To Kill A Mocking Bird

This second clip continues the uniqueness of father Atticus’ parenting style or let us say not uniqueness but what might be what we might aim for. Atticus has gone to the court to guard his client as he does not trust the system to do so. He is right to do so. His children, curious, are in hot pursuit.  When they arrive the mob has just confronted Atticus and are asking for him to turn over his client.

The children unable to contain themselves introduce themselves right in the middle of the fry. Form the very first moment Atticus maintains his composure and most importantly his respect for his children. He requests that they leave. He speaks to his son and his son disobeys. Atticus does not threaten or yell at him. No he lets his son have his say first once and then a second time. It is a meeting of equal minds and something to behold.

Then comes one of the great scenes in cinema and in the portrayals of shame on the screen.

Scout, in glorious innocents spots Mr. Cunningham Sr., the father of the boy in the first screen who she had humiliated for him pouring syrup all over his dinner and calls out “"Hey Mr. Cunningham”". By this small innocent gesture she ends in disbanding a lynch-mob. The scene speaks for itself.

That said the juxtaposition of her innocent actions in the two scenes and their resultant consequences are wonderful examples of how complex shame and humiliation are.

Brian Lynch 2007