Mrs Dubose in To Kill A Mockingbird

Mrs Dubose is a symbol of prejudice. She is a sharp-tongued, bitter old lady, who illustrates the theme of Deep
South Confederacy. Moreover, her camelias are a symbol of her hypocritical nature, which is revealed when
she imposes her view of the Southern Belle qualities on Scout, yet contradicts them with her own actions.
However, most importantly, she is an unintentional educator for Jem. This final chapter of Part I is
emphatically placed, as it marks an end of an era and the final episode of innocence for the children. Through
the use of Mrs Dubose, Harper Lee teaches Jem and the reader that true courage doesn’t come from violence,
but from perseverance and knowing “you’re licked before you begin” but carrying on anyway. Mrs Dubose
encapsulates the themes of reluctance to change and insularity while also exhibiting great courage and
resilience.

FOCUS KEY IDEAS CONTEXT EVIDENCE ANALYSIS

Firstly, her political opinion and principles are discovered with the reference to a C.S.A pistol …(quote)
C.S.A = Confederate States of
“concealed
Confederates were America; inferring that she is
among her
C.S.A pistol defeated in the American still. secretly fighting her own
numerous
Civil War in 1865. war; highlighting where her
shawls”
loyalty lies
Furthermore, her ironic, racist qualities are revealed as she has a “Negro girl in constant attendance”.
Irony is created here as she is
Mrs Dubose having a black
dependant one, yet she
maid could represent how
despises them.
slavery never actually
However, the “Negro girl” is still
ended. During the 18th and
a servant so coincides with the
19th century, slavery was
th “Negro girl in belief that black people are
huge: 4 million slaves. 13
Negro servant constant inferior to white people.
Amendment was passed,
st attendance” Also, she considers the black
31 January 1865, that
maid as a status symbol to
finally freed slaves.
make her a higher ranking
However, Jim Crow
white lady.
brought enslavement back
Adj “constant” highlights she is
Confederate under a new name.
demanding and controlling.
Values
Mrs Dubose’s values are further accentuates through the “camelias” she tends to in her garden.
A camelia is an evergreen shrub
The flower was the state
which has beautiful, coloured
flower of Alabama and
leaves, but also produces an
became the Confederate
ugly, dried up capsule in its
symbol.
middle hidden away.

Connects to Knights of the The Confederate symbolism of

White Camelia: an
American political terrorist
Camelias organisation, associated
with the Ku Klux Klan.
Made evident through
KKK, an organisation made
from white Protestant
males. They targeted
freedmen seeking to
restore white supremacy
by threats and violence. At
the flower represents national
pride in its values; illustrating
“camelias” where Mrs Dubose’s values
originate from.
Moreover, the evergreen
properties symbolises the
reluctance to change attitudes
towards Confederate principles
such as slavery.
 its peak in 1923, it claimed
to include 5 million
members.
Slavery was legally ended-
1964 - Civil Right Act.
Also suggest that prejudice will
Although prejudice/racism
never die, it will always live on
may have died ‘de jure’ by
in another form.
law, tolerance was not put
into practice ‘de facto’.
Also can be seen as deceptive in
its appearance versus its reality.
Petals = large and colourful -
portraying courteous side to
Maycomb; inside - dry,
shrivelled, dead - highlighting
expired mentality, prejudice,
and racism.
Furthermore, the capsule also represents the hypocritical nature she has that contradicts the Southern
Belle qualities that she holds to such a high regard.
Book: Why can’t we wait;
Two nouns juxtaposed next to
Martin King - shows racial
each other to make them
injustice. “the segregator a
synonymous; illustrating the
false sense of superiority “Your father’s no
hostility/ prejudice towards
and the segregated a false better than the
Hypocrisy black people; exclamatory
sense of inferiority” niggers and trash
declarative shows that Atticus
Segregator as the Self ; the he works for”
has sunk down to the level of
segregated as the Other;
the black community. (social
“false” what people have
hierarchy)
been made to listen to.
Contrary to what she preaches to the children about the Southern Belle, her lack of respect and courtesy towards Atticus
behind his back contradicts those gender-typical qualities.
Mrs Dubose frequently vocalises her sour attitude towards Scout’s tomboy mannerisms.
Tone of aggression reinforces
her controlling characteristics;
A Southern Bell was modal verb “should” indicates
considered the desirable an obligation and attempts to
woman, who wore hoop manipulate Scout into following
“You should be in
skirts, corsets, gloves. A what she deems correct; noun
Southern Belle a dress and
women had three main “dress”, “camisole” were typical
camisole”
functions: to look elegant, attire for females showcasing
look after the children, beauty/ elegance. By not
and be a good hostess conforming to the society
Southern norm, Scout becomes an Other
Belle/ Gender in Maycomb’s ways.
roles Moreover, the manner in which she preaches her attitudes to the children manipulates the reader to
despise the character of Mrs Dubose.
Adj “ugly” juvenile insult but
offensive especially to a child -
portraying her as immature.
Imperatives and exclamatory
“Don’t you say
declaratives suggest a vile,
Gender roles hey to me, you
argumentative character.
ugly girl!”
Contrast to Miss Maudie,
another educator, has an “acid
tongue”, yet speaks so softly to
the children.
While Mrs Dubose views herself as an educator on gender expectations for Scout, she is unintentionally responsible for
the moral growth of the children, especially Jem.
Due to Mrs Dubose’s dated mentality, Jem’s first lesson comes from Atticus, telling him to …
Gentleman
characteristics
Moreover, this lesson is tested in a more practical way with Mrs Dubose. Although Jem is described to
have a “naturally tranquil disposition”, he becomes blinded by anger and forgets his lessons.
The South was known to
romanticise violence and
being the home of
lynching. The most famous
group was the KKK, an
organisation made up of
white Protestant males.
Moral Their main objective was
Educator to maintain white
supremacy in the South.
Jem’s Tirade This is made further
evident as 95% of lynching
occurred in the South, of
which 70% were African-
American people.
Between 1882 and 1968,
3440 black men and
women were lynched.
However, this is only
documented lynching and
the majority were illegal.
This is again put into practice, as Jem is forced to read to Mrs Dubose, as a punishment for his actions.
Tolerance
Alliteration of ‘h’ emphasises
Atticus’s lesson of not being
ashamed and being the bigger
person; noun “gentleman” be
courteous and live according to
Southern gentleman values.
Teaches responsibility for his
“hold your head
own actions/ emotions.
up high and be a
Later in the novel, Jem is seen
gentleman”
to repeat this exact advice to
Scout, portraying him as a
microcosm of his father. The
use of “gentleman! while Scout
is clearly female illustrates the
children have not yet been
indoctrinated by gender roles.
Use of fast paced verbs such as
“snatched”, “snapped”, “threw”
shows an aggressive side to Jem
and an overpowering need for
vengeance - shows the extent
of the effect words had on him
This action was ultimately futile
as the camelias grow back - the
“cuts of the tops only way to kill them is from the
of every camelia roots. Mirrors idea that the only
bush Mrs Dubose true way to kill prejudice is by
owns” education.
Atticus wants Jem to realise
what true courage it instead of
getting the idea that courage is
a “man with a gun in his hand”.
He doesn’t want Jem to fall into
Maycomb’s ideology of violence
and prejudice, especially with
the upcoming trial
Verb “come up” demonstrates
he has put Atticus’ teaching
into practice literally. Verb
“Jem’s chin would “cultivated” has gardening
come up… connotation as if he is growing
cultivated an tolerance and metaphorically
expression of himself. Adj “polite” and
polite and “detached” still making an
detached effort to be civil just as Atticus
interest” had advised. Jem learns to hold
his integrity and exercise his
moral strength in a real
situation.
Although the character, Mrs Dubose is portrayed as a witch-like, hypocritical woman she has a very determined,
independent, and moral side to her, to show that nobody is pure evil or good.
Juxtaposed noun “nothing and
nobody” shows that she wants
complete and utter freedom as
an individual ; declarative
“she was going to
nature of reported speech
Went through pain leave this world
shows her certainty and
to stick to her beholden to
determination; tone of
morals nothing and
admiration from Atticus.
nobody”
Jem learns that personal
courage comes from knowing
“you’re licked before you
begin” but still continuing on.
When Jem asks if she died free, Atticus replies: ”as the mountain air”.
Connotes a clear, serene and
Courage spacious place - finally at peace;
Imagery of liberation - free
“as the mountain
Dying free from pain - others are free from
air”
her prejudice.
New lack of pollution which her
courage has brought her.
While fighting against her pain, Mrs Dubose also shows the reader true determination and resilience.
Adj “whole” and verb
“concentrated” highlights the
“her whole mind sheer focus and perseverance;
Not taking the easy and body were real strength of character;
way out concentrated on shows how courage is not
that alarm clock” determined by age/fragility -
even the most unexpected
people can demonstrate it.

Throughout the novel, Harper Lee highlights that Mrs Dubose is a symbol of prejudice and racial injustice.
Furthermore, her hypocrisy is revealed when she obligates Scout to follow the gender expectations, yet
she contradicts them. However, this does provide some good, as the children are able to morally grow
pConclusion
and prepare themselves for the outcome of the trail. Moreover, a more admiring side of Mrs Dubose’s
character is revealed, as she demonstrates what true bravery and determination is. Due to these reasons,
I conclude that Mrs Dubose is a significant character in this novel.