Final Draft
Extract 1 (Chapter 11)
The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is written by Harper Lee in 1960. The novel is set in the 1930s in the south of the United States. The chosen extract is from chapter 11 of the novel, which concerns a “vicious” (pg. 106) and ill woman named Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose. This extract includes a discussion between Jem and Atticus Finch regarding the death of Mrs Dubose. From reading the extract on the discussion of the death of Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose, the theme of courage is presented to the readers through the effective use of figurative language and characterisation of Mrs Dubose. Also, the characterization of Mrs Dubose and the theme of courage in this extract have highlighted the relationship between …show more content…
This shows that with courage and perseverance you can win an unwinnable battle, and “Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her”. The “white, waxy, perfect camellia” that was given to Jem by Mrs Dubose symbolizes her thankfulness and gratitude towards Jem. This was her way of telling Jem that “everything’s all right now”. This shows that even though Mrs Dubose was the most “vicious” (pg. 106), unpleasant, and evil person in Maycomb, according to Jem and Scout, Mrs Dubose still had a tiny bit of good in her when she sent the camellia to thank Jem. However, when Jem opened the box, his “eyes nearly popped out of his head”. This idiom shows how Jem is unable to see that good does exist in every person, including Mrs Dubose. He believes that Mrs Dubose is playing him from the dead and that she won’t leave him alone. Also, there is a sense of irony in this extract, which can be seen when Atticus calls Mrs Dubose a “lady”, and he says, “She was the bravest person I ever knew”. After everything Mrs Dubose has said and done to Atticus, including calling him a “nigger-lover” (pg. 108), the reader does not expect Atticus to talk about her with such great respect and …show more content…
Moreover, through the character of Mrs Dubose and the theme of courage, a father-son-relationship has been brought to the spotlight. Mrs Dubose may have seemed as an evil and unpleasant old woman, however, she was courageous and bravery. Her willingness to “break herself” of the morphine before she dies shows a great deal of courage and persistence, which Atticus admires. Jem’s relationship with his father, Atticus, has played a great role in this extract. Atticus’ frankness and honesty when talking to his son shows the reader that he treats his children like adults. Due to Jem’s previous encounters with Mrs Dubose, he refuses to accept that Mrs Dubose was a good person; instead he believes that she is just playing him from the dead. However, unlike Jem’s opinion on Mrs Dubose, Atticus considers her as an inspiration, which is kind of ironic, as the reader doesn’t expect Atticus to talk so highly about someone who has been nothing but rude and
Extract 1 (Chapter 11)
The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is written by Harper Lee in 1960. The novel is set in the 1930s in the south of the United States. The chosen extract is from chapter 11 of the novel, which concerns a “vicious” (pg. 106) and ill woman named Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose. This extract includes a discussion between Jem and Atticus Finch regarding the death of Mrs Dubose. From reading the extract on the discussion of the death of Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose, the theme of courage is presented to the readers through the effective use of figurative language and characterisation of Mrs Dubose. Also, the characterization of Mrs Dubose and the theme of courage in this extract have highlighted the relationship between …show more content…
This shows that with courage and perseverance you can win an unwinnable battle, and “Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her”. The “white, waxy, perfect camellia” that was given to Jem by Mrs Dubose symbolizes her thankfulness and gratitude towards Jem. This was her way of telling Jem that “everything’s all right now”. This shows that even though Mrs Dubose was the most “vicious” (pg. 106), unpleasant, and evil person in Maycomb, according to Jem and Scout, Mrs Dubose still had a tiny bit of good in her when she sent the camellia to thank Jem. However, when Jem opened the box, his “eyes nearly popped out of his head”. This idiom shows how Jem is unable to see that good does exist in every person, including Mrs Dubose. He believes that Mrs Dubose is playing him from the dead and that she won’t leave him alone. Also, there is a sense of irony in this extract, which can be seen when Atticus calls Mrs Dubose a “lady”, and he says, “She was the bravest person I ever knew”. After everything Mrs Dubose has said and done to Atticus, including calling him a “nigger-lover” (pg. 108), the reader does not expect Atticus to talk about her with such great respect and …show more content…
Moreover, through the character of Mrs Dubose and the theme of courage, a father-son-relationship has been brought to the spotlight. Mrs Dubose may have seemed as an evil and unpleasant old woman, however, she was courageous and bravery. Her willingness to “break herself” of the morphine before she dies shows a great deal of courage and persistence, which Atticus admires. Jem’s relationship with his father, Atticus, has played a great role in this extract. Atticus’ frankness and honesty when talking to his son shows the reader that he treats his children like adults. Due to Jem’s previous encounters with Mrs Dubose, he refuses to accept that Mrs Dubose was a good person; instead he believes that she is just playing him from the dead. However, unlike Jem’s opinion on Mrs Dubose, Atticus considers her as an inspiration, which is kind of ironic, as the reader doesn’t expect Atticus to talk so highly about someone who has been nothing but rude and