To Kill a Mockingbird Group

Question:

gryffindor
gryffindor
Student
High School - 10th Grade

How does the author in to Kill a Mockingbird reveal the fact that the women in Maycomb(the women in the missionary circle)are hypocrites?

 chapter 24 of to Kill a Mockingbird

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Posted by gryffindor on Sunday October 25, 2009 at 9:16 PM and tagged with characters, to kill a mockingbird.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    The hypocrisy of these women is revealed through their conversations during the meeting of their Missionary Circle. They profess to be Christians doing good works, but their words and attitudes show that they are deeply racist and hateful. They commiserate over the poor conditions among the Mrunas, a tribe of people of color who live far away from them, but they have no compassion for their own black neighbors. Helen Robinson, whose husband has been convicted of a crime he clearly did not commit, is criticized among them, and Mrs. Merriweather resents paying her hired help a very minimal wage for a week of hard work. These women also sit in Atticus's house, eating his food, and feel free to criticize him indirectly for representing Tom. There is no love, understanding, or compassion among these "Christian" women in their church meeting. They are hypocrites.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/chapter-24-su...

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    Posted by mshurn on Sunday October 25, 2009 at 10:55 PM