Chapter 26 of To Kill a Mockingbird

Overview

• School Begins:
  • Scout is now in third grade.
  • The children regularly pass the Radley house.
  • Scout feels ashamed of past attempts to lure Boo Radley out.

School Assignment

• Current Events:

  • Scout's class has a weekly current events assignment.
  • Cecil Jacobs discusses Hitler's persecution of the Jews.

• Class Discussion:

  • Miss Gates contrasts dictatorships with democracy.
  • Emphasizes that persecution is not allowed in democratic societies like the U.S.

Scout's Observations

• At Home:

  • Scout questions Atticus and Jem about persecution and hate.
  • Remembers Miss Gates’ contradictory statements:
    • At Tom's trial, Miss Gates expressed racist views.
    • In class, she condemned Hitler's actions.

• Scout’s Confusion:

  • Struggles with the hypocrisy of condemning Hitler's actions while supporting racial discrimination at home.

Jem's Reaction

• Emotional Response:
  • Jem is still upset about Tom Robinson’s trial.
  • Refuses to discuss Miss Gates’ contradictory behavior.

Character Development

• Scout’s Growth:

  • Begins to understand complex social issues like persecution.
  • Reflects on her past behavior towards Boo Radley, now referred to as Arthur.

• Moral Lessons:

  • Continues to apply Atticus's lesson about empathy and understanding others by "walking in another person's shoes."