When Scout tries to tell Jem about Miss Gates, why does he react so violently? Explain Atticus' answer to Scout about Jem's behavior.

Scout is starting the third grade. She and Jem still go by the Radley place, but she realizes that it no longer holds the same kind of fear that it once did. The trial has ended and Tom Robinson was convicted. The two children are still trying to come to terms with what happened at the trial.

When Scout's teacher, Miss. Gates, starts talking to the class about Hitler, she tells the class about the horrible things he is doing. She goes on to say how horrible it was what Hitler was doing. Scout has a hard time with what Miss. Gates is saying. She thinks she is being a hypocrite. After the trial she heard Miss. Gates saying that it was about time someone did something about about the blacks in town and someone needed to teach them a lesson. Scout tries to ask Jem about this, but Jem explodes at Scout and tells her not to mention the trial to him again. She asks Atticus why Jem is acting this way, and Atticus explains the Scout that Jem is still upset with the outcome of the trial. He just needs time to come to terms with what happened at the trial.