Sometimes a physical gesture can be as if not more important than
what is said in a novel. This is the case with Jem's reaction to what
Mrs. Dubose gives him: "He picked up the camellia, and when I went
off to bed I saw him fingering the wide petals" (149). What is the
significance of this act? What is it telling us about Jem?
Before Jem gets the cemelia, he always thinks that Mrs. Dubose is a cantankerous lady and does not like her at all. It seemed that it is a torture for him to read Newspaper for Mrs. Dubose. However, when Jem knows what actually happens to Mrs. Dubose by Atticus, he realizes that, in fact, it is his reading to her that helps and enables her to pacify the addiction to morphine. What Jem destroys is Mrs. Dubose’s favorite—the camellia. However, what Mrs. Dubose gives Jem as an appreciation is also a camellia. Realizing that Mrs. Dubose is not grumpy and bad as he used to consider, Jem understands that, in fact, she has made up her mind to get the addiction to morphine rid out of her, which implies that she wants to face her death with dignity and faith rather than in the nonentity of drug. When Jem realizes the true story and meaning behind the flower, he thinks about it and becomes mature.
ReplyDeleteJem's fingering of the Camellia petals represented remorse for his actions and the acceptance of the forgiveness Mrs. Dubose presented him in the gift. He appreciated the beauty and soft touch of the flower, and almost started to understand why it was such a bad thing for him to do to Mrs. Dubose, smashing the Camellias. "I think that was her way of telling you--everything's alright now, Jem, everything's alright."(148-9). The gift to Jem was her way of showing forgiveness and, and to comfort him in her death. And Jem's action of throwing the box into the fire shows that he didn't care much for how it was presented, but for the gift itself, showing true gratitude. This act shows us that Jem is becoming more appreciative of the meaning of a gift, than the object itself
ReplyDeleteThe flower that Jem receives symbolizes the apology of Mrs. Dubose. It signifies that evil and racism has left her heart and she is able to see the kindness of Atticus behind what he is doing. Much like the flower paddles, Atticus is white, pure, and clear. Jem is not able to detect the hidden meaning behind the flower since he still is just a kid. Evil can be turned into kindness with a little bit of help. The only way to defeat evil is by showing some love. This scene shows that both good and bad sides exists in any human being, but the important part is which side is shown.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jem picked up the Camellia and fingered its petals, it showed Jem’s understanding to Mrs. Dubose started to come to his mind. Before Atticus’ lecture to Jem about Mrs. Dubose, Jem was angry to her and her rant. However, after Jem knows that she is fighting with her cancer and morphine addiction, he understands her bravery and why she would annoy Jem randomly. The reality is, even racism is rooted inside of her mind, Mrs. Dubose is not really what the person Jem thinks she is. She gives the camellia to Jem to show her forgiveness for cutting her flowers, so when Jem gets the flower, hopefully, he will understand what she meant after she is gone. When Jem contemplates, holding the white camellia, he knows he was forgiven and needs to care about her with no anger or hatred. He recognizes her bravery about fighting her illness so he cherishes the flower never like before. Therefore the physical gesture indicates that Jem admires her bravery and will protect her just like he protects the flower.
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ReplyDeleteThe significance of Jem fingering the white petals of the Camellia flower as he went to bed, is him reflecting on his past occurrences with Mrs. Dubose. Mrs. Dubose and Jem did have a rough relationship. Much of it was Mrs. Dubose yelling at the children to get off her lawn and horrible statements about Atticus' job, but when Jem is asked to read to her due to his apology for wrecking her Camellia bushes, they develop a much more intimate relationship. “...and for a moment I felt sorry for her. She was lying under a pile of quilts and looked almost friendly,” (pg. 141). Jem is transitioning from having a hateful opinion of this lady, to having some sympathy. He is starting to realize that wrecking her Camellia bushes was wrong, but not fully sorry yet. At the end after Mrs. Dubose passes away, she gives Jem the perfect Camellia flower to show that Jem has matured and learned something from her. He may of hated the lady at first, but now that he has this flower he can reflect on the past and see the good that has come out of it. Jem was not happy having to read to her everyday for a month, but to Mrs. Dubose this made her happy seeing a sense of youth. “I wanted you to see something about her-I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand,” (pg. 149). Atticus explains to Jem why he had him read to Mrs. Dubose. He knows she has her own view about things, but it taught Jem a lot. Now that Jem has the Camellia in his possession, he will be able to remember those lessons that Mrs. Dubose taught him, that are much different that Atticus' ways. The Camellia flower starts off as a symbol of Mrs. Dubose's property Jem wrecked, to something Jem can now treasure and reflect on how he grew up and learned his lesson.
when you said that Jem had a much more intimate relationship, the quote"... and for a moment i felt sorry for her." that was Scout's perspective
DeleteJems actions of "Fingering the flower" at night, symbolizes that Jem is reminising about Mrs Dubose. The act of fingering the flower is unexpected, the readers presumibly should expect Jem to destroy the flower, in correspondant to the hate he has towards Mrs Dubose. However, Jem chooses to fiddle around with the flower, this indicates that Jem finally understands and appriciates Mrs Dubose's message. During the period of time when Mrs Dubose was alice, Jem never knew that the reason behind her abusiviness was her addiction to morphine. I think Jem feels guilty for all his rash reactions towards Mrs Dubose and wants to see her one last time to make it up to her.
ReplyDeleteJem doesn’t forgive nor forget anything bad that has happened to he or his family. Atticus says the flower was a way for her to show Jem that everything is all right, but it Jem’s eyes it never will be because of what she had said to Atticus in the past. He is not a forgiving person and he is easily tempered. Mrs. Dubose’s fits, even though they were caused by her trying to get rid of the morphine, would not be forgotten by Jem. Jem says, “Why can’t she just leave me alone” (149). He didn’t want anything to do with her before and now that she’s dead that hasn’t changed.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jem fingers the Camellia it signifies a drastic change in the relationship between Jem and Mrs. Dubose. It exemplifies the change in the relationship between the two characters going from hostile and animosity, to compassion and understanding. Jem finally sees the good side of Mrs. Dubose and begins to contemplate what kind of person she really is. And this does not go unnoticed by Mrs. Dubose. She sees him fingering the pedals and gets a glimpse of Jem's sensitive side that she has not seen before. In my opinion this moment foreshadows a new, more caring relationship between Jem and Mrs. Dubose. This also is one of the many instances that explains Jem's change throughout the coarse of the novel. He starts out as an immature child who is always looking for mischief but as time goes on he begins to mature and move into the early stages of adulthood. While this scene may go unnoticed by many readers, I think that it will prove to be a major turning point for Jem.
ReplyDeleteJem's action tells us that he is confused about Atticus's reaction toward to Mrs.Dubose. Jem knows that Atticus knows Mrs.Dubose has been very mean and harsh on Atticus. Atticus tells Jem to be patient about Mrs.Dubose, because she is ill and addicted to morphine. However, Mrs.Dubose is first adult who teases Atticus defending a black man, Tom Robinson, so Jem can not hold anger in, and he starts to destroy Mrs.Dubose's Cameilia. Atticus finds out and makes him read for Mrs. Dubose. Jem realizes each time alarm goes on later and later. When Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus tells Jem that Mrs.Dubose was morphine addicted, and the alarm was the sigh of the drug. Also Aticuss calls her as a lady, and Jem just suprises and says, "After all those things she said about you, a lady?" (149). Jem is just confused, and he does not know what is right or wrong. Also his action shows his regret to what he has done to Mrs. Dubose. Jem is in time to struggle with lots of obstacles because of his circumstance, and his age, so this is one of the turning point for him to grow up.
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