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Walter Cunningham eats with the Finches
In the story, Scout tries to fight Walter because of a misunderstanding in class, but Jem invites Walter to eat with them. However, Calpurnia ends up making Scout eat alone because of her rude comments toward Walter at the table. Later, Walter's father's actions show Scout that just because someone is poor does not mean that they are trash, like Aunt Alexandra thinks. -
Jem and Scout find the soap carvings
Throughout the story, Jem, Scout and Dill are curious about the notorious Boo Radley. Eventually, they find some carvings of themselves in the knot hole of the tree by the Radley house. The carvings showed that Boo had been watching them and was interested in them. It also gave him a connection to the children that was important later in the novel, when he saved them. -
Miss Maudie's house burns down
When Miss Maudie's house burnt down, Boo came outside and put a blanket around Scout's shoulders. This took courage, and it further demonstrated Boo's growing fondness of the children that he felt like he could relate to. Jem and Scout were shocked when they realized what had happened. They were more curious than ever. -
Atticus shoots Tim Johnson
When Atticus killed the dog with one shot, Jem and Scout viewed their father differently. At first, they saw their father as weak since he would not play football and because he was a lawyer, but then they realized he was quite the oppoisite. Jem began to look up to Atticus as he said, "Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!"(Lee, 99). Atticus had been teaching his children to judge people by who they are, not what they are, -
Jem and Scout read to Mrs. Dubose
One day, Jem was unable to control his anger when Mrs. Dubose insulted Atticus, so he cut up her flowers. His punishment was to read to her everyday. Eventually, she died and Atticus explained why he made them read to her everyday when he said, "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand" (Lee, 112). Mrs. Dubose had wanted to die clean, and without realizing it, the children had helped her do it. -
Jem and Scout go to Calpurnia's church
Calpurnia took Jem and Scout to her church to teach them important lessons. She wanted them to grow up treating people equally, just like Atticus did, and she thought that taking them to church with her would be a good experience for them. They were treated with respect by most people, but when the church had difficulties raising money for Tom's wife, Jem and Scout saw some of the effects of the depression. -
Mob tries to get to Tom Robinson
Before Tom's trial, a group of men appeared at the jail. These men represented the turmoil among whites and blacks because of this case. However, when Scout ran up, she noticed that Mr. Walter Cunningham was among them. She talked to him and showed the group that they were all individuals with their own decisions. -
Tom Robinson's Trial
Although Tom Robinson was innocent, and it was obvious that the crime was committed by Bob Ewell, he was deemed guilty. This trial showed the kids how the real world worked. They realized that racism existed, and that life was not always fair. Jem lost confidence in the world for a while, and the disrespect bothered Dill so much that he had to go outside. -
Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout
Although Bob Ewell won the case, he wanted revenge on Atticus because he had exposed his true actions to the public. Bob had promised Atticus that he would get his revenge, but Atticus did not think the threat was as serious as it truly was. He was willing to be threatened if it meant one less beating on Bob's children at home. But, luckily for the Finches, when Bob attacked Jem and Scout, Boo Radley saved them. -
Arthur (Boo) Radley is revealed
When Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout, Boo jumped to their aid. Even though protecting them meant exposure, he helped. Jem never saw Boo, but Scout saw him and realized that he was like a child. It became clear to her that he may have chosen to stay inside his whole life in order to escape the evil in the world.
