Wednesday, April 27, 2011

On which pages are there references to the following locations in Maycomb County in To Kill a Mockingbird: The dump, OK cafe, jail, bank, oak...

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Maycomb
County conforms to its own set of rules. It keeps within the law but usurps its
interpretation in order to uphold its prejudiced and unjust views. While Atticus does
everything in his power to ensure justice for the innocent Tom Robinson, he cannot
change the perception of the narrow-minded and hypocritical
"folks."


In discussing some of the places in the story,
there is a "solitary oak" referenced in chapter 6, on page 55, which is in the
schoolyard. Then there is the tree in the Radley's garden. The children are obsessed
with the Radley's place and all the gossip about Boo Radley. Boo begins leaving gifts in
the knot hole of the tree in a desperate attempt to make a connection. There are various
references to it, one of which is in chapter 7, on page 60 when the children find a ball
of grey twine in "our tree."  


The dump is a significant
place in the story as the Ewell family live "on the same plot of land behind the Maycomb
dump" (ch 13, page 131, 1988 ed) and it is Mayella Ewell who has accused Tom of raping
her. Page numbers may vary according to which edition of To Kill A
Mockingbird
is being read or studied but the chapters will remain the same.
In a 1988 edition, the Ewell family is first mentioned when Mayella's brother, Burris,
is in Scout's class at school (chapter 3). The reader knows immediately that this family
is desperately poor, with no education (this is Burris's third year in First Grade!),
without a mother and Burris is described by Scout as "the filthiest human..." (page 27).
Mayella's father thinks he is above the law but, because his children will suffer
otherwise, the people of Maycomb County become "blind to the activities" (page 31),
which information foreshadows the tragedy to follow. The dump itself is described in
chapter 17 on page 172 in relation to the Ewell's property, separated only by a
"fence... bits of tree-limbs, broomsticks and tool
shafts..." 


V J Elmore's is the shop with the twirling
baton which Scout has admired for some time (chapter 11, page 104). The children passed
Mrs. Dubose's house on their way. Mrs. Dubose makes cruel and heartless comments to the
children and suggests that Scout will ultimately work at the OK Cafe, "a dim
organization on the north side of the square." The thought  terrifies Scout as its
location is suspect and not a preferred part of town (chapter 11, page
105). 


The bank building is where Atticus has his law
practice, having moved from the courthouse for the quieter location. It is described in
chapter 15, on page 151, in terms of its relevance to Atticus's practice. The jail is
described on page 152 as "the most venerable and hideous of the county's buildings... a
miniature Gothic joke..." The children cross the square because Atticus is not in his
office. It is nighttime and the children should not be out. They stop in the doorway of
the Jitney Jungle, (page 152) the supermarket, and watch some men approach Atticus.
Jitney Jungle is the place where Miss Stephanie pretends that she is going when (in
chapter 17) she wants to go and find out more about Tom's trial.
 

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