Thursday, April 28, 2011

What is the significance of this line?

In chapter 21, Scout imagined Atticus to "walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing the gun was empty.” This quote shows that Scout really knows her father and understands everything that Atticus has told them throughout the whole book. Atticus knows full well that this case could not be won because of the prejudices against Tom Robinson in the jury. He has explained this to Scout and Jem. He is "walking into the street" which is like walking into the public courthouse. The trial and his defense is Atticus raising the rifle and pulling the trigger. Atticus knowing that Tom Robinson would now win would be like him "watching all the time knowing the gun was empty." The meaning behind this quote is very literal. Atticus knows that he is fighting a losing battle like Ms. Dubose. However this does not stop him from "walking into the street and pulling the trigger of an empty gun."

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