Chapter 16: Danielle Lagasse

Plot summary

Chapter 16 begins with Scout and Jem trying to go to sleep , after their confrontation with the “mob” of people outside of the Maycomb Jail. They had all came in as quietly as they could so they wouldn’t wake Aunt Alexandra. Jem tries to comfort Scout by telling her that maybe everything will be over tomorrow, the day the big trial starts. As scout is falling asleep she begins to reflect on what had happened that night and just started to cry. The next morning Aunt Alexandra found out what happened the night before and was talking about how children who sneaked out at night were a disgrace to the Finch family. Also while everyone was eating breakfast Atticus begins to talk about how Mr Underwood didn’t like Negros, and Aunt Alexandra told Atticus that it was unacceptable to talk about Mr. Underwood hating Negros in front of Calpernia. Aunt Alexandra then goes on to blame Atticus and his behavior for encourageing the kids to speak in that way. Then Scout begins asking Atticus why Mr. Cunningham wanted to hurt him because she thought that Atticus and Mr. Cunningam were somewhat friends. Atticus goes on to explain that he is good man, he just has a few blind spots and that he is only a man, and even though it took Scout to get him to realize his wrong doings, and to show him how Atticus felt. After Atticus leaves the table to leave for the trial he tells the kids to stay away from downtown for the day. The kids then began to see all the people go by their house to watch the triallike Mr. Dolphus Raymond on his Throughbred. After watch some more people go by they saw Miss Maudie and asked if she was going to watch the trial but were informed she was not going. Scout and Jem waited until after lunch and then went to get Dill and go downtown. When they arrive they see the huge crowd of people and then see Mr. Dolphus Raymond sitting with all of the Negros instead of the white people. When Dill questioned it Jem told him it was because he like the Negros better, and that he even had a colored wife with “mixed” children. When the people startes to fill the courthouse the kids waited a bit before going in but when they did Scout got separated from Jem and Dill; by the time they found each other all the seat were taken. Trying to find some extra seats they came across Reverend Sykes from Cal’s church who invited them to sit in the balcony with the Negros, which they accepted. When the kids got there four people in the front row gave up their seats for them. By the end of the chapter the children are sitting in the front row in the Negro balcony, waiting to watch the big trial get going.

Major changes and developments

In chapter 16 the conflict between the kids, Atticus, and Aunt Alexandra is an everyday occurance and Aunt Alexandra stays critical about their every move. Atticus becomes almost annoyed with the way his sister is always critical of everything he says and does and begins to get pretty tired of it. Jem begins to become more responsible like when he is comforting Scout when she cries, instead of telling her that kids her age don’t cry he tell her that everything will get better soon. Throughout the chapter the main characters begin to grow up, but gradually are becoming more irritated with Aunt Alexandra and all of her criticism. Also in the chapter we are introduced to two new characters, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and Mr. X Billups. Throughout the chapter these characters are more developed the closer the trial comes, especially Mr. Dolphus Raymond.

Significant Quotations

“ You children last night made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.” (Lee 210) This quote is significant because it shows that even thought the kids weren’t supposed to be at the jail, Atticus was proud of them, especially Scout because it took her words to get Walter Cunningham and the rest of the mob away from him. Also the quote shows that even though Walter may have hurt Atticus if the kids weren’t there he is just human and he makes mistakes, it just took scout to get him to realize that he was wrong.

“ You know the court appointed him to defend this n*****.” (Lee 218) “ Yeah, but Atticus aims to defend him” (Lee 218) This conversation is significant because it is saying that even though the court appointed him to defend Tom Robinson, and he had no choice, and wanted to and would have anyway.

Literary Elements

A literary element used in chapter 16 is a symbol. The symbol that may not be easily seen is that Atticus himself is a symbol. Atticus represents the Negro people by standing up for Tom Robinson, when most people in Maycomb would not have done. Even though he was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, he would have anyway, which makes him represent the black people against his own race.

Vocabulary

Pg. 212~ Akimbo: with hand on hip and elbow bent outward

Pg. 214~ Gala: festive; festal; showy

Critical Thinking

What do you think people will think when they see Scout, Jem, and Dill sitting with all of the black people in the balcony being the only white people there?

How do you think the Jury was chosen, and do you think that the trial will be fair?