Post 5 - Is The Past Really Behind Us?

In chapter 11 of TKAM, Jem got very angry at Mrs. Dubose after she called Atticus unkind names. Scout says, "At the time, however, I thought the only explanation for what he did was that for a few minutes he simply went mad." This is an explanation for him destroying Mrs. Dubose's bushes. Of course, destroying anything is wrong, and the right thing to do would be to take out your anger in a different way. Unfortunately, many people use violence to take out their anger. I question if people just go mad for a few minutes because of their erratic and dangerous actions.

An example is the shooting in Durham not too long ago (Monday, November 30th) that forced Lakeview School to go into lockdown. The actual shooting was on Dearborn Drive, close to the school. Two men were apparently outside when they were shot at from a passing vehicle. They ran to the school and the school was put on lockdown. It is so hard for me to come to terms with the hatred that people have towards others. It forces many to have to deal with chaos and danger that wouldn't have happened if people hadn't been so violent in the first place. So the right thing to do would be not being violent. Why do people have to jump to the worst possible conclusions and ways of showing their strong emotions?

This also happens in the book in a different place. Because of the trial, Mr. Bob Ewell has a strong hatred of Atticus. Bob threatens Atticus, but Atticus doesn't take him seroiusly. After Bob almost kills Scout and Jem, Scout reflects on the experience. "Somehow, I could think of nothing but Mr. Bob Ewell saying he'd get Atticus if it took him the rest of his life. Mr. Ewell almost got him, and it was the last thing he did." This haunting quote is in chapter 29. I found it wrong that Bob Ewell would threaten Atticus in the first place, but I found it even worse that he actually attacked the young and helpless children who had nothing to do with the case. After all, Atticus might have been able to protect himself, but attacking children? Was that the right thing to do?