Mrs Dubose
Introduction
Another Finch neighbour, who is described as the ‘meanest old woman who ever lived’.
Important character in teaching the children about true courage - Jem has to read to her after he
destroys her precious camellia bushes - she dies the children learn of her morphine addiction
Harper Lee presents a lonesome and bitter character who is isolated due to her addiction; a
character, however, who is driven to break free of this before her death, in order to die liberated
and beholden to nothing.
First Impressions
• When she first appears, she is portrayed as a ‘very old’ lady who ‘lived alone’ – implies she is
isolated and friendless.
• ‘It was rumoured that she kept a CSA pistol hidden under her numerous wraps’ - Connotations of
noun ‘pistol’ are that she is dangerous. The verb ‘rumoured’ represents the speculation of the
whole of Maycomb, not just the children. However, the idea of everybody despising and gossiping
about her emphasises how her violent outbreaks could merely be a method of obtaining attention.
• ‘hated’ – reflects her vehement nature and her verbal attack on people.
• ‘wrathful gaze’ ‘ruthless interrogation’ ‘melancholy prediction’ – lexical set of negative adjectives
convey hatefulness and anger. She is a passive character in the novel who is marginalised by the
community, but she is still successful in inspiring rage through the power of her words.
• ‘horrible’ ‘liver spots’ ‘face was the colour of a dirty pillow-case’ ‘cords of saliva’ – Scout is
disgusted by her appearance and describes her as a monstrous being. This immediate judgement
and lack of understanding or attempt to empathise with her conveys their immaturity and
inexperience. Mrs Dubose not only portrays the theme of courage, but also serves to open the
children’s eyes to people’s personal struggles.
Condemnation
• Even Jem and Scout judge Mrs Dubose, as they do not initially have the maturity to look beyond her
vicious exterior to her agonising morphine addiction.
• ‘vicious’ – she is practised at really affecting people and offending their insecurities; she has no
empathy.
• ‘apoplectic’ reflects her furious rage which could be caused by the drug, which effectively dictates
her behaviour; the withdrawal symptoms of morphine include anger.
• ‘Sassiest, most disrespectful mutts’ – she is utterly disrespectful and demeaning towards them, her
behaviour is appalling.
• ‘You should be in a dress and camisole young lady!’ – she shows gender prejudice towards Scout
because despite her own despicable behaviour she holds traditional views that Scout should act like
a perfectly quiet ‘lady’.
• ‘lawing for niggers!”’ – her hatred towards the Finches, especially Atticus despite his unceasing
kindness towards her, comes from his defence of Tom Robinson, which shows her inherent racism.
• ‘family’s moral degeneration’ – this statement is ironic because the Finches are the most morally
upstanding family, while Mrs Dubose attacks those who cannot retaliate in order to combat her
embarrassment of being a drug addict. She cannot escape her addiction, so she lashes out at others
due to her cowardliness.
The Reading
• Jem has to go and read to her every day, except Sunday, for a month. This serves as a distraction for
her rehabilitation as there is nothing else in her life to help her break free from the morphine.
• ‘old and ill’ – close-up Mrs Dubose is weak, frail and unwell and that fact that Scout only sees her
suffering when she steps into her life reiterates the importance of not judging and exercising
empathy. She is a typical victim; morphine was known as ‘Southern Lady’s Drug’ because the typical
Introduction
Another Finch neighbour, who is described as the ‘meanest old woman who ever lived’.
Important character in teaching the children about true courage - Jem has to read to her after he
destroys her precious camellia bushes - she dies the children learn of her morphine addiction
Harper Lee presents a lonesome and bitter character who is isolated due to her addiction; a
character, however, who is driven to break free of this before her death, in order to die liberated
and beholden to nothing.
First Impressions
• When she first appears, she is portrayed as a ‘very old’ lady who ‘lived alone’ – implies she is
isolated and friendless.
• ‘It was rumoured that she kept a CSA pistol hidden under her numerous wraps’ - Connotations of
noun ‘pistol’ are that she is dangerous. The verb ‘rumoured’ represents the speculation of the
whole of Maycomb, not just the children. However, the idea of everybody despising and gossiping
about her emphasises how her violent outbreaks could merely be a method of obtaining attention.
• ‘hated’ – reflects her vehement nature and her verbal attack on people.
• ‘wrathful gaze’ ‘ruthless interrogation’ ‘melancholy prediction’ – lexical set of negative adjectives
convey hatefulness and anger. She is a passive character in the novel who is marginalised by the
community, but she is still successful in inspiring rage through the power of her words.
• ‘horrible’ ‘liver spots’ ‘face was the colour of a dirty pillow-case’ ‘cords of saliva’ – Scout is
disgusted by her appearance and describes her as a monstrous being. This immediate judgement
and lack of understanding or attempt to empathise with her conveys their immaturity and
inexperience. Mrs Dubose not only portrays the theme of courage, but also serves to open the
children’s eyes to people’s personal struggles.
Condemnation
• Even Jem and Scout judge Mrs Dubose, as they do not initially have the maturity to look beyond her
vicious exterior to her agonising morphine addiction.
• ‘vicious’ – she is practised at really affecting people and offending their insecurities; she has no
empathy.
• ‘apoplectic’ reflects her furious rage which could be caused by the drug, which effectively dictates
her behaviour; the withdrawal symptoms of morphine include anger.
• ‘Sassiest, most disrespectful mutts’ – she is utterly disrespectful and demeaning towards them, her
behaviour is appalling.
• ‘You should be in a dress and camisole young lady!’ – she shows gender prejudice towards Scout
because despite her own despicable behaviour she holds traditional views that Scout should act like
a perfectly quiet ‘lady’.
• ‘lawing for niggers!”’ – her hatred towards the Finches, especially Atticus despite his unceasing
kindness towards her, comes from his defence of Tom Robinson, which shows her inherent racism.
• ‘family’s moral degeneration’ – this statement is ironic because the Finches are the most morally
upstanding family, while Mrs Dubose attacks those who cannot retaliate in order to combat her
embarrassment of being a drug addict. She cannot escape her addiction, so she lashes out at others
due to her cowardliness.
The Reading
• Jem has to go and read to her every day, except Sunday, for a month. This serves as a distraction for
her rehabilitation as there is nothing else in her life to help her break free from the morphine.
• ‘old and ill’ – close-up Mrs Dubose is weak, frail and unwell and that fact that Scout only sees her
suffering when she steps into her life reiterates the importance of not judging and exercising
empathy. She is a typical victim; morphine was known as ‘Southern Lady’s Drug’ because the typical
