Explaining Atticus’ Advice – Chapter 9
A / How does he explain and what does Atticus mean when he explains… / a) the use of the word “nigger” (85).What our group has decided on, is that he is defending a person, and that using a racial slur isn’t appropriate, this is what Atticus is trying to say. He says the use of this word is “common” – it’s demeaning and socially low. It also shows a lack of intelligence because there are always better words.
B / What does Atticus mean when he explains… / b) his personal reasons for defending Tom Robinson (86).
According to the text, the main reason Atticus is taking the case is to protect his pride. His pride was the reason he became a lawyer, and it gained him enough support to represent Maycomb in the legislature. If he quit any case just because the odds were against him, he’d lose that pride, and continuing with his job as an authority figure wouldn’t make any sense to him. He stands for what is good and if he didn’t take the case he’d be a hypocrite.
C / What does Atticus mean when he explains… / c) “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (87).
This means that Atticus feels that the black people were slaves a hundred years ago, and they shouldn’t give up the fight for equal treatment the same as the white people and he feels that they can win the fight.
Think of this situation as earning part marks on a test you know you’re going to fail.
D / What does Atticus mean when he explains… / d) “Don’t pay any attention to her, Jack. She’s trying you out. Cal says she’s been cussing fluently for a week now” (90).
Atticus says Scout is trying to get attention by way of swearing. She may be feeling insecure in the process of growing up and may seek some more boundaries.
E / What does Atticus mean when he explains… / e) When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness’ sakes. But don’t make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults” (99).
Atticus means that if you make a point to avoid telling a child the answer to his/her question, he/she will be able to tell that the adult is avoiding the answer, and will become even more confused and curious than when he/she started out.
F / What does Atticus mean when he explains… / f) “Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand” (100-1).
He doesn’t believe in the racism that the rest of the community partakes in and he doesn’t want to raise his children to be racist.