In chapter 23, Jem is talking to Atticus about the unfairness of the trial and how he thinks that something about the Justice System needs to change. Atticus explains that the racist jury couldn’t see past Tom’s skin color, so they found him guilty even if there was barely any evidence. Jem insists that it still isn’t right, and Atticus agrees. “...whenever a white man does that to a black man… that white man is trash,” (Lee 295). He states that one day the white men who took advantage of black men will pay for what they have done. “Then it all goes back to the jury, then. We oughta do away with juries,” (Lee 294) Jem insists. He thinks that it has to to be the jury's fault that a man like Tom Robinson who only had circumstantial evidence against him could be found guilty so quickly. Atticus explains that it did take longer than it should have because “...there was one fellow who took a considerable wearing down-- in the beginning, he was rarin’ for an outright acquittal,” (Lee, 297). Atticus hints that it was one of the Cunninghams, and Scout forgets all of her anger towards Mr. Cunningham and decides that they should invite Walter over for dinner again. Aunt Alexandra won’t budge when she says that, “...there is no doubt in my mind that they’re good folks. But they’re not our kind of folks,” (Lee 299). Scout keeps wondering why. If the Cunninghams are nice people, then why shouldn’t she invite one over for dinner? After much pestering, Aunt Alexandra says, “Because--he--is--trash, that’s why you can’t play with him,” (Lee 301).
Scout cries and wonders why Walter’s poor background makes him trash if he is a nice person who hasn’t harmed anyone, especially after Atticus clearly explained that a man who takes advantage of another man is the true definition of trash. Aunt Alexandra believes that it is your background and your way of living that determines your worth, and Atticus believes that it’s what you do in your own lifetime that defines you. Scout is angered by Aunt Alexandra, and she tells the readers, “Perhaps this was why she had come to live with us--to help us choose our friends,” (Lee 300). In this chapter, we get to see how Aunt Alexandra thinks, and why she cares so much about what the Finch family does and who they are associated with. She thinks that class is so important, that if you are a higher class than someone, you cannot be interested in them unless you want to become "like them". The two ideas about who is and who isn’t trash that Aunt Alexandra and Atticus explain are very different and each represent a certain way of thinking. Aunt Alexandra believes in the past and that you can’t escape your family’s set place in society, and Atticus believes in the present and future. This goes back to candy box that Mrs. Dubose gave the children… the cotton representing the past and the beautiful white flower representing the future and all that can come with it.
Questions: Which definition of trash do you believe in? Do you think that Atticus’s beliefs about who good and bad people are have to do with why he wanted to defend Tom Robinson? How does Aunt Alexandra’s definition relate to page 175 when Scout is describing the caste system in Maycomb?
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ReplyDeleteI believe that, out of the two definitions of trash, Atticus's was the better one. "Who in this town did one thing to help Tom Robinson,just who?" "His colored friends for one thing, and people like us." (Lee 287-289). Atticus is not the only one in the town who thinks that everyone should have equal rights. It may be small, but it is better than nothing. Because of his beliefs, Atticus tried his hardest to win, even when he knew he barely had a chance. The trash here is not Tom, but Bob Ewell, who framed Tom as the man who beat his daughter. He exploited him, and Tom is now in jail because of it. Even so, Bob didn't give a second thought. And now, Tom is imprisoned, and Bob has sworn revenge on Atticus. If Bob wasn't such trash, this never would have happened.
ReplyDelete"In court when it's a white man's word against a black man's the white man always wins" (Lee 295). Atticus believes that if a white man stands against a black man it isn't fair as other whites will ignore what is being said and simply go against the black person. If this happens and the white man is going against a black man then this white man is trash as he knowns that the black man will not be able to defend himself properly. Because of Atticus's outstanding morals to help blacks or any man in need of help, he was able to show how sinful the Ewell's really were to do this. In Atticus's definition of trash it is Bob Ewell that is the real trash who framed Tom Robinson to take away the guilt that he felt inside at his daughter. Through Bob Ewell's convoluted mind he felt as though he had done nothing wrong to Tom Robison, but rather Atticus had hurt his image through the town as the they knew that Robinson was an innocent mockingbird.
ReplyDeleteAunt Alexandra believes that all generations of family turn out the same way. She states this when she tells Scout that she and Walter cannot be friends, do to Walter’s family. Alexandra has always been adamant about recognizing family history, as she forces Scout to learn more about her ancestry. She made Atticus tell the children, “that [Jem and Scout] are not from run-of-the-mill people, that [Jem and Scout] are the product of several generations’ of gentle breeding” (Lee 177). Family history is critical for Aunt Alexandra, so when she learns about the Cunningham’s unsuccessful past, she instantly does not want the Finches to be best friends.
ReplyDeleteAunt Alexandra's definition of trash reinforces the idea that she is a stubborn, judgmental, and old fashioned lady. The older generation of Maycomb believes that if you share the same last name, then you must be exactly alike. Aunt Aexandra believes that a persons characteristics have "been repeated in each generation and refined by time," (Lee 175). According to her, no one can be an individual, they have to be exactly like their ancestors. This belief carries over into Aunt Alexandras definition of what "trash" is. Aunt Alexandra thinks Walter and Scout should not become friends because the Cunningham's are "not our kind of folks," (Lee 299). No one should have assumptions made about them just because they have had relatives that do not make the smartest decisions. Although Walter Cunningham comes from a family with a poor background and the occasional alcoholic, this does not change the fact that he is a nice and polite boy.
ReplyDeleteyou make an interesting point about the caste system relating to their definitions of trash. The caste system is based purely on who your ancestors were "the older citizens, the present generation of people who had lived side by side for years, were utterly predictable to each other"(Lee,175). Aunt Alexandra definition of trash, is reliant upon a persons living conditions, and ultimately their ancestry. If there father was trash then they are trash, however this way of thinking allows for no break to the cycle. Even though Walter is not trash, according to Aunt Alexandra he always will be considered trash, because his father is trashy and poor. There is no redemption in Aunt Alexandras mind for a Cunningham, or anyone else below her. This is where the caste system fails.
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