In Harper Lee's To Kill a
Mockingbird, Mrs. Dubose makes a terrible and hateful comment about Atticus
in front of Scout and Jem. Jem, usually so controlled in his behavior—especially with
adults—just snaps.
...for a few minutes he simply went
mad.
On their way home from
town, Jem takes Scout's new baton (just bought in town) and, like a
club, whips off the top of Mrs. Dubose's prized flowers, her camellias. (Then he breaks
the baton.) He is furious.
The children return home and
wait for Atticus. He has spoken to Mrs. Dubose by the time he comes home, and Atticus
asks why he acted as he did. Jem reports that she insulted
Atticus.
...she said you lawed for n***ers and
trash.
Atticus expects that
Jem has heard worse; regardless of his past behaviors, Atticus sends Jem down to speak
to Mrs. Dubose and assume the responsibility of his actions. Atticus punishes Jem by
making him spend time with Mrs. Dubose everyday after school. Scout chooses to accompany
him. By the time they are released for Jem's "debt," a great deal has happened that the
children are not really aware of. In the days to come, Mrs. Dubose dies. Atticus reports
to his children that Mrs. Dubose was fighting a horrific battle against a drug
addiction, trying to break it so that she could face the end of her life on
her terms.
Jem and Scout learn a
lesson about bravery. Here is an elderly woman, already very sick, who is addicted to
pain medication. As they sit with her each day, Mrs. Dubose is able to go a little while
longer without taking more medication, until she is finally free of the drug. She still
faces the pain of her disease, but does so with a clear mind, and a will of iron. The
children learn that one can overcome seemingly overwhelming obstacles by being committed
to a purpose and being very brave. Atticus says of Mrs.
Dubose:
You
rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her.
According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest
person I ever knew.
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