Jem gets older and starts to push scout away. Atticus is being called away from home more and more due to the Tom Robinson trial. Since Atticus couldn’t take the kids to church, Calpurnia decides to take them to her church. The church is named First Purchase and it is a ‘colored’ church. Scout and Jem receive strange looks and comments from some members of the church due to their skin color. Scout learns that Calpurnia’s church isn’t much different than hers other than the lack of money. She also learns that Tom Robinson is accused of raping Bob Ewell’s daughter. When Calpurnia, Jem, and Scout return back to Finch’s landing they discover Aunt Alexandra is waiting for them.
Chapter 12 Analysis
I believe Jem pushing Scout away serves as a transition to Scout’s growing knowledge and independence. Calpurnia’s church symbolizes hope and love even in desperate situations. They make do with everything they have. They value helping others. This is evident when Reverend Sykes orders that the church doors be closed until they have enough money to help Helen (Tom Robinson’s wife).
Aunt Alexandra enters the story to provide a feminine influence for Scout and Jem. In an attempt to make Scout more social, Aunt Alexandra invites some women over to ‘hang out’ so that Scout can learn how to properly associate with others. Scout explains how every family has a streak. Attitude ask Aunt Alexandra if the Finches have an 'Incestuous Streak,' but Aunt Alexandra quickly denies it. Atticus tries to describe to Jem and Scout that they must uphold the Finch name and they must stay well behaved to not become like other families. Scout thinks that Aunt Alexandra made Atticus have this conversation with them and it makes her angry.
Chapter 13 Analysis
In chapter 13 Aunt Alexandra starts to become in control of Jem and Finch. She is strict. I believe that Aunt Alexandra represents control and organization in the Finch's life. Scout has a rebellious tone underlying the text. It is evident that Scout isn't too fond of Aunt Alexandra when she accuses Aunt Alexandra of making Atticus talk to her about their ‘legacy’.
In chapter 14 Aunt Alexandra criticizes Calpurnia for bringing the children to church with her. Aunt Alexandra tells Atticus that they don't need Calpurnia, but Atticus disagrees with his sister. Jem tells Scout not to bother Aunt Alexandra and this angers her. Scout and Jem get in a fight that lasts all day. When Scout goes to her room she discovers Dill hiding under her bed. He ran away from home because no one was paying any attention to him. Atticus finds Dill and allows him to stay the night.
Chapter 14 Analysis
Aunt Alexandra represents order and control. Dill represents adventure and carelessness. The two characters are foils in Scout's life because they represent the two parts of her. Aunt Alexandra represents what Scout should do and Dill represents what Scout wants to do. Scout feels like people are against her, but when Dill returns she becomes more like herself again.
Tom Robinson is moved to the Maycomb county jail. Atticus leaves the house around 10 o'clock to go to the jail. Although Jem and Scout don't know he is going to the jail until they decide to sneak out and they see him reading a newspaper in front of the jailhouse. A group of men approach Atticus and it is different than the men from the day before that were talking to Atticus in his front yard. They get close to beating Atticus up, but then Scout and Jem make their presence known, causing the men to disperse.
Chapter 15 Analysis
Chapter 15 embodies the fear of To Kill A Mockingbird. When Jem and Scout saw the men talking to their father they thought the situation was strange. When Atticus decides to take the car (which is strange because he prefers to walk over drive) Scout and Jem's uneasy feelings are confirmed. The men almost beating Atticus up at the jailhouse shows a turning point for Scout. She realizes how bad the Tom Robinson situation is because people are willing to hurt her father over it. After Scout recognizes Mr. Cunningham it shows how powerful a child can be because after Scout speaks up, the men falter away from hurting Atticus.
Scout, Jem, and Dill sneak out to watch the Tom Robinson trial. When they get there the only seats left are in the colored section. Jem mentions 'mixed' children and Scout asks him what that means. He explains that they are 'half white' 'half black' and that they don't belong anywhere. Then Scout asks Jem how he knows that they didn't come from 'negroes', but Jem says that Uncle Jack Finch said they didn't. They sit down and the trial begins with Mr. Heck Tate running it.
Chapter 16 Analysis
When Jem and Scout sit in the 'colored' section it symbolizes unity. They had no problem sitting with people with a different skin color. By Scout asking Jem how he knows that they didn't come from 'colored' people it shows her supporting equality. Scout wants things to be fair and it is evident through her words in this chapter. She is partially blind to the color of others skin and for her, it is a good quality to have because she resembles Atticus.
Bob Ewell announces to the judge that his daughter, Mayella, was raped by Tom Robinson. Mayella has bruises on the right side of her face, but Tom Robinson is crippled on his left arm due to an accident when he was a child. Since she was hit on the right side of the face it would make it really hard for a left arm crippled man to hit a girl on the right side of her face. This leads to the discovery of Bob Ewell being left handed. This begins to suggest that Tom Robinson might've not been the one who hit Mayella.
Chapter 17 Analysis
Bob Ewell is defensive and Sneaky in Chapter 17. He dodges many questions and this suggests that he has something to hide. Tom Robinson was accused of beating and raping Mayella, but she had bruises on the right side of her face. Since his left arm is crippled, it would make it difficult to hit her on the right side. Bob Ewell is left handed and it would be very easy for him to hit his daughter. This suggests that Bob Ewell might be abusing his daughter.
Mayella is next to the stand and she claims that Tom Robinson raped her. She said what happened was she told him that she would pay him a nickel to break up a dresser for her. She claims that he 'took advantage' of her. She fought him back, but he was too strong. Mailer's home life is miserable. She has a drunken father, no mother, and seven siblings. She is also the eldest sibling. Atticus tries to get Mayella to confess that Bob Ewell betas her, but she gets defensive and angry at Atticus at his accusation.
Chapter 18 Analysis
Mayella lies her way through the trial. She claims that she fought Tom Robinson as much as she could. It would make it hard for Tom to fight her because he only has one good arm. If Mayella was really about to get raped, then it would be an easy situation for her to run away from. She gets angry when Atticus suggests that Bob Ewell beats her. This suggests that it is true because she gets so defensive.