Chapter 26: What is ironic about the lesson Mrs. Gates gives the class?

In Mrs Gates' lesson, she teaches the class that they live in a democracy. She says that in a democracy nobody is oppressed. "We don't believe in prosecuting anybody." p. 281 "Persecution comes from the people that are prejudice." She agrees with scout when she says that a democracy is a government with equal rights for all. When asked why the Jews are allowed to be oppressed, she replies that it's because they live in a dictatorship.

The lesson is ironic because oppression is ALL that is happening in Maycomb. As i said in my previous comment, the rumors keep the oppressed down, barely able to breathe as wave after wave of rumors smash them. "We are a democracy." p. 281 huffs Mrs. Gates. When in truth, under the image put up by the government, the prejudice keep the oppressed oppressed. The biggest symbol in this scene that i saw, whether Harper Lee meant it or not, was when Mrs. Gates said "Jews are the best people in the world." Not only did this shock me because of the pure amount of bias, but the fact that she says this about the Jews, while she is completely against black people, who, to me, represent the Jews in Germany. By saying this, i think H. L. meant to imply that black people are a fine, beautiful specimen. At last, i have found something to relate to my comment about Scout in the courtroom saying what a 'fine specimen' T Rob was.