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Post by Steve Gibbs on Apr 12, 2006 11:10:00 GMT -5
The derogatory word nigger is used frequently in this book, most surprisingly by Scout. Why? Is she a racist? Why does she fight with kids who call her father a "nigger lover"?
Special Note: As you answer this question, take into consideration the time difference between the 1930s and today. The derogatory term, which we now more delicately refer to as "the N word," has taken on new connotations in modern society and has been used in situations and contexts that did not exist in Scout's time. Back then it did not carry all the baggage and volitility it carries today. Set your own predispositions aside when answering the question. Respond using the racial situations in effect during the 1930s. Atticus described use of the word as "common" (pg 75) rather than as indicative of race hatred.
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Post by davidk on Apr 12, 2006 17:59:49 GMT -5
she does not understand the phrase she just hears kids say it in a neggative way so she assumes its a bad thing to be a afican sympathiser
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Post by traviszucca on Apr 12, 2006 18:32:55 GMT -5
I think that Scout doesn't even know what it means it is just that some people around the town of Maycomb say it to her in a cruel way so she thinks that it is a horrible thing. I don't think that she is racist because she doesn't even know what the word means. She feels obligated to fight to stick up to her father.
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Post by barron1 on Apr 12, 2006 18:46:58 GMT -5
It's just a common phrase, like white or african american. She knows what she means by saying it, it just common.
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Post by barron1 on Apr 12, 2006 18:47:57 GMT -5
david your wrong I think, when you say that she dosent know about it, if she did she would of asked her father, and if she did know that it was bad, she wouldn't of used it.
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Post by barron1 on Apr 12, 2006 18:49:22 GMT -5
good job zucaa, I think your half right in the wa that she sticks up for her father and doews what she thinkd is right.
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Post by isabeauc on Apr 12, 2006 20:37:25 GMT -5
I think that the reason Scout uses this word is because she doesn't know better. As we all know, school can be a very influential place. You hear people saying things, and then you begin saying them too. This is still as true today as it was back in the 1930's. Scout isn't racist. She is just using a word that she is surrounded by. I think that when she fights these kids, it's because they're insulting her father. They're making fun of Atticus. We all have honor and pride when it comes to our family, and I think that she is just defending her family.
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Post by lee on Apr 12, 2006 23:31:19 GMT -5
I think that the reason scout is using this word is because it was more common than "black" or "african" or "nigerian." Maybe it was because not alot of people where educated through college back then and they never learned what was proper and what was not. there were more people that were uneducated and therefore there were more calling of "niggers" back then. Maybe back then it was not offensive untill the people wanted to be called differently and respectfully. Maybe the word "nigger" to the slaves who were freed reminded them of slavery and found it to be like calling them your slaves again. It's like being freed and recaptured. You have seen and lived through purgatory, then go to heaven, and when you are called that again it seems as if you skipped purgatory and went straight to hell!
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Post by johnnyn11 on Apr 13, 2006 10:26:47 GMT -5
I dont think scout knows exactly what that means and why it is so derrogatory. She does use it but thatas just beacause she hears a lot of other people say it. The reason i think she doesnt know what it means because she didnt hit francis because he said it she hit him because it sounded like something bad
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Post by rundel on Apr 13, 2006 20:23:24 GMT -5
Scout's not racist, just influenced by her peers, and it's a common slang term. She fights with kids that call her father that because it has a negative connotation, not because she doesn't want to be associated with black people. If that phrase was used as a compliment, I don't think she'd be offended.
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Post by kohl on Apr 13, 2006 23:45:39 GMT -5
Everyone is used to calling black people 'niggers'. Scouts not racist, she just hears it from everyone else and naturally follows there examples. She is still young and doesn't understand what it means but assumes it's right because others say it. She fights people who make fun of Atticus because she doesn't want people making fun of her father. She doesn't really understand what being a "nigger lover" is and why it's a bad thing, but she's smart enough to be able to tell by the kids' tone of voice that it's a bad thing. Scout's not a bad girl really, she's just looking out for her family.
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Post by mariea on Apr 14, 2006 0:49:21 GMT -5
At that time people didn't use other terms for black people other than "niggers" because that was the lowest way that they could talk about blacks. Scout really dodn't know what she was talking about when used yhat derrogative term. She even said in the book that she didn't really and fully know what it meant. She only fights with the other kids for calling Atticus a "nigger lover" because she loves her father and anything that reflects negative thoughts about him, she will defend. Scout is so smart. Even though she didn't know what the slang terms meant she knew they were bad, shes not bad, just protective of her family and her name.
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Post by natemaroon on Apr 15, 2006 13:56:27 GMT -5
yeah the derogotaory word nigger is used so and means so much differently now then back in the 1930's..back then poeple just hated the black race becuase of thier skin color..they werent accepted into society as much as now..today they are just like everybody else..no one judges poeple by skin color really n e more becuase its just a stupid thing to do. but no scout is not a racist its just she doesnt understand the concept of the word. she is just following wat everybody else sais. She fights the kids thatcall her ada that becuase she knows that its nnot good what poeple are saying to her even though she doesnt understand the whole concept of the word and how it used. she just knows that it isnt good and that no one should be makin fun of her dad. the word nigger back then was more accepted into society becuase of all the poeple that agreed that bacls were totally different poeple. now its bad becuase color of poeples skin doesnt really matter any more.
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Post by mariea on Apr 15, 2006 14:02:07 GMT -5
nate.. that was a great explanation about a brief history of th 1930s
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Post by elliottgrossman on Apr 18, 2006 2:41:45 GMT -5
No, Scout is not racist but she has such a innocent perspective that she does not know it is a bad racist term. Scout doesnt fight with many kids about her father but she does fight with one. This is becasue she cant hold it in any more and she knows that it is a bad thing from what the kids say.
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