To Kill A Mockingbird Blindness Quotes

Blindness results from the misunderstanding of others and the lack of personal knowledge. In To Kill a Mockingbird, several characters fail to see the obvious because they do not obtain first-hand familiarity with their community. A short and simple example of this particular blindness is found in Lula’s character. The indignant and disenfranchised character, Lula, makes a major appearance in chapter 12. Lula is portrayed as a seven feet high Negro woman who is racist and discourteous for persecuting the white children. Calpurnia, as a Negro herself is even intimidated by Lula’s approach towards Jem and Scout: “ ‘Don’t you fret,’ Calpurnia whispered to me, ‘but the roses on her hat trembled indignantly’ ” (Lee 119). It is evident that when Lula taunted the children and Calpurnia, it

Lula also uses racist names while addressing Calpurnia when they both belong in the same race and should show respect and recognition to one another considering that they attend the same church. Furthermore, Lula interrupts the welcoming arrival of Calpurnia and her visitors by claiming: “Stop right there, nigger… you ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their own church, we got our’n” (Lee 119). The statement is highly ironic deeming that Lula is surprisingly promoting segregation; in the beginning of the To Kill a Mockingbird, it seemed, as only the white people are racist until Lula’s appearance on. Lula may be depicted as a hypocrite or illiterate, but this instance itself displays how Lula is blind; she does not understand and realize that there are contrary results to her emotional insanity in the church. She unleashes her fury against Jem and Scout because she probably feels more powerful, especially, since her absurdity occurred in a black church.