Grasping Hot Coal
Grasping a Hot Coal
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout's older brother Jem is known to be able to handle himself better than Scout and be a “gentleman” like his father. When Jem suddenly explodes in anger and destroys Mrs.Dubose’s camellias because of a comment she made earlier, it surprises the reader. Mrs.Dubose earlier in the day had insulted Atticus: “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”( p.135). Scout practically had to drag Jem away from her. Being away from Mrs.Dubose’s house did not solve the problem: “He did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs.Dubose owned” (p.137). Jem had to learn that for others to understand him, he had to first make an effort to understand them.
When Atticus hears of what Jem has done,he demands Jem go and apologize to Mrs.Dubose. She requests that as a result for his punitive actions, Jem should read to her:” She wants me to come every afternoon after school and Saturdays and read to her out loud for two hours. Atticus do I have to?” (p.140). Atticus informs Jem he must read to her although he despises the idea. When Jem, accompanied by Scout, goes to read to her, he learns that she has frequent fits. One day Atticus goes to Mrs.Dubose's and arrives back brandishing a candy box. He tells …show more content…
Uncontrolled anger can have can also have an effect on personal health such as heart attacks, eczema, strokes, insomnia, and depression.”Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned” Jem was not able to control his anger and cut down Mrs.Dubose's camellias, but the effects of that was him having to read to her daily. Having to read to her brought Jem and Scout an understanding of her. It taught them that people may have opposing views, and while they may not agree they need to respect
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout's older brother Jem is known to be able to handle himself better than Scout and be a “gentleman” like his father. When Jem suddenly explodes in anger and destroys Mrs.Dubose’s camellias because of a comment she made earlier, it surprises the reader. Mrs.Dubose earlier in the day had insulted Atticus: “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”( p.135). Scout practically had to drag Jem away from her. Being away from Mrs.Dubose’s house did not solve the problem: “He did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs.Dubose owned” (p.137). Jem had to learn that for others to understand him, he had to first make an effort to understand them.
When Atticus hears of what Jem has done,he demands Jem go and apologize to Mrs.Dubose. She requests that as a result for his punitive actions, Jem should read to her:” She wants me to come every afternoon after school and Saturdays and read to her out loud for two hours. Atticus do I have to?” (p.140). Atticus informs Jem he must read to her although he despises the idea. When Jem, accompanied by Scout, goes to read to her, he learns that she has frequent fits. One day Atticus goes to Mrs.Dubose's and arrives back brandishing a candy box. He tells …show more content…
Uncontrolled anger can have can also have an effect on personal health such as heart attacks, eczema, strokes, insomnia, and depression.”Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned” Jem was not able to control his anger and cut down Mrs.Dubose's camellias, but the effects of that was him having to read to her daily. Having to read to her brought Jem and Scout an understanding of her. It taught them that people may have opposing views, and while they may not agree they need to respect