In Chapter 9 of To Kill a
Mockingbird, after his peremptory spanking of Scout for fighting with Francis
and for using bad language, Uncle Jack comes to Scout's room to talk with her. He,
then, provides Scout the opportunity to talk with him and explain her side, as she tells
him that Atticus always does. When Uncle Jack learns what Francis has said about
Atticus, he is very upset with the boy. However, he promises not to mention anything to
Atticus as Scout requests. She tells her uncle that Atticus has told her not to let
anything she heard about her father upset her.
Later, as
Scout overhears her father and Uncle Jack talk of the forthcoming trial of Tom Robinson,
Scout is detected by her father and told to go to bed. Once there and wondering how he
knew she was listening, she also reflects,
Uncle Jack was a prince of a fellow not to let me
down.
During their
conversation, Uncle Jack has kept his promise and not revealed the context of the
altercation betwee Francis and Scout. This little scene and the conflicts of Chapter 9
are examples of social realism as Harper Lee portrays a family reunion with less than
perfect family members. In addition, the reader learns more about Atticus as he
steadily becomes the voic of reason. As Jack listens to his brother, he realizes that
Atticus's strength lies in his calmness. It is this calmness and integrity in Jack that
endears him to Scout, as well.
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