Saturday, March 21, 2015

How is Miss Caroline Fisher seen through the eyes of her class?To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Since Maycomb is an old town with few newcomers, the
children in Scout's class murmurs "apprehensively" when Miss Fisher states her name and
tells the class that she is from Winston County in North Alabama.  For, since Maycomb is
in the southern part of the state, and Winston County has the history of seceding from
Alabama in the War Between the States. Scout describes North Alabama as foreign to what
she knows,


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North Alabama was full of Liquor Interests, Big
Mules, steel companies, Republicans, professor, and other persons of no
background.



Scout also notes
that Miss Caroline's approach to teaching is not relevant to the children of Maycomb. 
For, many of them "have chopped cotton and fed hogs from the time they were able to
walk," so the narrative stories do not interest them, but she seems unaware.  Later, she
questions Scout on her handwriting as well as her ability to read. As Scout finds
herself at ends with Miss Fisher, especially when she tries to explain to her teacher
about Walter Cunningham, she finds Miss Fisher resentful of what she perceives as
disrespect.  When she asks for Scout's hand in order to strike it with the ruler, and
Scout misinterprets this as an overture to shake her hand, the class breaks into
laughter as the teacher strikes Scout's hand.  As the lunch period begins, Miss Caroline
puts her head on the desk in embarrassment and dismay, for the children do not
understand or respect her.


After lunch, Miss Fisher
screams, the boys think she has seen a mouse, but it is lice crawling in the hair of
Burris Ewell.  Little Chuck Little politely brings Miss Fisher water in a paper cup
after Burris kills the "cootie" from his head.  Then, when Burris becomes contentious,
Little Chuck again tries to come to her aid. and soon after Burris hurls an insult
at her as he leaves, the other children gather around her desk in sympathy for her
tears.  Miss Fisher blows her nose and the young children ask her to read them a story. 
She has now endeared herself to them as a lady who needs
rescuing.

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