes in religious tolerance and he wishes his children would learn this too. He also teaches them to be tolerant of others’ shortcomings and forgive them for the same. He insists that they respect Aunt Alexandra and tolerate her even if they find her even if they find her tiresome and rigid. He also insists that they go regularly to Mrs. Dubose’s house to read out for her, even though he knows that she showers abuses on them. Therefore, he wishes to instill the virtues of Christian tolerance in his children.

Thus Atticus is an ideal gentleman and a sure favorite of all the readers.

Jem

Jem has chosen Atticus as his role model, and he emulates him throughout the novel. However, at the same time he gets the opportunity to forming his individuality. Jem is a true brother to Scout, helping her out of scrapes, escorting her to school and back, guiding her at times and comforting her in general. When he is given money to buy something for himself, he buys a gift for Scout too. When he finds out that Scout has eaten the gum found in the knothole of the oak tree, he insists that she gargle her throat. When she muddles up her role in the pageant and is mortified, Jem is the one to console her. Much genuine concern and consideration is displayed by him in dealing with his unruly sister.

At the same time, some typical ‘elder brotherly’ syndromes are exhibited by him when he does not let her join in all the games he plays with Dill (as she is a girl). While escorting her to school on the first day, he instructs her not to follow him around school and embarrass him. He is thus portrayed as a brother, in all the characteristic ways.

Jem has a sharp mind too. During the trial, he follows all the details perfectly. He even understands the reason why Atticus was pointing out the side of Mayella’s face which had been injured. When he builds the Morphodite Snowman, Atticus says, "from now on I’ll never worry about what’ll become of you, son, you’ll always have an idea."

Jem’s character undergoes a consistent change as the novel proceeds. At the beginning, he displays immaturity -- he does not realize the distress he is causing to Arthur by his pranks. During the middle of the novel, Jem he does mature though not entirely. He has a high regard for manliness and courage and is initially ashamed of his father’s apparent feebleness in front of the fathers of his school friends. But his outlook changes completely when he sees his father shoot the rabid dog, and also when he faces the mob in the prison. By the end of the novel he has gained considerable maturity and Scout and Dill too realize this when Miss Maudie gives a slice of the ‘grown- up’ cake to Jem.

Jem is compassionate too, quite like his father. He empathizes with Arthur Radley and the his predicament, and during the Robinson trial, he cannot help getting upset at the unfair discrimination against Tom Robinson. Jem takes on from his father’s humane nature and he is portrayed as a strong character.

Scout, because of her age, and being the youngest in the family, is impulsive by nature and extremely emotional too. She unthinkingly rushes into fights and scrapes, cries when her ego is hurt and is generally is rash in her actions.

Scout is very warm and friendly. Even in the midst of the tension, when the mob gathers in Tom’s prison, she attempts at a friendly conversation with Mr. Cunningham. During the ladies’ meetings held in her drawing room, though unnerved by Stephanie Crawford’s saucy comments, she tries her hard at conversing with the ladies.

As the novel proceeds, Scout too gains in maturity. She realizes how offensive they had been by tormenting Boo Radley. Though a natural tomboy, she begins to adjust to her feminine role and enjoys helping Calpurnia in the kitchen.

Finally, her behavior with Boo Radley when she meets him, displays her sensitivity. She makes him sit comfortably and converses with him. She even escorts him back to the safety of his home. Thus Scout is an adorable character, with a great potential for perception and appreciable values in her personality.