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Scout's Growing Understanding of Empathy

Jun 1, 2025

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."