TKAM Response

Can you think of a selfless good deed? I can't. Every time I volunteer at the homeless shelter and I see their smiling faces, I get something out of it. When I donate money, 90% of the time I get something back, a sticker, a piece of candy. That's not why I do it (well, maybe for the candy). The idea of them getting something better, being happy, being content. It's worth it.

The Missionary Circle doesn't understand that. They don't get that all other people want to do is live their lives, the way they want to live. They think everyone in the entire world wants to be one of them, a dainty lady, a strong man. They hate people of difference. They obviously don't like change either. They act like it never happens, nothing changes, for better or for worse. Tom's trial was change, it was a difference, and after it happened, they acted like it never happened. They forgot everything about it. "May---? No, child. That darky's wife. tom's wife, Tom---," exclaimed Mrs. Merriweather to Scout when she asked her if they were talking of Mayella Ewell. They totally forgot about what they had been gossiping about two months ago. They knew he was innocent, that he was good man. They forgot him, like a childhood friend.

Sitting in Atticus' house and eating expensive food, drinking out of Scout's mother's silver pitcher, in their petticoats, they spoke of the "savage" Mrunas. Living in the jungle, having no sense of what they think "family" is, Mrs. Merriweather sees them as people who need saving. When possibly, they are happy, just the way they are. That's what the people in Maycomb don't understand, being yourself and loving yourself for being yourself. No one else. Boo was himself and he is gossiped about, Scout is ridiculed, and Dill is seen as a lost soul. They never truly saw any of them.

While the Mrunas are living in the heat, most likely without clean drinking water, the Missionary Circle is drinking tea and being served by Cal, who is in her best apron. They talk of how poor the Mrunas, but no one ever wants to donate money or send supplies to them, they speak of only converting them into Christianity which every single one of the sees as the religion above all religion in the world. They are in a nice house, being fed delicious food, and pitying the Mrunas, who most likely are content in their world, just as the people of Maycomb are.