Illustration of a bird perched on a scale of justice

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

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Chapter 21 Summary and Analysis

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Calpurnia passes Atticus a note saying that his children have gone missing. It's then revealed that they've been sitting up in the balcony all along. Atticus tells them to go home and eat dinner, and if the jury hasn't come back by the time they return, then they can stay and watch the verdict. The children are gone for about an hour, in which time Calpurnia scolds them, Aunt Alexandra nearly faints, and Jem proudly claims that Tom should be acquitted. Atticus knows that he won't be, but refrains from telling Jem this. When they get back, the courtroom is just as they've left it, and the Reverend has even saved their seats.

Scout nearly falls asleep before the verdict comes back: guilty. She watches as in a dream as her father walks down the aisle toward the door. All of the African Americans stand up as he passes out of respect, and Scout stands with them.

Idiom

Calpurnia uses an idiom when she tells the children she'll "skin every one of [them] alive."

Motifs

Swimming. Once again, Lee uses the image of an underwater swimmer to indicate when events happen very slowly (or at least appear to). This time, it's the jury who appear to move slowly as they return to announce the verdict, whereas Atticus, who has been described as an underwater swimmer once before, moves surprisingly quickly after Tom is convicted. The speed with which he leaves might indicate that he's upset about the verdict.

Personification

An example of this is the the courthouse clock "suffer[ing]" the strain of keeping time.

Pun

One example of this would be when Scout refers to Jem as Calpurnia's "precious Jem," punning on the phrase "precious gem," which is meant to indicate how highly Calpurnia thinks of Jem.

Simile

Scout uses a simile when she says that the feeling in the courtroom was the same as that of a cold February morning when everything went still, even the mockingbirds. This stillness is a result of both anticipation and fear, as Tom and the spectators await the verdict.

Symbols

Calpurnia's Apron. When Calpurnia arrives in the courthouse, she's wearing "a fresh apron." This is notable for two reasons: that the apron is fresh, meaning that she must've changed it to go out in public, and that she wears it even inside the courthouse, though she's only required to wear it inside of the Finch house. Her apron is thus a symbol both of her servitude and of her pride, because she makes sure to always look clean, fresh, and proper. She might be a servant, but she's a respectable (and very formidable) woman, and that is clear from the way she wears her apron.

Themes

Time. Lee continues to build on the theme of time by slowing it down while everyone waits to hear the verdict. She draws on the motif of swimming and swimmers to indicate that time is moving very slowly and that Scout's perception of time is affected by her physical and emotional state (she is worn out after the long trial). It's telling that nearly every scene where time has slowed down for Scout corresponds to an event that she has trouble understanding: the trial, her father's skill as a marksman, and Mrs. Dubose's fight against addiction.

Expert Q&A

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

In chapter 21, Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra are upset because Jem and Scout attended Tom Robinson's trial despite being told to stay home. They believe the trial's content is inappropriate for children. Calpurnia scolds Jem, who shows signs of maturing by remaining unfazed. Aunt Alexandra feels undermined when Atticus allows the children to return to court.

What literary devices are found in Chapter 21 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Chapter 21 of To Kill a Mockingbird uses several literary devices. Personification appears when Scout describes an impression creeping into her. Similes include comparisons like the courtroom being "the same as a cold February morning" and the jury moving "like underwater swimmers." There is also foreshadowing, as Reverend Sykes predicts the jury's decision, and Scout notes that jurors don't look at a convicted man, foreshadowing Tom Robinson's fate.

In To Kill a Mockingbird chapter 21, how do the jury and Black community react to Atticus's speech?

In To Kill A Mockingbird, the golden rule is that people should treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves. After Atticus’s speech in chapter 21, the jury defy this rule by not giving to Tom Robinson the justice that they would have wanted in the same position. The Black community, on the other hand, abide by the rule by standing up as a mark of respect for Tom and Atticus.

What crime does Atticus identify in chapter 21 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus refers to Tom's alleged crime as an offense that has been committed. He also refers to Mayella as having transgressed a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. Atticus repeatedly states that Mayella has no right to put an innocent man in the position she has put Tom in.

Explain Jem's misinterpretation of Atticus's statement in chapter 21 of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Jem misinterprets Atticus's statement about the trial being over soon as a sign that Tom Robinson will be acquitted quickly. Having followed the trial closely, Jem believes Atticus has clearly proven Tom's innocence. His youthful innocence and idealism prevent him from understanding the deep-seated racial prejudices affecting the jury's decision. Atticus, aware of these biases, expects a swift "guilty" verdict, but Jem's naivety leads him to a painful realization when the verdict is announced.

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