Table of Contents
What is going on in Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
Summary: Chapter 15 As his trial is nearing, Tom Robinson is to be moved to the Maycomb jail, and concerns about the possibility of a lynch mob have arisen. Later, Jem tells Scout that Alexandra and Atticus have been arguing about the trial; she nearly accused him of bringing disgrace on the family.
Why is Atticus afraid in Chapter 15?
Expert Answers Though possessed of enormous courage, Atticus is only human, after all. And, like most people would be if they were faced with a baying, angry mob, he’s understandably frightened.
How does Atticus reassure Jem Chapter 15?
Atticus tells Jem that they were not a gang, they were friends. In the ensuing conversation, Atticus tells Jem that Maycomb county does not have gangs, and moreover, the Ku Klux Klan no longer exists. Despite these assurances, Jem later informs Scout that he is afraid someone might try to hurt Atticus.
What is Jem scared of in Chapter 15?
Jem is afraid that Atticus might become the target of a mob or the Ku Klux Klan: “They were after you, weren’t they?… The children are surprised because Atticus always walks to his office. The fact that he drives this night suggests to Jem that something is wrong. Atticus may be in danger, and he apparently knows it.
Why is Atticus sitting in front of the jail?
Atticus sits outside of the jail in order to protect Tom Robinson from the lynch mob. Jem and Scout follow him, but they stay far enough away that he can’t see them. When the children are ready to leave, they notice four old cars come into town.
Why is Atticus afraid?
Atticus fears that his children will suffer because of his decision to defend a black man. In the face of fear, Atticus finds the courage to follow through with the trial.
Why did Jem disobey Atticus?
Jem openly disobeys his father because he knows that leaving the situation will put Atticus in further danger. Jem displays his loyalty to Atticus by refusing to leave and makes the independent decision to stay, despite his father’s directives.
How does Scout lose her innocence in chapter 15?
The lynch mob scene outside of the Maycomb courthouse in chapter 15 is a good example of Scout learning things that strip her of her innocence. She follows her father, only to find people she has known her whole life gathered in a show of intimidation and violence.
Who really beat Mayella Ewell?
Since Bob Ewell was the only other person present, and since he was in a rage at what he saw through the window, it is apparent that he must have been the man who beat up Mayella.
Who confronts Atticus at the jail?
Why are they there? Walter Cunningham and the Old Sarum bunch surround Atticus at the Maycomb jailhouse because they wish to lynch Tom Robinson.