As a discussion about Adolf Hitler arises in class, it sparks confusion in Scout about Miss Gates’ views on Hitler and how those views contrast her behaviors after the trial. In class, Scout is confused to how Hitler could possibly be getting away with what he is doing. This question begins a lesson about democracy. Miss Gates shares her opinion on Hitler when she says, “‘I don’t know Henry. They contribute to every society they live in, and most of all they are deeply religious people. Hitler’s trying to do away with religion, so maybe he doesn’t like them for that reason,’”(Lee 329). Miss Gates thinks that Hitler is not doing good for his country. And in her opinion Jews should not be persecuted. But Scouts then says to Jem when they are at home, “‘I heard her say it's time everybody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home--’”(Lee 331). Scouts confusion derives from why Miss Gates could be talking so kindly about the Jews and how she thinks it's bad what Hitler is doing. But make racist remarks about the black people in their community so easily. In the text it says, “‘they’re supposed to change money or somethin’, but that ain’t no cause to persecute ‘em. They’re white, ain’t they?’”(Lee 329). This comes to show that skin color plays a huge role in how people think of each other in Maycomb. This also shows Miss Gates is a hypocrite. She has no problem defending the Jews who do not belong to her community because they are white, even though they do not practice the same religion or have the same religious beliefs as she does. But when it comes to people of color in her own community she is quick to say bad things about them. Harper Lee includes this to show how truly racist people can be when it comes to skin color. This part of the story is very purposeful because Harper Lee can say 1000 times how racist people in Maycomb are. But situations such as this and Tom Robinson's trial really help us to grasp the sheer amount of racism in Maycomb.
Overall, Scout does not understand how Miss Gates could be such a hypocrite. Miss Gates talks so keenly about how she is against the Holocaust. But when it comes to black people in her own community she only keenly talks about the bad things. A discussion about Adolf Hitler in class sparks confusion in Scout about Miss Gates’ views on Hitler and how those views contrast her behaviors after the trial.
When Miss Gates explains how Adolf Hitler was prejudiced to the Jewish, she proceeds to be prejudiced herself for the Jewish. Miss Gates believes that "There are no better people in the world than the Jews" (Lee 329). While Miss Gates is being positive, she is being prejudiced to other religions, thus being a hypocrite. Miss Gates accuses Hitler about his injustice towards Jews, when she does the same thing seconds later, simply in reverse.
ReplyDeleteAfter the trial, Scout heard that Ms.Gates was coming out of the courthouse and told Miss Stephanie Crawford "It's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves" (Lee 331). Scout was so confused by this because Ms. Gates of course was 'all for democracy'. While Ms. Gates may think that she is teaching the about democracy the right way by explaining the holocaust, she is actually confusing the children more because they are not learning about the prejudice that is right in the home, Maycomb.
ReplyDeleteMiss Gates didn't agree with how Hitler treated the Jews. Describing the Jews saying "There are no better people in the world."(Lee 329). However, as we know Miss Gates does not talk so highly for the black people in her community therefore being a hypocrite. Miss gates isn't keen on how Hitler treated the Jews, however she does the same thing towards the black people in Maycomb
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