“Miss Gates is a nice lady, ain't she?"Why sure," said Jem. "I liked her when I was in her room."She hates Hitler a lot . . ."What's wrong with that?"Well, she went on today about how bad it was him treating the Jews like that. Jem, it's not right to persecute anybody, is it? I mean have mean thoughts about anybody, even, is it?"Gracious no, Scout. What's eatin' you?"Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was--- she was going' down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her--- she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themelves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home---”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis:
In this quote from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout questions the hypocrisy she observes in Miss Gates, her teacher. Miss Gates expresses hatred towards Hitler for persecuting the Jews, but then speaks negatively about African Americans in her own community. This passage highlights the theme of hypocrisy and racism in the novel, as Scout begins to understand the complexities of prejudice and discrimination. The juxtaposition of Miss Gates' feelings towards the Holocaust and her racism towards African Americans reflects the pervasive nature of bias and discrimination. It sheds light on the idea that prejudice is not always blatant and can sometimes be masked in seemingly well-intentioned actions or comments. Scout's realization challenges the idea of morality and reveals the complexities of human behavior when it comes to injustice and discrimination.
Modern Relevance:
In this passage from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout questions Miss Gates' hypocrisy regarding her hatred towards Hitler's persecution of the Jews while also making racist comments about African Americans in her own community. This theme of hypocrisy and double standards is still prevalent in society today. People may outwardly condemn acts of injustice and discrimination on a larger scale, such as racism or sexism, but may still exhibit prejudice in their everyday interactions with those around them. This passage serves as a reminder to reflect on our own biases and actions, and to strive for consistency in standing against all forms of discrimination.
Example of Usage
In this passage from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout questions Miss Gates' hypocrisy towards injustices. Despite hating Hitler's treatment of the Jews, Miss Gates shows prejudice towards African Americans in her own community. This example demonstrates the complexity of human behavior and the need to examine our own biases.
Reflection Questions
This excerpt from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" prompts readers to think about the complexities of human nature and the concept of hypocrisy. The characters in the passage discuss the importance of not persecuting or having mean thoughts about others, yet Miss Gates' comments about the African American community in Maycomb reveal a double standard. Reflect on the following questions to delve deeper into this theme:
- How do you think Miss Gates' contradictory behavior reflects the societal norms and prejudices prevalent in Maycomb?
- In what ways do the characters' reactions to the injustices happening abroad contrast with their attitudes towards discrimination within their own community?
- How does Scout's observation of Miss Gates' words and actions contribute to her understanding of racism and injustice in her own environment?
- Consider the significance of this passage in relation to the overall themes of the novel, such as empathy, morality, and the impact of societal values on individual beliefs.
Similar quotes
“Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was-she goin' down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her- she was talking with Miss Stephen Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-”
“Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home.”
“I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco,” was all Atticus said about it. According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him. Miss Stephanie (who, by the time she had told it twice was there and had seen it all—passing by from the Jitney Jungle, she was)—Miss Stephanie said Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat. Mr. Ewell was a veteran of an obscure war; that plus Atticus’s peaceful reaction probably prompted him to inquire, “Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin‘ bastard?” Miss Stephanie said Atticus said, “No, too old,” put his hands in his pockets and strolled on. Miss Stephanie said you had to hand it to Atticus Finch, he could be right dry sometimes. Jem and I didn’t think it entertaining.”
“I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.”“Oh,” said Jem. “Well.”“Don’t you oh well me, sir,” Miss Maudie replied, recognizing Jem’s fatalistic noises, “you are not old enough to appreciate what I said.”Jem was staring at his half-eaten cake. “It’s like bein’ a caterpillar in a cocoon, that’s what it is,” he said. “Like somethin’ asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like.”“We’re the safest folks in the world,” said Miss Maudie. “We’re so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us.”
“You think about that,” Miss Maudie was saying. “It was no accident. I was sittin‘ there on the porch last night, waiting. I waited and waited to see you all come down the sidewalk, and as I waited I thought, Atticus Finch won’t win, he can’t win, but he’s the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that. And I thought to myself, well, we’re making a step—it’s just a baby-step, but it’s a step.” “‘t’s all right to talk like that—can’t any Christian judges an’ lawyers make up for heathen juries,” Jem muttered.”
“A lady?' Jem raised his head. His face was scarlet. 'After all those things she said about you, a lady?''She was. She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe... son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.”