Chapter 12

1. Chapter 12

2. “He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody” • There is a change in the relationship between Jem and Scout. • Jem has got older, and wants more independence form Scout.

3. “She made me wear a petticoat and she wrapped a pink sash tightly around my waist” • Calpurnia wants Scout to look like a lady so they don’t receive any more prejudice in the town. They have already been subject to prejudice because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson. • Scout is unusual for a ‘lady’ of the 1930’s. She doesn’t like to wear dresses and is frequently told this throughout the novel.

4. “If Calpurnia had ever bathed me roughly before, it was nothing compared to her supervision of that Saturday night’s routine.” • Calpurnia washed Jem and Scout really well before taking them to her church. She wants to be proud of them in her society (her church). • Calpurnia is a servant to Atticus, not a slave as many people had in the 1930’s before the Slave trade was abolished in 1865. The Finch family made their fortune through slavery until Atticus became a lawyer.

5. “First Purchase African M.E Church was…called first purchase because it was paid for from the first earnings of freed slaves.” • The church was brought by slaves with the first money that they were earning through slavery. • This shows that they out a lot of effort into this church and it obviously means a lot to them because of how much effort they put into buying it.

6. “Negroes worshipped in it on Sundays and white men gambled in it on weekdays.” • The white men show no respect for the black people, and by gambling in it shows how much they disrespect it. • Even in the 1930’s, racism was still a prominent factor in the society of Maycomb and even though slavery was abolished in the US in 1865, there was still a lot of segregation in the society.

7. “When they saw Jem and me with Calpurnia, the men stepped back and took of their hats; the women crossed their arms at their waists, weekday gestures of respectful attention.” • The ways of their society mean that even the most powerful adults have to show respect to the white children (Jem and Scout).

8. “Lula stopped, but she said, ‘You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their church, we’ve got our’n’” • Lula is racist here towards Jem and Scout, and she doesn’t want them at ‘her’ church. • Maycomb is very stuck in it’s ways and doesn’t like change such as Jem and Scout going to the black church. • There are a lot of prejudice characters, and for many, Racism is part of everyday life.

9. “There was no sign of piano, organ, hymn-books, church programmes – the familiar ecclesiastical impedimenta we saw every Sunday” • The way of life for Jem and Scout is very different to that of a lot of other people in their society. • They are unaware of what a lot of people like as they are very protected in their little worlds.

10. “This church has no better friend than your daddy” • The reverend has a lot of respect for Jem and Scout because of Atticus, and him agreeing to defend Tom Robinson. • The black community is very close and appreciates Atticus helping Tom Robinson, even in the racist society of Maycomb.

11. “I looked down the street. Enamoured, upright, uncompromising, Aunt Alexandra was sitting in a rocking-chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.” • Aunt Alexandra arrives at the end of the chapter, and sits on the porch like she has sat there for most of her life. • She sits like a traditional lady of the time, and later in the novel, expects Scout to follow her example and act like a lady.