In Chapter 11, we are introduced to a Mrs. Dubose. This book is full of people like this, the living nightmares, verbally abusing Atticus and his children. In my time, I'd like to think we know better, and maybe we do. Yet we still struggle with racism, stereotypes and propaganda.
There is something about Mrs. Dubose that is hard for me to understand, and it is this: Why is she so ugly even to the last of her days? She knew that she was sick, possibly dying, but she is still cantankerous. Wouldn't she want all that know her to think of her as the sweet old lady? I guess not.
The encounters at Calpurnia's church reveal that Caucasians are not the only ones with racial prejudice. Lula is prejudiced against white people, something we think is unusual. I am afraid that it is all too common. Believe it or not, that preacher scraping ten dollars from the congregation actually happens in some places. My mom tells the story of a church she visited that shook the offering plate at you if you did not give money. It's amazing how things have not changed.
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