Walter Cunningham is a boy in Scout's first-grade class. Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit em but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird (Lee, page 103). Even though the amendments which freed slaves and gave them rights were passed more than sixty years prior, the culture of the south intertwined with racism. Also in the . The Cunninghams are one of the poorest family's in Maycomb. . Chapter 23. Calpurnia could be the mother Jem and Scout never had because she is wise, caring, and patient with the kids. As the mob approachs Atticus and the jail Atticus instructs the men to lower their voices because Tom Robinson was sleeping. When Atticus and Calpurnia arrive at Helen Robinson's house, some boys are out front playing a game. Concerning responsibility, the Finches are looked upon to act as a backbone for the town of Maycomb, and when other members have grievances they generally visit Atticus, for they know he is an honest man who represents the town. What do Atticus's comments about the Ewell family and the law suggest about his view of justice Support your answer with a quote from the text? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He is unaffected by Mrs. Dubose's caustic tongue, Miss Stephanie Crawford's catty gossip, and even Walter Cunningham's thinly veiled threat on his life. The Hours By Michael Cunningham. 1. To Kill a Mockingbird When Scout asks if the Cunninghams are still their friends, Atticus responds, Mr. Lee uses Scouts situation to suggest that peoples prejudice mindsets about some individuals are forced upon by society. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He just has his blind spots along . 42 of the best book quotes from Atticus Finch. Jem refused to leave the jailhouse because because the men were going to hurt or kill Atticus and Tom Robinson. What is Aunt Alexandra's opinion of the Cunninghams? He said Atticus never talked much about the Radleys: when Jem would question him Atticuss only answer was for him to mind his own business and let the Radleys mind theirs, they had a right to; but when it happened Jem said Atticus shook his head and said, Mm, mm, mm. When Scout and her cousin Francis get in an argument, his retaliation is to try and insult Atticus: hes turned out a nigger lover well never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again (Lee 83). Yo folks might be bettern the Cunninghams but it dont count for nothin the way youre disgracin em if you can't act fit to eat at the table you can just sit here and eat in the kitchen! This is just one of the many examples Calpurnia sets for the children. How do Atticus and aunt Alexandra differ in opinion over the cunninghams? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Atticus does not believe in social class and breeding to separate people. Lesson Summary In this chapter, we see that Scout has a strong sense of right and wrong and that Atticus and Calpurnia are helping her understand that things arent always black and white. Throughout day she learns a lesson that money does not determine a person's personality or how they act. The Cunningham's have gained Atticus' respect because the one member of the family who'd served on the jury actually took time to "think" before deciding on his verdict. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The whole family seems to follow their own set of rules instead of society. After Scout explained why she was mad at Walter, he told her to put herself in his shoes. They always repay for services and never take anything they cant give back. atticus opinion of the cunninghamswho would you save on a sinking ship activity. This is an important philosophy in our society. As he. It was the law that whites and blacks could not even be put together in the same jail cells. Atticus is perhaps the most educated man, aside from Judge Taylor, in Maycomb. Scout recognizes him from the lynch mob who tried to attack Tom Robinson before the trial even started. 706 Words3 Pages. The men mutter. Their dad, Bob Ewell, hunts in the winter, which is against the law, and gets away with it because his kids would starve otherwise. Atticus explains to Scout that "Mr. Cunningham's basically a good man. Theme differs from the subject or topic of a literary work in that it involves an opinion or statement about the topic but not every literary work has a theme. Atticus pointed out that the teacher obviously did not know to not offer money to, Atticus statement from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is valid because the lack of insight weakens the understanding of a persons perspective. . Wiki User. Not affiliated with Harvard College. . When Calpurnia sees this, she pulls Scout aside and gives her a lecture that reads, Hush your mouth! She thinks the Cunninghams are nothing but trash and not a good influence on Scout. Jem thinks for a moment and then tells Scout that he thinks he understands why Boo stays inside his house: " it's because he wants to stay inside." Atticus And Mr Cunningham Analysis. Cunningham then ends the confrontation. Maycomb is old, but in the 1930s it was also tired. How does atticus distinguish between the cunninghams and the ewells? Another example is the Cunningham family. Lee is suggesting that you dont really know you love something until it is taken away. In Jem's case, it's for the better . When Jem asked if they could have Walter home for diner (after Atticus' revelation). How likely is it to be true, in your opinion? "-Scout, chapter Seven. Whats the difference between the Ewells and the Cunninghams? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Scout then argues, "But last night he wanted to hurt you.". Words and phrases that Scout and Atticus use to describe the Cunninghams in this chapter are farmers, country folks, poor, and saying that they cant repay anything given to them. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Atticus' opinion of the Cunninghams is better because they are kind people. In most states of the USA people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Later, hes part of the mob that tries to antagonize Atticus for taking on Tom Robinson s court case, but shamefully retreats after Scout asks him about Walter. He shows his children what it means to be kind, good people, and he expects them to act this way. In fact, one man on the jury wanted to acquitamazingly, it was one of the Cunninghams. For instance, "Jean Louise said, 'Don't worry, Cal. "Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in." Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Atticus's opinions can usually be trusted, and he is convinced of the importance of dealing fairly and reasonably with all people, no matter what the Though coming to kill a man they mustered the respect to speak quietly as not to wake that very same man. The finches have no reason to disrespect them only because of their. The narrator is Scout Finch, a six-year-old girl whose father, Atticus, is a prominent lawyer in the town. Scout does not feel as though she belongs to the societal standard of growing up to become a lady. This passage, quote, or excerpt is significant because this passage shows the bond between Atticus and Scout. The unexpected early release of shocking plot details from the new novel by Harper Lee, a sequel to her great work To Kill A Mockingbird, has revealed that 2.) "He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. Even if the Ewells are a white family, they are barely seen as higher class than black society. LitCharts Teacher Editions. 4. This is one of the reasons why there is a Cunningham on the jury. Now that its out of Ewells system, Atticus expects no more predicaments to come. Atticus treats Walter with respect and speaks to him in an adult fashion. What does Atticus reveal about his character in his dealing with Mr Cunningham? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Atticus on the other hand thinks that the cunninghams aren't bad people, doesn't have one bad thought, and thinks that they are just misunderstood. atticus represented cunningham in court and cunningham pays him back with goods because he doesnt have money. A EMPRESA; PRODUTOS; LABORATRIO; BLOG; CONTATO; A EMPRESA; PRODUTOS; LABORATRIO; BLOG; CONTATO One of the most basic is that she is not being raised by her mother. This is surprising in itself, but even more shocking is the fact that this juror was of the Cunningham clan, many of whom were among the angry mob at the jail on the night of the thwarted lynching. Chapter 15 A mob warns Atticus about Tom Robinson being transferred prisons. Which have the least power and status? and The Radley Place jutted into a sharp curve beyond our house. From her treehouse, Scout could see the schoolyard where the children played. We learn at the beginning of Harper Lee . From what little we see of the Cunninghams in the novel, they do. It does not store any personal data. Atticus (with the help of his children) had just averted a probable lynching by staying at the jail overnight . Aunt Alexandra, more of a hassle than a help to Scout, attempts to bring her up to be a proper young lady, much to Scouts displeasure. 2 How does Atticus describe the Cunninghams? Atticus is older than most fathers in Maycomb at almost 50 years old, and as a lawyer, Scout and Jem initially believe that Atticus doesnt do anything of import. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Themes may be major or minor. Later, Scout asks her father if Mr. Cunningham would ever pay them back; "Not in money, but before the year's out I'll have been paid," her father answers. He is neither the strictest parent nor the most affectionate, but the reader comes to see Atticus as the noblest man and father one could ever encounter. Even a man that owed much to Atticus would stand against him for the sake of his personality and upraising. As Scout recalls of one winter day, she remembers Mr. Walter Cunningham discussing his entailment; "Mr. Finch, I don't know when I'll ever be able to pay you," Mr. Cunningham states. Please advise. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout witnesses many different types of prejudiceand even promotes these attitudes herselfincluding classism, sexism, and racism. While conversing with Scout, Jem says "If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? Mr. Cunningham is friends with Atticus but is part of the group of men who do not support Atticus. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". One might also wonder what the Cunninghams look like in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee portrays Atticus as fairly well situated during the poverty in the Great Depression. If it is the Cunninghams, Ewells, or Negroes he treats them all with respect and equally. Atticus allowed a Cunningham to be on the jury because of what had happened the other night at the jail. This moment in the story serves as a reminder to. For example, Walter refused to take a quarter from Miss Caroline because he could return it back to her. If parents can influence a child of their own this situation can be for the better or the worse. Aunt Alexandra is all about ones breeding and family history. He doesn't retaliate when Bob Ewell spits in his face because he understands that he has wounded Ewell's pride the only real possession this man has. While Atticus is empathetic to Bob's experience, he underestimates the . He says he doesn't leave the house because he chooses not to. Many people start to give a second thought about sentencing him which shows they start care. Explain, in your own words, Atticuss reasons for this. More books than SparkNotes. Why did Atticus put one of the Cunninghams on the jury? Who are the Cunninghams in to kill a Mockingbird? Atticus and Scout were talking about her the day of school and Scout complained of her dumb teacher trying to give a Cunningham money, and Atticus responded to that by,You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of viewuntil you climb into his skin and walk around in it(Harper 30) .The reader and Scout learned about empathy by Atticus telling us, in this context, what the teacher may or may not have gone through in her life. Atticus opinion of the Cunninghams is better because they are kind people. Although Mr. Cunningham is part of the mob that tries to kill Tom, he does so out of love for his daughter rather than hatred for him. 4 What words and phrases do Scout and Atticus use to describe the Cunninghams in this chapter how are the Cunninghams different from the finches How are they similar? In To kill a mockingbird, two farmers were greatly affected by the depression. How are Bob Ewell and Atticus Cunningham alike? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The Cunninghams can look down on the Ewells because they do live in a much rougher way. Refine any search. 9 How are Bob Ewell and Atticus Cunningham alike? You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Atticus opinion of the Cunninghams is better because they are kind people. He shows fairness to others and his kids especially. Atticus says similar words throughout the novel to calm Scout and Jem down. "Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in." 1 What makes Atticus and the Cunninghams different? Atticus discussed how one of the Cunninghams was on the jury and that he was the reason why it took such a long time for the jury to decide if Tom is guilty or innocent. Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Mr. Ewell spent their relief checks on green whiskey while his children cried in pain from hunger. Why does Walter pour syrup on everything and why does Atticus get angry at Scout for noticing? Subsequently, Scout admits, If Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes wed have seen it was an honest mistake on her part (Lee 30). Describe the Cunninghams. He just has his blind spots along with the rest of us. They are relatively respectful, quiet individuals who Atticus thinks are a bit misguided. Why in your opinion has Aunt Alexandra come to stay? This is one of the reasons why there is a Cunningham on the jury. None of them [have] done an honest days work in his recollection (Lee 30). Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The jury is made up of farmers, and the Cunninghams are farmers. There was prejudice between races and prejudice between families. Further obstacles arise when Aunt Alexandra starts living with the Finchs. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Note that some questions have several parts. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 13. Scout now thinks reading is everything, whereas before she thought of it as a natural thing she could do. He was all for finding him innocent and showing good sense regardless of the opinions and racism of everyone else. Atticus Finch is the father of Scout and Jem. Early in the chapter, Atticus describes how Sam Levy made the Ku Klux Klan members so ashamed of themselves that they left him alone. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus tells his family "Mr. Cunningham's basically a good man he just has his blind spots, along with the rest of us." When Atticus claims that he has blind spots, he means that Mr. Cunningham ignored their relationship because of his driving hatred for black people. He is trying to get Jem to consider the situation from Bob's point of view, and understand the humiliation and rage Bob must feel as a result of the trial. Themes may be major or minor. Chapter 2 . Atticus Finch Character Analysis. Atticus thus insists that although Cunninghams may be poor, they're honorable. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A year before the novel begins, Atticus helps Mr. Cunningham with some legal issues, and as a Cunningham, Mr. Cunningham is unable to pay Atticus with money. Tom Robinson. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When the teacher tries to send him home to clean up, Burris meanly tells her that this is the one and only day that he is ever going to come to school, leaving her distraught and in tears. Aunt Alexandra has a sense of social hierarchy. Scout shows a special kind of courage here. With this quote, readers can understand the malevolence that is being shown towards the Finch family due to the Tom Robinson case. When Walter comes over for lunch, Scout criticizes him but, Atticus Finch also shows the characteristics of a truly selfless person as well. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Burris Ewells Neck was dark grey, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick (27). He was all for finding him innocent and showing good sense regardless of the opinions and racism of everyone else. 7. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. To the consternation of Maycombs racist white network, Atticus is of the same opinion to shield a black guy named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman. Atticus has a lot of innocence to him, he is a good man. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.