Summary

Chapter 25 is a very short chapter, but there is 1 very important theme brought up in this chapter, which is racism. From the beginning of the book till the end, alot of stereotyping of people, prejudicism and racism has been brought up. For example, the Blacks and Whites have their own separate churches, even though they worship the same God.
~ In this chapter, Tom Robinson is refered to 2 animals, one a roly-poly, and two a songbird. When Scout wants to mash the insect, Jem stops her and tells her not to hurt it. Jem then tells Scout that the roly-poly doesn't hurt anyway, so she shouldn't kill it. In a way, Jem portrays Tom Robinson as that insect and the Whites in Maycomb, as Scout. Tom Robinson is portrayed as a songbird at the end of the chapter. Mr Underwood, the editor of Maycomb's very own newspaper, writes an editorial about the death of Tom's death. "He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds." Tom is like a songbird, which is innocently killed by heartless hunters and children. In both cases, Tom Robinson is the minority, and Scout and the hunters and children, are the more superior characters.
~ Atticus and Calpurnia break the news of Tom's death to Helen, his wife. She is very upset - "she just fell down in the dirt. Just fell down in the dirt, like a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her." The giant refers to the Whites in Maycomb and the giant's big foot is like the immense pressure she feels.
~ The reaction of Tom's death to the rest of Maycomb was just interest, no guilt felt at all. Here, we find the deep prejudice the Whites have for the Blacks.
~ A threat given by Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell, to Jem and Scout. "Mr Ewell said it made one down and about two more to go" The 2 more meant Jem and Scout. Mr Ewell wanted to kill them because Atticus, their father, defended Tom Robinson in the trial. He knew that if he killed Scout and Jem, Atticus would feel the loss of his 2 beloved children and would cause him to be in great depression which would torture him for life.

Click on the mouse to go to the analysis of the roly-poly incident.
Click on the racoon to go to the analysis of the songbird reference.

Click on the tiger to go to the analysis of Helen's reaction to the news.
Click on the giraffe to go to the analysis of the Maycomb's reaction to the news.
Click on the fish to go to the analysis of the threat given by Bob Ewell.

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