in Chapter 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird Scout remembers Mrs Henry Lafayette DuBose a nasty woman who harasses Jem and Scout every time they walk past her house her behavior eventually pushes Jen to his breaking point when mrs. DuBose rudely criticizes Atticus for defending Tom Robinson Jem returns and destroys for camellia bushes with Scouts baton that evening Atticus sends Jim to apologize to mrs. DuBose for his actions he promises to come every Saturday to tend the bushes but mrs. DuBose insists he come every day for the next month to read to her for the next month accompanied by Scout Jem treks to mrs. DuBose house even though she continues making snide remarks about Atticus Jem reads to her until she falls asleep shortly after Jem finishes his month-long sentence mrs. DuBose dies Atticus reveals that she'd been addicted to morphine but had made a commitment to beat her addiction her vile behavior and mood swings were a side-effect of withdrawal Atticus wanted Jem and Scout to see the courage of her fight even if it meant a painful death this chapter illustrates the parallel between mrs. DuBose fight to beat her addiction and Atticus's fight for a less racist world both mrs. DuBose and Atticus know they are going to lose their fights yet take them on anyway Scout and Jem are completely baffled as to why Atticus would take on a case he knows he's gonna lose but Atticus explains that losing is not a good reason not to try you