How does Miss Gates's perspective on the persecution of the Jews contradict her view of Tom Robinson's trial?

Answer 1

Miss Gates' view of the Jews is they are a nice people who contribute to any society they are living in. Thus, she feels bad that Adolf Hitler is trying to kill them and wipe them out. This brashly contradicts her feelings about Tom Robinson and his trial: she feels that he deserves it because he doesn't fit her way of living and she assumes that he's guilty and she discriminates against his kind of people. She speaks derogatorily about him and his family and she says that because he is African he will always behave savagely like his kind. (This is Maycomb County, Alabama in the 1930's after all) Anyway i think that's what she said as she was talking about it as she was leaving the courtroom. Since Scout heard her, she doesn't understand how Miss Gates could be so compassionate about one group of people and then look down on another. She still is too young to understand that some people have varying opinions, and since she feels compassionate about Tom Robinson she is sad and disappointed that Miss Gates would just assume he's guilty without even considering the evidence, which points to Bob Ewell.

Answer 2

Miss Gates shows sympathy towards the persecution of Jews in Germany, condemning such injustice. However, during Tom Robinson's trial, she demonstrates racist views and supports his wrongful conviction, revealing a hypocrisy in her beliefs. This contradiction highlights the prevalence of racism and prejudice in the society depicted in the book.