To Kill a Mockingbird Group

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natalie819
natalie819
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In Chapter 21 of To Kill a Mockingbird, why are Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra upset?

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Posted by natalie819 on Friday April 10, 2009 at 9:24 PM and tagged with aunt alexandra, calpurnia, chapter 21, jem, plot, scout, to kill a mockingbird.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    When Jem and Scout go to watch Tom's trial, Calpurnia does not know where they are. She goes to the courthouse and interrupts the proceedings to tell Atticus the children are missing. They are not missing; they are sitting in the balcony with Rev. Sykes. When Atticus calls them down and Cal escorts them home for dinner, she is very angry, especially with Jem:

    --skin every one of you alive, the very idea, you children listenin' to all that ! Mister Jem, don't you know better'n take your little sister to that trial? Miss Alexandra'll absolutely have a stroke of paralysis when she finds out! Ain't fittin' for children to hear . . . .

    The idea the Jem and Scout have heard the testimony in a rape trial is horrendous to Cal. She also is correct in predicting Alexandra's strong reaction to this situation. Aunt Alexandra almost faints when she learns where the children have spent the afternoon. She is even more upset (Scout says "hurt") when she learns that Atticus has approved their returning to court after dinner to hear the verdict.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/chapter-21-summary-anal...
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/themes

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    Posted by mshurn on Saturday April 11, 2009 at 1:08 AM