Part 4
chapters 22 - 26
Explanation of Chapters 22 - 26 ("Part 4")
These become the hardest times for the family, Jem in particular. Scout, because of her young age can move on past the events of the trial. But as Jem gets older and wrestles with his maturing feelings and values, most of what has happened only angers and upsets him. In chapter 26, when Scout goes to Jem for an explanation about her class discussion, Jem can only become angry. He is not angry because Scout is being inquisitive, he is angry because there are no easy answers to what Scout is asking and he is just as confused as she is.
The ray of hope for the children comes earlier in chapter 22 when they talk with Miss Maudie. Despite the seeming hopelessness of everything, Miss Maudie points out that many people were doing their best to help Tom Robinson. The children may feel alone, but as the gifts of food left at their house indicated, many people were always behind them.
