To Kill a Mocking Bird

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Free Study Guide: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: SYNOPSIS / BOOK SUMMARY NOTES

Setting

The novel is set in the 1930’s in a small community in Maycomb County, located
in the South. Although slavery has been legally abolished for many years, the
Southerners in Maycomb continued to believe in white supremacy, and the novel
projects the social snobbery and the prejudice attached to these southern
values.

Character List

Atticus Finch A highly respected and responsible citizen of Maycomb County. He is the father of Scout and Jem. An attorney by profession, he is very particular about delivering justice.

Scout Finch Atticus’ darling daughter. An impulsive girl by nature, she keeps rushing into fights and is more emotional than her brother.

Jem Finch He is the son who is deeply motivated to follow his father's footsteps. The important idea of maturity is well depicted in his character as he has gains maturity by the end of the novel.

Arthur Radley He is called ‘Boo’ by Scout and Jem. He is an enigmatic character, who never steps out of his house, nor maintains any relation with the townsfolk. Yet, he attempts an indirect friendship with the children. He is a pathetic figure in his need for love and attention.

Bob Ewell An uncultured, uncouth, inherently evil character, who drinks up all the relief money, beats up his children, and has no qualms in resorting even to murder to restore his lost dignity among the community members.

Aunt Alexandra Atticus’ sister who comes to live with them, since it seemed necessary that there should be some feminine influence in the house. Aunt Alexandra seems too stern and forbidding at the beginning, but later on, her soft-heartedness is revealed.

Calpurnia The family’s black housekeeper who has looked after the family since the children had lost their mother. Her presence has contributed to the molding of the children’s character to a great extent.

Dill The closest friend of both Jem and Scout. Through habitually weaving long fantasies, he reveals himself to be a child, deprived of love and attention.

Mr. Radley Their neighbor. He is an unrelenting father in that he punishes Boo to a stern solitary confinement. He is a complete contrast to Atticus in the role of a father.

Miss Stephanie Crawford Their neighbor and local gossip, who cannot help trying to be the first one to pass any rumor or to speculate on any piece of gossip.

Nathan Radley Boo Radley's older brother. Shares some of the cruel traits of his father.

Miss Maudie The children’s confidante who always takes pains to explain human character and its whims to the children.

Mayella Ewell Bob’s young daughter, who in her search for company and affection, puts the innocent Tom Robinson into deep trouble.

Tom Robinson A young Negro laborer. He is honest and helpful but is unfairly convicted and even found guilty for crime he has not committed. The inequality towards blacks reaches a peak in the treatment given to him by the whites.

The Cunningham family They are what are termed as the ‘poor whites’, but they are decent self-respecting, hardworking people who always try to pay off their debts in whatever manner possible.

Mr. Heck Tate The sheriff of Maycomb county who is a sincere and respected man of society. At the end of the novel, he uses his discretion over the death of Bob Ewell to save a lot of unnecessary speculation.

Judge Taylor The seemingly lethargic and disinterested judge for the Tom Robinson - Mayella case but who underneath, is a very alert and perceptive judge .

Mrs. Dubose The bitter tongued, garrulous old neighbor of Atticus, who presents herself as an irritating and corrosive woman to the children, but who really is a very strong-willed and considerate person.

Chapter 1

In this chapter, a brief introduction of the Finch family is given by Scout. Simon Finch established a homestead, ‘Finch’s Landing’, on the banks of the Alabama River. He died a rich and prosperous man. One of his sons, Atticus, studied law; the other had studied medicine. Although both sons left Finch’s Landing, Alexandra, their sister, remained.
Atticus practiced law in Maycomb, where he lived with his two children, Jem and Scout, and the cook, Calpurnia. Atticus’ wife died when the children were young, and Scout hardly remembers her.

The children’s boundaries for roaming were Miss Henry Lafayette Dubose’s house and the Radley house. The Radley house had always fascinated the children with its spooky exterior. The children used to imagine that a vicious phantom resided in the house. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Radley were a couple who kept to themselves. Their son, Boo Radley is believed by children to have maniacal tendencies and so is kept at home. The children played games around the Radley house and dare one another to touch the wall of the house to prove how brave they are.

Chapter 2

Scout is to begin school, and Jem is assigned to escort her on the first day. Jem makes it clear to Scout that she is to stay with the first graders and not try to follow him or ask him to play with her. Scout is excited about her first day at school but is disillusioned because she is rebuked for already knowing how to read and write. It turns out that Atticus and Calpurnia had introduced her to reading and writing at a very early age, but the teacher is unable to see the genuineness of this attempt and feels that it is only a hindrance to further learning.When Scout tries to explain the reason why Walter Cunningham would not accept her money for buying lunch, she is punished by the teacher.

Chapter 3

Jem manages to stop the fight between Scout and Walter Cunningham and on spontaneously invites him for dinner. Scout makes an involuntary remark about Walter’s strange eating habits at the dining table, and is severely reprimanded by Calpurnia.Back at school, Miss Carolina is disgusted to see a louse in Burris Ewell’s hair and sends him home to get clean. The boy’s rude behavior shocks the teacher and one student offers an explanation about the lifestyle of the Ewells, who breach all rules and live a life of sloth. Back home, Scout wonders aloud to her father, whether she too could skip school and stay at home like the Ewells. Atticus explains to her that sometimes rules are bent to maintain the harmony in society, but Scout would have to go to school.

Chapter 4

On this particular day, as Scout runs back home from school, she sees something glistening on the oak tree outside the Radley house. Taking courage, she retraces her steps to investigate and finds some chewing gum wrapped in tin foil and stuffed into a hole in the its trunk.

Jem, on discovering it, makes Scout spit it out. But the very next day, when they pass by the same place, they discover a box containing two shining pennies in it. Initially they decide to inquire if anybody has lost some pennies, and if there would be no claimants, they decide to pocket it themselves.

Dill arrives in a blaze of glory and a fanfare of fantasies. While they are playing together, Scout gets into an old tire which is pushed over by Jem. It starts rolling down the road and stops right outside the Radley house. In her fright, Scout runs back, leaving the tire behind. Jem, with much ado at bravery, ultimately retrieves it. Then they plan out a pantomime game, with Jem pretending to be Boo, continually howling and shrieking away. They even act out the scene where Boo had supposedly plunged a knife through his father’s pants.

Unfortunately for them, Atticus catches them at it and the game is stopped. Scout remembers that on the day she had rolled into the Radley front yard, she had heard a low sound of laughter from inside the house.

Chapter 5

Their neighbor Miss Maudie, is also a friend of the children. Scout questions her about Boo, and Maudie explains that there is nothing wrong with Boo, or rather Arthur( his real name). Mr. Radley had been a Protestant Baptist, with strong religious notions which Miss Maudie didn’t believe in. She then assures Scout that all the stories built around the Radley house are imaginary ones.

Dill and Jem have, in the meantime, formulated a plan delivering a note to Boo, inviting him to come out and meet them. Scout is petrified, but agrees to carry out her part of guarding the area, for fear of being labeled a girl and a ‘sissy’.

However, their plan does not succeed as Atticus arrives and dissuades them from tormenting Boo, instructing them to leave him alone.

Chapter 6

Jem and Dill obey Atticus until Dill’s last day in Maycomb, when he and Jem plan to sneak over to the Radley Place and peek in through a loose shutter. Scout accompanies them, and they creep around the house, peering in through various windows. Suddenly, they see the shadow of a man with a hat on and flee, hearing a shotgun go off behind them. They escape under the fence by the schoolyard, but Jem’s pants get caught on the fence, and he has to kick them off in order to free himself.

The children return home, where they encounter a collection of neighborhood adults, including Atticus, Miss Maudie, and Miss Stephanie Crawford, the neighborhood gossip. Miss Maudie informs them that Mr. Nathan Radley shot at “a Negro” in his yard. Miss Stephanie adds that Mr. Radley is waiting outside with his gun so he can shoot at the next sound he hears. When Atticus asks Jem where his pants are, Dill interjects that he won Jem’s pants in a game of strip poker. Alarmed, Atticus asks them if they were playing cards. Jem responds that they were just playing with matches. Late that night, Jem sneaks out to the Radley Place, and retrieves his pants.

Chapter 7

School has reopened and now Jem and Scout return home at the same time unlike before. Jem reveals to Scout that the night he had returned to retrieve his pants, the parts which had been tattered had been sewn, though crookedly, and it had been neatly folded and kept across the fence. Both wonder at this new dilemma: who could have been behind this? Later, they even find a ball of gray twine in the knothole of the oak tree, and after waiting for three days to see whether somebody else takes it, they finally pocket it. Further, they decide that whatever they will find in the knothole would be their property.

As time passes, they continue to find things hidden in the knothole. They find two small images carved in soap, of a boy and a girl, that are exact replicas of themselves, a whole packet of chewing gum, a tarnished medal and the biggest prize of all -- a pocket watch on a chain with an aluminum knife. After that, they write a letter of appreciation for all the gifts they have received but when they reach the tree, they find that the knothole has been cemented. Nathan Radley has done this, putting forward the explanation that the tree had been dying. But Atticus informs that the tree is quite healthy. Jem is upset about this but is unable to do anything.

Chapter 8

Winter arrives in Maycomb County. Mrs. Radley expires, but this causes no ripples. Scout is frightened on seeing the snow. Since school is declared closed on account of the snow, Scout and Jem decide to visit Miss Maudie. They borrow the snow from her yard and build a snowman which resembles Mr. Avery.

In the night, Scout is woken up from her sleep, and is informed that Miss Maudie’s house has caught fire. Atticus orders the children to stay near the Radley house while the fire is being put out. Later, they discover that a woolen blanket has been thrown over Scout’s shoulders. How it has come there is a mystery to both Scout and Jem. Then, Atticus is told of all the mischief that they have done around the Radley house. On being told that it may well have been Boo who has put the blanket, Scout is terrified.

Chapter 9

Scout is pushed into a fight with her classmate, who had jeered her father for defending the ‘niggers’. On being questioned, Atticus does agree that he defends niggers, in particular the one named Tom Robinson. He explains that though the case is a tricky and a complex one, it is important for his own self-esteem. Moreover, his conscience compels him to suffer on behalf of the injustice carried out by his community. Another reason for taking up the case is that if he did not, he would not be able to represent their country in the legislature. Besides, the case is equally important for him to be able to stand up to his anti-racial stance.

Christmas arrives with mixed feelings for Jem and Scout since they have to spend it at Finch’s Landing, with Aunt Alexandra, Atticus’ sister. They receive air rifles as Christmas gifts from Atticus. Getting acquainted with the relatives once again seems a tiring job and Scout finds her cousin Francis a terrible bore. Aunt Alexandra is outraged that Scout is still in breeches and not in a dress. The children make a very amusing comparison of Aunt Alexandra with Mount Everest

Scout and Francis have a quarrel first over Dill and then over Atticus, whom Francis calls a ‘nigger-lover’. Uncle Jack mediates between them. Uncle Jack is unable to comprehend Scout’s way of thinking and admits to Atticus how he himself is better off for

Chapter 10

Atticus refuses to teach the children how to shoot and Uncle Jack takes up the charge of giving them the lessons. Atticus only tells them that they may shoot at anything but a mockingbird. He explains that mockingbirds hurt no one; they only sing for people to enjoy, so killing a mockingbird is definitely a sin.

While going for a walk across the Radley house, they notice Tim, Mr. Harry Johnson’s dog, behaving strangely. The children rush home to inform Calpurnia. It turns out the dog had turned mad, and Calpurnia rushes around, informing everyone about it. The sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate requests Atticus to shoot down the dog. Atticus kills the dog in one shot! The children who had never been aware of their father’s shooting prowess are truly stunned. It turns out their father’s nickname in his younger days was ‘ol,’one-shot’. Miss Maudie then explains to the children that though Atticus was such a fine shooter, he had decided long ago that he would shoot only when it would be absolutely necessary to do so. She also describes him as a very civilized being at heart.

Chapter 11

Jem and Scout have outgrown the practice of bothering Boo. They now encounter
Mrs. Dubose, an old woman with a wrathful gaze and a vitriolic tongue, who never
fails to shower abuses on Jem and Scout, as well as on Atticus and the entire
Finch family. One day, in his anger, Jem cuts down the tops off every camellia
bush owned by Mrs. Dubose. Atticus, of course, makes Jem go back and apologize
to her. As a punishment, Jem is ordered to go to Mrs. Dubose’s house and read
out to her for a month. Everyday, he would read out till the alarm clock, set
beside the bed, would ring, signaling the time for him to go home. A month later
the reading stops. Some days later, Atticus informs them that Mrs. Dubose had
died, leaving a box containing a waxy perfect camellia for Jem. Later on, Jem is
told that the reading sessions had been conducted only as a distraction for her
to overcome her morphine addiction. Mrs. Dubose had died a free woman.

Chapter 12

Jem shows the typical signs of growing up, with inconsistent moods and a short temper. Scout is advised to let him alone.When Atticus leaves for town for some official work, Calpurnia takes the children for a service to a black church. Their presence is acknowledged by all the members of the church, except for Lula, a troublemaker, but her stance is overlooked. Scout is amazed at the proceedings, especially at the lack of hymnbooks. She is later told that most of them are uneducated except for a few, including Calpurnia. Calpurnia’s sudden switch to the colored folks’ way of talking, also surprises them, and they realize the somewhat dual life that Calpurnia has to lead.The preacher, Reverend Sykes virtually commands the people to donate money for Tom Robinson’s wife and children. Jem and Scout donate from their own pockets.On returning home, they are disappointed to see their Aunt Alexandra in their front porch.

Chapter 13

Aunt Alexandra makes her presence felt from the first day itself.Atticus returns home the same day. Aunt Alexandra settles down in the house. She becomes the secretary of the Maycomb Amanuensis Club and holds parties in the house. Whenever she does so, she summons Scout, to get her introduced to the guests. Aunt Alexandra’s attempts at instilling her sense of etiquette into the children is of no avail and Atticus has to speak to them about it. Atticus seems stern and gruff to the children who cannot understand this sudden change in his behavior. But finally, even he relents and allows the children to not take everything that Aunt says, too seriously.

Chapter 14

Scout asks Atticus the meaning of rape and is given a perfunctory, yet technically correct answer. Further discussion discovers their trip to the blacks’ church. Aunt Alexandra is outraged at this. Later Scout overhears her father and her aunt discuss her. Aunt Alexandra feels that Calpurnia shouldn’t be allowed to work in the house anymore, but Atticus refuses to let her go. Jem advises Scout not to irritate their father as he has too many things in his mind. His advising her seems too high-handed for Scout, who ends up quarreling with him.Scout discovers something warm and resilient on the floor, and together with Jem she discovers Dill under the bed. Atticus is immediately summoned, who insists on informing his Aunt Rachel about his escape. Dill stays there overnight, and Scout is pleased to have her friend back.

Chapter 15

Dill is given permission to stay at Scout’s house for the summer. One evening,
as the family is relaxing, Heck Tate arrives with a few men. A discussion is
held over the forthcoming trial, and whether Tom Robinson is safe in their
custody. To the children it sounds like a fracas, but Atticus pacifies them. The
next day, being a Sunday, is spent in Church, but in the evening Atticus
declares that he is going out. In the night Jem prepares to follow his father.
Dill and Scout join him in this venture. They find their father going to the
Maycomb jail. As they watch, a group of men join Atticus and get around to talk
to him. Scout interrupts them at an inopportune moment and Atticus instructs
them to leave. Scout attempts at a conversation with Mr. Cunningham but fails to
elicit any response. Finally they leave. Atticus had been protecting Tom
Robinson, in the jail, but it turns out that Mr. Underwood had also been
covering him (Atticus), with a shotgun, from his window above the Maycomb
Tribune office, in case anyone would attack him. Finally, they all return home.

Chapter 16

Aunt Alexandra is disapproving of the children having had a rendezvous in a jail in the middle of the night. The children are worried for their father, especially for the fact that Mr. Cunningham would have tried to kill Atticus, if it had not been for Scout’s timely intervention, with her small talk about entailments.A group of Mennonites pass by in wagons. As they pass Miss Maudie’s house, they comment upon her love for gardening, considering it a sin. But Miss Maudie is stubbornly unmoved.It is the first day of the trial, and the place is crowded with people who have come to witness the trial of Tom Robinson. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is noticed sitting with the colored folk, sipping from a brown paper pack (which allegedly contains whisky).Since the courthouse is fully packed, the children join Reverend Sykes at the balcony, along with the blacks.The judge is none other than Judge Taylor. Though he gives the impression of dozing through the hearing is actually very sharp in his dealings. The Tom Robinson case begins with Mr. Heck Tate being the first witness.

Chapter 17

Mr. Tate relates his story -- on the night of November twenty first, Mr. Ewell had rushed into his office saying that his daughter has been raped by a ‘nigger’. On reaching their house, he had found the girl on the floor, badly beaten up. She had declared that the ‘nigger’ had been none other than Tom Robinson. Then Atticus questions Mr. Tate as to whether a doctor had been called, but the reply is in the negative.

Then the magnitude of her bruises are discussed. Her right eye had been bruised and marks around her neck could also be noticed. Bob Ewell is called next on the witness stand. Ewell claims that on returning home, he had caught Tom in the act of raping his daughter. Atticus questions him next about the bruises, then makes him sign on an envelope, noticing aloud that he is left-handed.

Chapter 18

Mayella, Bob’s daughter is called to the witness stand. She gives her side of
the story, claiming that Tom had forcefully entered the house, and had taken
advantage of her, hitting her all the while. When Atticus rises to interrogate
her, Mayella is extremely frightened. Through his penetrating questions, it is
revealed that the family is very poor, the father spends most of the relief
money on drinks, and that she is a very lonely girl, bereft of love and
affection. On cross-examining her further, as to whether it had really been Tom
or her father who had beaten her up, Mayella at first remains silent in terror
and then bursts into tears. The court is adjourned for a recess. Mr. Underwood
sees the children, and the children perceive that a mention of them would
definitely be made in the next issue of the "Tribune".

Chapter 19

Thomas Robinson is Atticus’ only witness, and he is called to the stand. It is mentioned that he had earlier been in trouble with the law for disorderly conduct. Apparently, Tom used to go across Mayella’s house to Mr. Link Deas’ place to work on his yard. Mayella used to regularly ask him to do some minor chores for her. The other children used to always be around. On that particular day, she had called him in to repair a hinge of the door, which Tom, however, had found to be all right. On inquiring about the children, Mayella says that she had saved up some money so that she could send them to town for ice cream. When Tom climbed a chair to remove a box from atop the ‘chiffarobe’, Mayella had grabbed his legs, hugged him and even tried to kiss him. While he had been fighting her off, her father had entered. Tom had fled away in fear for his life. He insisted that he had not even laid a finger on Mayella, and definitely not raped her. In the middle of all this, Mr. Link Deas rises and proclaims loudly that Tom (while he had worked for him) had been no trouble to him at all. The judge ousts him out of the courtroom.Tom does admit that he had helped Mayella out of pity for her. This remark is not liked by anyone in the courtroom.Dill suddenly begins to cry, and Scout is made to take him out. They sit with Mr. Link Deas outside the courtroom, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond joins them.

Chapter 20

Mr. Dolphus Raymond offers a sip from his brown bag to Dill. Dill sips warily, and then grins, realizing that it contained, not whisky, but Coca-Cola. Mr. Raymond explains that it is sometimes better to make people believe that you are something which, in reality, you are not.The children return to the courtroom. Atticus rises and begins to loosen his clothes slowly. The children are horrified. He then begins to speak. He insists that there is no proof that Tom has raped Mayella; no verdict of any doctor. He also insists that Mayella, too, has committed no crime. She is just a "victim of cruel poverty and ignorance". At the end of his speech, Dill suddenly espies Calpurnia entering the courtroom and heading towards Atticus.

Chapter 21

Calpurnia has a note for Atticus, sent by his sister, saying that the children
are missing. Mr. Underwood announces the presence of the children. Atticus
relents in allowing the children to return to hear the verdict. The people have
to wait for a considerably long time before the jury return with their verdict.
The verdict is that Tom Robinson is guilty.

Chapter 22

Jem begins to cry on hearing this unjust verdict. On reaching home, even Aunt Alexandra seems to have softened her stance slightly. Being after all the Atticus’ sister and the only aunt of the children, she cannot help sympathizing with them. She expresses her concern for not only Atticus but also Jem, who is yet too small to be exposed to the hard facts of life.The next morning, Atticus says that the case is not closed and that there would be a further appeal. Seeing chicken for a breakfast, a dazed Atticus is led into the kitchen which is loaded with all sorts of food items. These had been sent by the blacks in their appreciation for Atticus for having taken up the case of a black.As the children walk outside, Stephanie Crawford is full of questions as to how they had possibly been allowed to go to the court, but Miss Maudie icily stops her and calls them in for cakes. She then tells them that their father is one among those who are born to take the charge of doing the unpleasant jobs for the sake of others. She makes them realizes that there had been some people in Maycomb who had tried, in their ways, to support Tom. As they walk towards home, they meet a group of people, and they are informed them that Bob Ewell had met Atticus and vowed to teach him a lesson.

Chapter 23

Scout feels that her father should not have listened to Bob Ewell quietly; instead he should have shot him. But Jem makes her realize that Atticus never carried a gun, believing it to be a needless invitation for someone to shoot one. Atticus realizes that his children are sincerely concerned for his safety, and so appeals to them to try and understand Ewell’s point of view. After all, his credibility had been destroyed. Atticus, finally makes them believe that Ewell would do no harm. Tom’s case had reached the higher court and the chances of him being let off this time are pretty good.Jem is still upset that the jury convicted Tom. Atticus makes him realize that though ideally, a jury should be fair, very often the members carry their prejudices into the courtroom and so their verdict is shadowed. He makes them realize that the jury actually took a few hours to reach their verdict showing that there is hope in this world.Aunt Alexandra refuses to allow a Cunningham into the house and Scout almost has a fight with her. Jem takes her out, and on the pretext of showing the newly sprouted hair on his chest, implores her not to let auntie aggravate her. He then says that maybe, after all this, he can understand why Boo Radley does not come out of his house; probably because he wants to stay in and avoid contact with this dreadful world.

Chapter 24

Aunt Alexandra has her regular Missionary Circle Meet at the house. Scout has been asked to join them for refreshments. Stephanie Crawford, in her usual cattiness, teases Scout about being present in the courtroom. They all discuss Tom’s trial and are general about their attitudes towards the blacks. When indirect comments about Atticus are passed Miss Maudie quells them icily, for which Aunt Alexandra is very grateful.Later, Atticus enters, asking to borrow Calpurnia for a while. It turns out that Tom is dead: he had been shot as he had been trying to break away from the jail. Atticus needs Calpurnia to break the news to Tom’s wife and to tend to her. Even Aunt Alexandra is shaken on hearing this and is deeply sympathetic towards her brother.

Chapter 25

Things have eventually normalized at the Maycomb County. Jem and Scout spend their time lazing around. They hitch a ride from Atticus and travel with him and Calpurnia to Tom’s house. Helen, his wife, collapses on realizing the reason for their arrival.The news of Tom’s death lasts for two days, with a few articles about it in the newspapers. Ewell’s name still causes an uneasy feeling in Scout but Jem placates her, saying that "Mr. Ewell was more hot gas than anything."

Chapter 26

Scout is now in the third grade and the Radley house has ceased to terrify her. She remembers ruefully how she and Jem used to torment Bob Radley and yet he would leave them gifts in the knothole.At school, in the Current Events class, when each child is supposed to give the gist of a piece of news aloud in class, Adolph Hitler and his prejudices are discussed. When Scout discusses it with Jem and breaches the subject of the blacks, Jem furiously tells her never to discuss that topic again.

Chapter 27

Three things happen in Maycomb society: firstly, Ewell acquires and loses a government job in a matter of days. Thereafter, he resumes his weekly appearance at the welfare office for his check. It is overheard that he has been blaming Atticus for having lost his the job.

The second thing is that Judge Taylor, one night had heard a scratching noise outside his door, and on investigation had seen a shadow sneaking away. Thereafter, he sits with shotgun across his lap.

The third thing is that Helen who had been employed by Mr. Link Deas finds herself having to take the longer route so as to avoid the Ewells who used to clunk things at her. Deas lambastes at them but Ewell persists in scaring Helen by following her and crooning fowl words at her. But this too is stopped by Deas, with a strong warning.

Scout has to become a pork, for a pageant for Halloween. The costume is made of chicken wire. Since the family cannot come to watch her, she gives a preview of her performance at home.

Chapter 28

Jem escorts Scout, carrying her costume, to school. The program is in the evening. The pageant begins. Scout waiting for her cue soon falls asleep inside her costume. She, therefore, is unable to enter when her name is called out and makes her entrance only much later, when the play is over. Scout is severely embarrassed by the entire episode and prefers to go home hiding herself in the costume.Jem and Scout begin walking home. It is very late in the night. Suddenly, they realize that somebody is following them stealthily. They realize it is not their friend, Cecil, playing a prank, but an adult. Jem shouts at Scout to run off. She is quite scared by now. She tries to take a giant step but falls instead, unable to keep her balance. She screams out for help. The chicken wire crushes on her and she flounders, trying to escape. Scout hears scuffing and kicking sounds as well as Jem screaming. Scout is unable to get out of the metal wires. She finds herself falling into a man’s arms. She is tightly held by his arms, and the man tries to squeeze the breath out of her. Then he is pushed backwards. Scout hears a man breathing heavily. She treads on a body and gets the stink of whisky from him. Then she walks off towards her home. The doctor is called, and so is the sheriff. Scout is helped out of the costume and the doctor checks her. Apparently, Jem is hurt. Mr. Tate has investigated the grounds of the incident and reveals that Bob Ewell had been lying on the floor with a kitchen knife stuck into him and is dead.

Chapter 29

Atticus is very upset by the recent turn of events. Bob, it seems had really meant what he had warned. And for Atticus, his children’s lives are undoubtedly far more precious than his own.Scout is made to relate the events again. They perceive that it had been the chicken wire loop that had saved Scout’s life. Scout then points out that somebody else had also been at the scene of the incident. The same man is present in the room. From his thin frame and blank look, Scout realizes that the man had been none other than Boo Radley.

Chapter 30

The men seat themselves in the front porch. Scout is thrilled that her lifetime ambition of seeing Boo on her front porch has ultimately been fulfilled.Atticus perceives that Jem had probably killed Ewell in self-defense, but the sheriff insists that he had not killed him. Atticus feels that the sheriff is trying to save Jem: he does not want the burden of a lie on his and Jem’s shoulder. But Heck Tate insists that a small boy like Jem couldn’t possibly have handled such a big knife, and that Ewell had probably fallen on the knife and killed himself. Atticus is still unsure but Heck Tate has made the up his mind. The truth is that Arthur Radley had killed Ewell but Heck Tate realizes that once the people come to know of it, all the ladies would pester Boo with some kind of food (as is the custom for appreciating one who has rid the society of some evil). Thus, he would be pushed into the limelight which he definitely does not want. So the truth should be squelched and left that way.Scout sums it up precisely, saying that it would be like shooting a mockingbird. Atticus thanks Arthur Radley for having saved his

Chapter 31

Boo is led to Jem’s bed to wish him goodnight. Scout is very protective and careful with Boo. When the latter requests Scout to escort him home and Scout does so, but by making it seem as though it is he who is leading her. After he goes home, Scout never sees him again.Scout sits with Aunt Alexandra near Jem’s bed for a while. Atticus is reading out from a book, The Grey Ghost to Jem who has fallen asleep. Gradually, Scout too falls asleep. Atticus leads her to her own bed and returns to Jem’s room to remain there till morning.