TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Aunt Alexandra is having a meeting for her church group, the Missionary Circle. These women meet to talk about helping people in other countries.
Scout is wearing a dress and helping Aunt Alexandra serve the ladies. She does not like being with the women. They talk about things Scout finds boring or rude.
The women talk about the Mrunas, a group of people in Africa they want to help. They say the Mrunas are poor and need Christian teaching. One woman, Mrs. Merriweather, says, “It is a sad life for the Mrunas. We must help them.”
Then, Mrs. Merriweather starts to talk about the people in Maycomb. She speaks about the black community and how they are behaving badly after the trial. She thinks they should forgive and forget Tom Robinson. She does not understand that Tom Robinson is innocent.
She says, “Some people in this town do things that hurt others. They make trouble for everyone.” She is talking about Atticus. She thinks Atticus should not have defended Tom Robinson.
Scout feels very angry when she hears the women talking badly about her father. Aunt Alexandra sees that Scout is upset. She gives Scout a serious look, telling her to behave and be polite.
Suddenly, Atticus comes into the dining room. He looks very worried. He asks Aunt Alexandra to come with him and tells her to bring Calpurnia. Scout sees Atticus’s face and knows something bad has happened.
Atticus takes Aunt Alexandra and Calpurnia into the living room. Scout follows quietly and stands by the door. “Tom Robinson is dead,” Atticus says. The women are shocked.
Atticus explains that Tom Robinson tried to run away from the prison. The prison guards had him outside for exercise. Tom tried to climb the fence to escape.
“The guards shouted at him to stop,” Atticus says sadly. “They shot him. They say they shot him seventeen times.”
Atticus is very sad and angry that the guards shot him so many times. He says Tom had no chance to escape because of his useless left arm. Tom had given up hope of justice and tried to take his freedom by force.
Atticus tells Calpurnia, “We need to go to his wife, Helen. We must tell her the news.” Calpurnia cries. Aunt Alexandra is very upset. She leans against the wall.
“I told you that you must not do this kind of work, Atticus,” she says. “This town will destroy you and our family.” Atticus tells her, “I have to do what is right, Alexandra. I must try.”
Aunt Alexandra quickly pulls herself together. She knows she must return to the Missionary Circle and act normally. She tells Scout and Miss Maudie, “We must not show these ladies that we are upset. We must be strong.”
Miss Maudie agrees. “We are here to support Atticus,” she says. Scout and Miss Maudie return to the table with Aunt Alexandra. They continue to serve the cake and act as if nothing bad has happened, hiding their deep sadness and shock. The conversation continues, but the world for the Finch family has changed forever.
