Why doesn't Scout fight Cecil in Chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
In chapter 9, Cecil Jacobs makes several derogatory remarks on the playground about Atticus, which infuriate Scout even though she doesn't understand the meaning of Cecil's insults. Later that night, Scout asks her father what Cecil Jacobs meant by saying he "defended niggers." Atticus proceeds to explain that...
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he will be defending a black man named Tom Robinson despite the community's negative opinions of this decision. Atticus then encourages Scout not to retaliate when others say negative things about him. Atticus tells Scout,
"You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change . . . it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning." (Lee, 78)
The next day on the playground, Scout approaches Cecil Jacobs and asks if he is going to take back what he said about Atticus. When Cecil Jacobs responds by telling Scout that his parents think Atticus is a disgrace and that Tom Robinson should hang from a water-tank, Scout remembers her father's advice and walks away. Scout elaborates on the reason she chose to walk away from Cecil Jacobs by saying,
Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. (Lee, 79)
Essentially, Scout walks away from Cecil Jacobs and does not physically retaliate because she does not want to let her father down.
Why does Scout fight Cecil Jacobs in To Kill a Mockingbird?
At the beginning of chapter 9, Cecil Jacobs announces to the entire playground that "Scout Finch's daddy defended niggers." Despite not understanding the racial slur, Scout is offended and demands that Cecil Jacobs take back his derogatory comment. That night, Scout asks her father to explain Cecil Jacobs's comment, and Atticus proceeds to elaborate on his upcoming case. Atticus explains to his daughter that he will be defending a black man named Tom Robinson and mentions that the majority of the prejudiced citizens in town disagree with his decision to defend Tom. Atticus also explains to Scout that he has a moral obligation to defend Tom. Atticus then encourages Scout to hold her head high and keep her fists down whenever someone attempts to provoke her.
The next day at school, Scout approaches Cecil Jacobs and asks him if he is going to take back his comments about Atticus. Cecil Jacobs responds by telling Scout,
You gotta make me first! . . . My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an‘ that nigger oughta hang from the water-tank! (Lee, 79).
Instead of physically retaliating, Scout exercises self-control and walks away without fighting Cecil, which makes her feel noble. After Scout walks away, she mentions,
Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks (Lee, 79).
Why does Scout fight Cecil Jacobs in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Scout never actually fought with Cecil Jacobs. She came close, but her promise to Atticus reminded her that if she did fight him,
... I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do anything for him...
The primary reason that Scout was about to square off with Cecil was because he had told her in front of her schoolmates in the school yard that Atticus "defended niggers." Scout didn't exactly know what it meant, but it wasn't enough for her to break her promise to Atticus about fighting anymore. Even after Scout demanded that he "take back" his accusation, which Scout knew was an insult--as if Atticus had been "runnin' a still"--she refused to fight. Cecil's final attempt to get her to break her promise, by taunting "Scout's a cow--ward!", also failed to work.
It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight.
Why did Cecil Jacobs annoy Scout at school in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Cecil Jacobs, who lives at the far end of the street from the Finches, announces to the entire schoolyard one day that Scout Finch's father "defends n****rs." He makes this announcement to belittle Scout and to place himself in a position of superiority over her. He may also be reflecting his parents' desire to insult her father.
Scout talks with her father that evening, asking why Cecil has made his statement with such an insulting tone. It is then that Atticus reveals that he is going to defend Tom Robinson in a "rather peculiar case." He adds that there has been gossip around town that he should not do much to defend this man. "It's a peculiar case," Atticus tells Scout, because he feels that she is too young to understand the nature of the accusations as well as the intentions of those making the charges. Finally, he encourages Scout to fight with her head and not her fists.
On the following day, Scout encounters Cecil in the schoolyard, daring him to retract his previous remark. "You gotta make me first!" Cecil retorts. "My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an' that n****r oughta hang from the water-tank!" As she is about to strike Cecil, Scout remembers her promise to Atticus. "It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight," she says. But, Scout recalls her promise, and she feels very noble for having remembered.