Preview

Who Is Mrs Dubose In To Kill A Mockingbird

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
671 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Who Is Mrs Dubose In To Kill A Mockingbird
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Atticus creates the opportunity for Jem to read to Mrs.Dubose. I think this was a good decision made by Jem’s father. I think this for three reasons. First in a fit of rage, Jem cut down Mrs. Dubose flowers. Mrs. Dubose hurled insults at Scout and Jem even going as far as to include Atticus. Jem cut her precious flowers. Atticus confronted Jem for the misdeed “Jem!” His voice was like the winter wind.
Atticus switched on the ceiling light in the living room and found us there, frozen still. He carried my baton in one hand; it's filthy yellow tassel trailed on the rug. He held out his other hand; it contained fat camellia buds. “‘Jem,’ he said, ‘are you responsible for this?’ ‘Yes sir.’ ‘Why’d you do it?’
…show more content…
He wanted Jem to get to know Mrs. Dubose not as an angry old lady but as a human being who has had a very tough life. Atticus is always polite to Mrs. Dubose, despite her rudeness. He is polite to everyone. The encounter Jem has with Mrs. Dubose’s flowers gives Atticus an opportunity to teach his children responsibility, but after her death he also lets them know why he considers her such a courageous person. After Jem destroys her flowers, Atticus has him go to read to her. He later explains that he wanted his children to see what real courage is. Sometimes courage is mental as well as physical. Mrs. Dubose was addicted to painkillers, and she wanted to wean herself off of them before she died. She was having Jem read to her so that she could have a distraction. Jem did not know any of this until later, but Atticus knew that he could explain it and Jem would understand. “You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” (112). Mrs. Dubose was an underdog. She was addicted to morphine, but she kicked the habit. What she did took immense courage. Atticus wanted his children to see that sometimes you can win an unwinnable fight, and sometimes just trying to win when it seems impossible is courageous. Atticus himself was facing an uphill battle that would require courage

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Jem Finch, Atticus son, learns the second lesson that a reader can learn from. The lesson Jem Finch learns is that every action leads to consequence. Harper Lee shows this lesson in the noel when Jem rips Mrs. Dubose's camellias. It begins with Scout and Jem having an conversation with Mrs.Dubose which ends up with Mrs.Dubose calling Atticus Finch a nigger lover. Enraged with by her words, Jem begins to cut the tops off every Camilla bush Mrs.Dubose owned. After pulling Scouts hair, and kicking her to be make her stop shrieking, Scout and Jem leave Mrs.Dubose's garden and head home. Not too after that, Jem is asked for an explanation of his demeanor by his father, Atticus. Atticus sends him back to Mrs. Dubose's house to ask how he can…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dubose was strong and unmoving in things she believed in, which is a trait that future generations need to learn. Atticus tells his children that Mrs. Dubose is a great role model: “‘I wanted you to see something about her - I wanted you to see what real courage is’” (Lee 149). Mrs. Dubose’s confidence, strength and courage are traits that are important for people to have, and she will be remembered by the FInches’, along with many others, for her…

    • 368 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mrs. Dubose’s judgmental and bitter nature gives insight to Lee’s theme that the follies of one’s human nature can lead people to only see the worst in them. As Jem and Scout Finch simply walk past the house of Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, she starts persecuting them on their appearance, actions, and the “wrongs” of their father. She automatically expects the worst of them, speculating that they must be up to no good. Mrs. Dubose even insults their father saying, “Your father is no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”(Lee 102). The spiteful behavior of Mrs. Dubose only offends those who encounter her. Her thoughts are unfiltered; letting her harsh judgements be known whenever she pleases. Mrs. Dubose fails to see the damage her…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    After Mrs. Dubose death, Jem learns a mature lection from Atticus: it is not fair to prejudge anyone before knowing their situation: ’She said she was going to leave this world beholden…

    • 965 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over a couple of weeks Jem had been harassed by an old woman called Mrs. Dubose. Jem had remained calm and had proceeded for weeks to ignore her, however, on one day she insulted his father Atticus for defending in court a negro man named Tom Robinson. This insult outraged Jem, and on that day he returned to Mrs. Dubose’s house and cut the heads of her roses.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mrs. Dubose is not as brave as Atticus says. While Jem and Scout are walking into town, Mrs. Dubose says, “Your father’s no better than the n****** and the trash he works for!” Mrs. Dubose says this to hurt the children's feelings. Later Atticus refers to Mrs. Dubose as brave, but I would consider this anything but brave. She is going out of her way to hurt the feelings of defenseless children.…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Courage Quotes

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages

    26) Since Atticus is representing Tom Robinson, the kids are getting picked on. Atticus gets called a "nigger lover "by the town and even his own relatives. Francis tell scout that her grandma says Atticus is a "nigger lover quote and he's ruining the family. Then Scout gets to a fight with him only to be at fault in the end. Cecil Jacob says that Atticus is "defending a nigger" for the whole school to hear and Scout was about to get into a fight until she remembered Atticus was going to scold her. Atticus asked where Scout learned that word and told her if he wasn't defending Tom then Jem and Scout would no longer have to mind him. Mrs. Dubose ranted at Jem and Scout about how Atticus was no more use than the niggers and the people he's working for. The day after this rant, Jem went to her house and cut all the camellia bushes.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scout asks Atticus why he is going to defend Tom Robinsons case if everybody will be unhappy with him and he'll lose. Atticus replies, " They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience" (139). He is teaching Scout two lessons at once here. He is telling her that even though you were going to lose before you started, you have to be brave and try anyways. If Atticus didn't take this case and work for it, he couldn't live with himself because he would be cheating a black man to save himself. Also, he teaches Scout that following society is not always a good idea. Society has some evils in it and if nobody tried to make a change, they would never fall. Scout learns that this is something Atticus has to do and not to give up when you think you'll lose. In the end Atticus did change people's minds. He didn't truly lose. When Scout and Jem are told that they helped Ms Dubose overcome her morphine addiction, they still question Atticus why he wanted them to help. He says, "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" (149). He is telling them that Ms Dubose was…

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    She especially does not like Atticus because he supports Tom Robinson in the trial. For example, “ if I said as sunnily as I could, “ hey Mrs, Dubose”. I would receive for an answer “ don’t you say hey to me you ugly girl you say good afternoon, Mrs, Dubose” ( Lee 133). When Jem and Scout walked by Mrs, Dubose house, she said some bad words but Jem and Scout do not realize that she is going through a very hard time because of her disease and is having a rough couple of days. Furthermore, “ Where are you going at this time of day?” she shouted “ playing hooky, I suppose. I’ll just call up the principal and tell him” ( Lee 134). Mrs, Dubose thinks that Jem and Scout are really bad people from her perspective. When she grew up everything was different then it was during this time period so she thinks Jem and Scout are doing things wrong. Lastly, “ your father’s no better than the ------- and trash he works for” ( Lee 135). Mrs, Dubose is going through a tough time and she might think it sounds good but to Jem and Scout it is very hurtful. Mrs, Dubose does not have much things to look forward to so, to she is also making other people’s life miserable. As you can see Mrs, Dubose has come to her conclusions about Jem and Scout. Mrs, Dubose thinks that Jem and Scout are bad influences and for this reason she treats them poorly.…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus was always kind to Mrs. Dubose, a vicious, old woman who was ill, however, she was extremely rude to him and his family (133). Despite her rude behavior toward Atticus, he excused her actions by saying that she was “the bravest person I ever knew” and crediting her poor health and addiction of pain medicine. Afterwards, Atticus showed compassion by taking the time out of his own day in order to show respect to Tom Robinson’s wife by personally telling her that her husband had died after being shot dead after trying to escape jail (315). Atticus could have just sent someone else to notify Tom’s wife of his death, but he took time out of his day to do it himself and show respect for Tom and his family. Heroes must be compassionate in order to help others…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dubose. In the book Miss. Dubose reveals herself as a nasty old lady,but in reality she showed real signs of courage leading up to her death. When she died Atticus sits down and explains what happened to Miss. Dubose to Scout and Jem. “She said she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody. I wanted to show you what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hands”( 148). Atticus reveals to both Scout and Jem that Miss. Dubose showed real courage because even though she was addicted to morphine she wanted to live the rest of her life clean. Miss. Dubose wanted to not let the addiction of morphine have a hold on her entire life;this showed Jem and Scout what the true meaning of courage is. In addition, Atticus is a living example of courage not only through his work with the Tom Robinson case,but also his reaction to Bob Ewell’s threats. During the trial Atticus had been encountered by Mr. Ewell and was harassed by him. When Mr. Ewell accosts Atticus in the street and spits on him Atticus simply responds,“ I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco”(217) He again demonstrates to Scout that it is not proper to act in the same manner as Bob Ewell. He does something much more courageous by walking away from Bob’s threats. Though his understanding of which battles to fight and always doing the right thing no matter what it costs…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Deaths are cruel, albeit imperative as they allow children to lose their innocence, preparing them for the real world. In “To Kill A Mockingbird”, the usual string of events that Jem Finch is accustomed to changes, providing him with adequate experience to mature. Jem better grasps the concept of death following Tom Robinson’s impending demise rather than at the time of Mrs. Dubose’s sudden passing. At the time of her death, Jem is indifferent; he shows no signs of sorrow whatsoever. Upon his father’s revealing of their neighbour’s death, Jem responds, “Oh…well” (Lee 147). This goes to show that in the eyes of Jem, dying is incomprehensible. He does not quite understand the impact that it has. However, later on in…

    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Compassion/Empathy - Atticus feels bad for Mrs. Dubose. He knows she is old and dying, therefore he does not hold a grudge against her for what she says about him. He acknowledges her courage against her addiction (140, 148)…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During this winter Miss Maudie’s house burnt down and during the confusion of the fire Scout had a blanket draped over her. Jem believes that Boo was the one who draped the blanket over her, an idea that made Scout sick to her stomach. Jem then tells Atticus about the knothole and all the kind things that Jem believed Boo was doing for them. Jem and Scout really seem to be gaining sympathy for Boo in these chapters. “—he’s crazy, I reckon, like they say, but Atticus, I swear to God he ain’t ever harmed us, he ain’t ever hurt us, he coulda cut my throat from ear to ear that night but he tried to mend my pants instead... he ain’t ever hurt us, Atticus—” (Harper Lee, pg.74). During chapters 9-11 a lot has happened. Atticus is asked to defend Tom Robison a black man who is accused of raping a white woman, during this time it takes a toll on Scout as a girl named Cecil makes fun of Scout’s father at school. Scout gets in a fight with Cecil and gets in trouble, Atticus makes Scout promise that she won’t fight anymore. Uncle Jack comes to town and tells Scout that she is not allowed to cuss in his presence and this also becomes a problem for…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Stylistic Analysis of Texts

    • 5926 Words
    • 24 Pages

    The story was told on behalf of Jean Louise, Atticus’s daughter. It made the story more vivid, tense and emotional. As a daughter she noticed a lot of details which were unusual for Atticus. (… Atticus did something I never saw him do before or since, in public or in private: he unbuttoned his vest, unbuttoned his collar, loosened his tie, and took off his coat. He never loosened a scrap of his clothing until he undressed at bedtime, and to Jem and me, this was the equivalent of him standing before us stark naked…). Her notes revealed the emotions and feelings of the lawyer, his changing condition during the process of the trial. If the story were written from the point of view of Atticus or the author, it would turn down as a mater-of-fact narration. The details were omitted. (such as Tom Robinson was toying with papers…). The story would lose its objectivity, because Atticus could not describe the event without personal opinion.…

    • 5926 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Better Essays