TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Chapter 26
Chapter 26
School starts again. Scout is in the third grade, and Jem is in the seventh. Things feel different now after the trial and Tom Robinson’s death. Jem has changed; he is often quiet and serious.
Scout still thinks about the trial and the unfairness. She knows that Tom Robinson was innocent, and she doesn't understand why people in Maycomb act so badly.
Scout's new teacher is Miss Gates. Miss Gates teaches the class about democracy and the importance of equality in America. Miss Gates tells the children, “We are a democracy. In America, we don’t believe in prejudice. We are not like people in other places, who treat others badly.”
She talks about Adolf Hitler and the terrible things he is doing in Germany to the Jewish people. Miss Gates says, “Hitler is persecuting and hurting the Jewish people. That is wrong. We are a free country, and we don’t treat people like that.”
Scout listens to this lesson. She believes what Miss Gates says. America is good, and they don't treat people badly. However, later that day, Scout remembers something that happened right after the trial.
Scout remembers seeing Miss Gates leaving the courthouse. Miss Gates was talking to another teacher. Scout distinctly remembers Miss Gates saying to her friend, “It's time somebody taught them a lesson. They were getting way above themselves, black people thinking they can vote and marry white people.”
Scout is completely confused by this memory. Miss Gates teaches the class that it is terrible to hurt people like Hitler did in Germany, and that America is a place of equality. But then, Miss Gates shows prejudice against the black people in Maycomb. She thinks they should be kept down.
Scout thinks, “How can Miss Gates hate Hitler so much for hurting people, but then be so mean to her own neighbors?” That evening, Scout tries to talk to Jem about her confusion. “Jem,” Scout asks, “how can Miss Gates hate Hitler but then say those bad things about the black people right after the trial?”
Jem becomes very angry and upset. He yells at Scout. “Don’t talk about the court! Don’t talk about the trial anymore!” Scout is hurt by Jem’s strong reaction. She goes to find Atticus.
Atticus explains to Scout that Jem is trying to forget the trial. Jem saw a terrible injustice, and it hurt him deeply. Atticus tells Scout that Jem just needs time to heal and understand the world again.
Scout now understands that the world is more complicated than she thought. People can believe in one kind of justice in a book, but fail to see the injustice right in their own town. The court case has changed Jem's belief in the goodness of people, and he is trying to shut that pain out.
