To Kill a Mockingbird - Game Script Walk in someone else's shoes

Background

The town of Maycomb in Alabama is in an uproar: Tom Robinson, a young black man is accused of raping a young white woman.

Atticus Finch, a defense attorney, was assigned to protect Robinson and to prove of his innocence.

The trial reveals the different views of the residents: fear, prejudice, hatred and racism - but also tolerance, striving for justice and courage.

You live in this town, and just like everyone else, you hold preconceived opinions. "You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them," says Atticus.

Each of you has preconceived opinions about the "Other". Your task is to get to know the "Other", get into their skin, walk in their shoes, and try to understand their motives and point of view.

Share your findings with the rest of the players, and together try to build a more complete social picture of the town of Maycomb.

Characters

Scout Finch Atticus's daughter

Jean-Louise Finch (Scout) is the narrator and protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird. At the beginning of the novel, she is 6 years old (she already can read…) and by the end of it she is 9 years old. Scout is an unusual girl that does not behave according to regular social norms: she behaves like a boy and does not value acceptable manners. She has a most developed sense of conscience, she admires her father Atticus even when she choose to rebel against him.

Your Task

Scout,

Atticus expect from you and Gem to put yourselves in the place of The Other in order to understand him better. In many ways, you are also considered the "Other" in your society since you do not behave according to the accepted norms for girls your age. This fact, as well as Atticus's humanistic education, helps you resist to the prejudice opinions towards Others in Maycomb.

Your “Other” is Boo Radley. Your mission is to explain your friends why he is different from others and yet quite similar..

Resources

Scene - 01

To Kill a Mockingbird - Reader guide - The Big Read
Scout (Jean Louise) Finch: Character Analysis - Cliffs Notes
CALPURNIA: Character Analysis: - shmoop

Jem Finch Atticus' son

Jem is a brave boy who seeks justice. He is in early adolescence. He admires his father, Atticus. Four years older than Scout, he remains her close companion and protector.

His encounters with injustice, racism and discrimination are traumatic for him. However, he remains optimistic and believes in human goodness.

Your Task

Jem, Atticus requires you to put yourself in the place of "The Other", in order to understand him. You adore your father and see him as a role model even if you do not always understand what he is doing.

You are shocked of townspeople racist attitude that accused Tom Robinson unjustly and threaten your father because he does his best to defend him. Atticus requires you to put yourself in their place, can you?

Your "Other" is Mrs. Dubose. Your task is to explain her Otherness and in what way she is – after all - the like everyone else.

Resources

Scene - 01

To Kill a Mockingbird - Reader guide - The Big Read
Jem Finch: Character Analysis - CliffsNotes
MRS. HENRY LAFAYETTE DUBOSE - SHMOOP

Aunt Alexandra Atticus' sister

Alexandra is the sister of Atticus. Unlike her brother, she is a woman who represents the conservative social norms of the south, which causes her to confront Atticus and Scout. In her opinion, the way Atticus educates his children is wrong and could causes them social ostracism.

Your Task

Alexandra, you are Atticus' sister and you consider yourself responsible not only for his actions but to the education of his children who lost their mother. You try to get them to abide by social norms, but fails.

You think that black people and white people in Maycomb should live separately and should not mix with each other. If it were up to you, you would lay off Calpurnia. In your eyes, your brother and his children are also "Others" - you do not understand them and their position. Can you try?

Your "Other" is Tom Robinson. Your task is to explain to your friends why he considered an "Other", and in what way he is just like everyone else...

Resources

Scene - 01

To Kill a Mockingbird - Reader guide - The Big Read
Aunt Alexandra: Character Analysis - CliffNotes
TOM ROBINSON: Character Analysis - Shmoop

Calpurnia Finch family's African-American housekeeper

Calpurnia is the African-American housekeeper and cook at the Finch residence. She in fact serves as a mother figure that helps raise Jem and Scout and teach them Atticus' values, even when she does not always agree with it.

Unlike most of her community she is an educated woman (teaches Scout to read and write).

Your Task

Calpurnia, you are a black woman who works at the home of a white man and raises his children. Unlike most people in your community, you are educated and illiterate, and your English is fine. However, you hide these capacities, precisely because you put yourself in the place of your community members. You do not want them to think you are arrogant or condescending above them...

Your "Other" is Aunt Alexandra. Your task is to explain to your friends why she is considered "other ", and in what why she is just like everyone else...

Resources

Scene - 01

To Kill a Mockingbird - Reader guide - The Big Read
Aunt Alexandra: Character Analysis - CliffNotes
CALPURNIA: Character Analysis: - shmoop

Boo Radley Finch mysterious neighbor

Boo (Arthur) Radley, One of Finch's family neighbors, is a young boy that shuts itself at home after his father abused him. His isolation makes Jem and Scout see him as a monstrous ghost, scary and attractive at the same time. His kindness and gentleness reveals only at the end of the novel, when he rescues Gem from the hands of Bob Joel.

Your Task

Boo, the world scares you. It is difficult for you to stay at home, but it is even harder to go outside. You peering out into the world and see Scout and Jem - you would like to be their friend but is afraid.

You protect them from afar and hide for them gifts in the tree trunk.

You know that for them you are the "Other" in the neighborhood, but you are still willing to sacrifice your life for them and fight even Bob Joel ...

Your "Other" is your Bob Joel. Your task is to explain to your friends why he considered "other ", and in what way he is basically the same as everyone else ...

Resources

Scene - 01

To Kill a Mockingbird - Reader guide - The Big Read
Boo: Character Analysis - Shmpoo
BOB EWELL: Character Analysis - Shmoop

Scene 1: Walking in the Other's shoes

1. Public Message

Each of you has an "Other" that you believed was completely different from you.

Your task is to get to know the "Other", get in its shoes and try to understand his motives and perception.

Share it to the other players, and together try to develop a more complete social fabric of the Maycomb

2. Private (a while after previous message)

Scout Finch:

Scout, your "Other" is Boo (Arthur) Radley. Your task is to explain to your friends why he is considered an "Other ", and in what way he is – after all - the same as everyone else...