In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the concept that when one acts hypocritical or prejudiced, it is hard to identify. An example of this is at the missionary circle, when Mrs. Merriweather says, “I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town. Good, but misguided. Folks in this town who think they’re doing right, I mean. Now far be it from me to say who, but some of ‘em in this town thought they were doing the right thing a while back, but all they did was stir ‘em up. That’s all they did” (Lee 232-233). Mrs. Merriweather is condemning Atticus for the unrest in the black community. She is sitting in his home and lavishing in his hospitality, while insulting him and criticizing his “misguided” work …show more content…
In addition, Mrs. Merriweather also spends much time discussing the work of J. Grimes Everett in Africa with the Mruna tribe. She is devoted to helping the plight of a tribe in Africa yet has no concern for the well-being of blacks in her own community. Mrs. Merriweather and the other women in the circle pretend they believe everyone is equal and preach about being kind and charitable, but instead are under the impression they are better than others because they are white. Their failure to recognize their hypocritical actions is similar Miss Gates’. Scout tells Jem about her teacher and her day at school, and says, “Miss Gates … was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-” (Lee 247). Miss Gates had spoken in school that day about how terrible Hitler’s actions towards the Jews were, but Scout remembers overhearing this conversation which confuses her. Scout cannot understand how someone can abhor Hitler and defend the Jews while simultaneously discriminating against the blacks in her