Sunday, February 10, 2013

What ironic incident can be found in Chapter 12 of To Kill A Mockingbird?

I think you are talking about the time that Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her all black church.  Atticus has been called to the state legislature and is gone from home, so Calpurnia decides the children will go with her to church services.  As they enter the church, a parishioner, Lulu, criticizes Calpurnia for bringing the white children with her to church.  Scout and Jem are welcomed into the church by other members and Reverend Sykes, but it is a different worship service than they are used to.  There is only one hymnal, and Zeebo, Calpurnia’s son, reads from it.  There is also a collection taken up for Helen Robinson who is unable to find work now that Tom has been arrested.


It is an ironic episode because the black community has always been discriminated against in Maycomb.  They are segregated in their own communities and churches.  So, for some members of the church, Calpurnia bringing Scout and Jem into their church is not appreciated.  Lulu and other church members are discriminating against Scout and Jem in this instance.  It is a pretty normal reaction by the black parishioners who have been kept separate all their lives from the white community.  However, the Christian religion preaches to accept everyone, so it is ironic that Lulu and others hesitate in accepting the children.

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