Question

Help! To Kill a Mockingbird Question!!

Miss Maudie discusses some of the town’s problems with the children. She says: “The things that happen to people we never really know. What happens in houses behind closed doors, what secrets--.” Secrets seem to be a theme in the novel. Even a small town holds many secrets. What are some of the secrets from the story thus far? How might the secrets affect the story?

Answer 1

Some of the secrets include Boo Radley hiding toys in the tree for Jem and Scout to find everyday and Boo Radley sewing Jems pants for him so he wouldn't get caught for sneaking around at night.

Answer 2

The atmosphere of a small town like Maycomb where everyone knows each other’s business makes people hide the “skeletons in their closets”. Everyone in Maycomb has a secret of some kind. Here are a few:

Mr. Dolphus Raymond pretends to be an alcoholic so people of Maycomb have a way to explain why he has a black mistress and bi-racial children.

Mrs. Dubose hides her addiction to pain medication from the town. She is ashamed of her addiction, and vows to break it before she dies.

Jem and Dill keep their adventures to see Boo Radley and invite him for ice cream from Atticus.