How Does Lee Use Internal Conflict In Chapter 24 To Kill A Mockingbird

Keep Your Head Held High, Don’t Let Them See You Cry Sometimes one needs to put up a strong appearance, and act as if nothing is wrong. An example would be in chapter 24 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Aunt Alexandra and her missionary circle invite Scout to join their meeting, and discuss about the poor Mrunas, an African tribe, and even about the effect Tom Robinson’s trial had on their African American servants. Atticus than appears and request Alexandra, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Scout to come to the kitchen. There he breaks the news that Tom Robinson is dead. Harper created this scene so that Scout could learn how to control her emotions, and to not let them show. Scout’s coming of age, experience is developed in Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle through mood, internal conflict, and tone.

Lee used mood to show the dramatic change in the atmosphere in the kitchen. When Atticus first asked the others to come to the kitchen, they were confused and a bit worried. “ ‘What’s the matter?’ Aunt Alexandra asked, alarmed by the look on my father’s face. ‘ Tom’s dead.’ Aunt Alexandra put her hands to her mouth.” (269). A soon as those words left Atticus’s mouth the air in the kitchen become heavy. As if someone casts a spell, and one could just feel the shock and horror fill the room. Atticus hadn’t stayed long, he still had to tell Tom’s wife the news of his death. He had asked Calpurnia to accompany him to the Robinson’s resident. After Atticus and Calpurnia left an eerie silence fell upon the