To Kill a Mocking Bird: Chapters 12-20

Hamburger Paragraphs:

First Purchase Church:

While Atticus is out of town, Calpurnia decides to bring Jem and Scout to her church (First Purchase). This is a significant event in the book, for it is the first time the reader gets a glimpse of the black community in Maycomb. First Purchase Church is in an old building and everything inside of it reflects their poverty. On page 159, Lee describes: “First Purchase was unceiled and unpainted within.” She then continues to say: “There was no sign of piano, organ, hymn-books, church programs--- the familiar ecclesiastical impedimenta we saw every Sunday.” These quotes show the lack of funding the church has. Scout then talks about how different the black church is from the white church. But Scout likes the black church. She likes the closeness of the congregation and the feeling of a stronger community and bond than her own church. The overall experience of the black church was comfortable and memorable for Jem and Scout. They begin to realize that the “Negroes” aren’t as terrible as all the white people say.

Aunt Alexandra:

Aunt Alexandra comes to live with Atticus, Jem and Scout with the intention to teach the kids about their family heritage, bust most significantly wanted to make a young lady out of Scout.  Aunt Alexandra makes it clear on page 170 when she says: “We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won’t be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys ---“ Scout was utterly annoyed to hear this. She had no intention to become any more “feminine.” She feared that in becoming a lady, she would be rejected by Jem. So, she blocks out the idea and views Aunt Alexandra as a narrow-minded, inflexible lady who should have no authority over her.

Visual Representation:

This picture of cornbread is a literal representation. When Jem and Scout found Dill underneath Scout's bed, all Scout got him as a meal was a pan of cold cornbread. When Atticus appeared, he has said to Scout: "Scout, we can do better than a pan of cold cornbread, can we?" Scout didn't view Dill as company. She didn't put an effort to may him feel welcome. She simply grabbed the easiest thing that he could eat. Atticus showed hospitality towards Dill even though he new that Dill's actions weren't exactly rewarding.