To Kill A Mockingbird Chapters 22-24

Chapter 22 Jem was very upset and crying about the trial. He thought Tom should not have gone to jail. He did not hurt Mayella Ewell. He told his dad (Atticus) that it wasn’t right. Atticus agreed with him but said it wasn’t over yet. Atticus was planning on trying to change the verdict or decision to show that Tom didn’t hurt Mayella and that he was innocent. The next morning, there was food piled high in the kitchen. The black people brought it for Atticus as their way of showing thanks to Atticus for all his help during the trial. Dill came over to play so he, Jem and Scout went outside. They noticed all the neighbors were gossiping about the trial. One of the neighbors, Miss Maudie, invited the children in for some cake. Miss Maudie said Atticus did an unpleasant job in their town for defending a black man. When they left Miss Maudie’s house, Miss Rachel (Dill’s aunt) told Dill to go home because there was danger coming. Scout asked what was happening. Miss Stephanie answered that Bob Ewell, Mayella’s dad had spit in Atticus’ face and told him he would get back at him if it took him the rest of his life.

Chapter 23 After Bob Ewell spit in Atticus’ face and said he would get him, Jem and Scout were afraid that Atticus might get killed. They wanted Atticus to get a gun to defend himself. Atticus told the children that he wouldn’t get a gun. Atticus explained that Bob Ewell was mad about the trial. Atticus told Jem that he should stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes and see how he might feel. Atticus said that Bob was not going to kill him but just spit and say mean things about them. Atticus talked to Jem and Scout about how a jury is chosen for a trial. Scout was sad that women can’t be on juries. Jem was mad that the jury would put a man in jail just because he was black. Atticus said that juries have a hard time finding a black man innocent. There was a lot of prejudice in the small town.

Chapter 24 Aunt Alexandra invited her missionary circle to coffee. All the women sat around and gossiped. Calpurnia served the ladies coffee and dessert. The ladies talked about how they should help the poor people in Africa. Scout was all dressed up in a pretty dress. She helped serve the food. Aunt Alexandra invited Scout to stay and talk to the ladies. Atticus came into the living room. He asked to talk to Alexandra and Calpurnia. They went to the kitchen. Miss Maudie went with them. Atticus told the ladies that Tom Robinson was dead. He was shot trying to escape from prison. Atticus wanted Calpurnia to go with him to tell Tom’s wife. Many people were very sad that Tom was dead. Calpurnia and Atticus left to tell Tom’s wife the bad news. Aunt Alexandra, Miss Maudie and Scout went back to the living room but they didn’t say anything about Tom’s death. They didn’t want the others to gossip about his death.