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To kill a mockingbird essay lessons the finch children learned
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“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of [another]... There are just some kind of men who - who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results” (Lee 60).
In this text excerpt, Miss Maudie is speaking to Scout at twilight on Miss Maudie’s front porch. Scout is bored because she is being excluded from Jem and Dill’s plans, and so she spends her time speaking to Miss Maudie about several things. This night’s particular topic is Arthur “Boo” Radley and his family.
Miss Maudie is trying to teach Scout that some people are so caught up in their beliefs about the bible that they are worse than a man like Atticus
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He is trying to help her understand that winning is not the only reason you should ever do something. If you want to follow certain beliefs, then you can’t speak one way and sit idly by when it is time for you to actually step up to what you claimed. At the end of the book, you can see that Scout understands this, because she thinks Tom should be innocent, and is horrified by all of the acts of violence surrounding him after the trial (him getting shot 17 times and Bob attacking her and Jem because their father defended him.) Another character, Dolphus Raymond, expresses this somewhat similarly. He likes the black people and puts effort into being with them - something that is frowned upon by the community. Despite this, he continues to socialize with them. However, he fakes being drunk in order to help the rest of Maycomb calm down about it. While this isn’t as direct as Atticus simply accepting outright that he must defend a black man and trying his best to do so, it is still very similar. In this quote. Harper Lee is looking to teach her readers that you shouldn’t give up just because you know you will lose. You need to stand up for what you think is right. She wants us to realize that it is the effort that you put into something that matters. A battle lost can lead to a war
When Atticus’ own sister lost faith in him Miss Maudie didn’t “Have you ever thought of it this way, Alexandra? Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we’re paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It’s that simple.” showing Alexandra that Atticus is someone she should stick up for, not because they are family but because it is virtuous.(316) Even though Miss Maudie didn’t know him she stood up against speculation against Arthur Radley. When Scout starts asking questions about Arthur and keeps using assumptions and fiction Miss Maudie explains “His name’s Arthur and he’s alive, … Arthur Radley just stays in the house, that’s all. Wouldn’t you stay in the house if you didn’t want to come out?”(58) Even with the supposition against Arthur Radley Miss Maudie made it seem like it was nothing to Scout. If she knows you or not, or has to go against your family, Miss Maudie is there for you,
In Maycomb, a small, quiet town with people of biased and stereotypical opinions, Miss Maudie does not follow in their prejudice ways. The twisted and dramatized rumors of Boo Radley that have spread around the town for years did not seem to faze her. She grew up knowing Boo, whose real name is Arthur, and describes him as kind when he was a young boy( Lee 51). Even though she believes that secrets can happen behind closed doors, she rejects the assumptions from people who jump to conclusions( Lee 51). During Scouts visit to her house, she teaches her not to judge people for being different, since as a kid, she tends to follow the misconceptions from older people. She became a huge part of Scout and her brother Jem's life that they both had
Optical illusions can appear to be moving, but really are not. At a certain angle they seem different than in actuality. The same is true about people. It is part of human nature to self deceive as some do not necessarily see the truth from both the outside and inside of a person. On the surface appearances are misleading as it does not take any depth into consideration. In Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" Scout, the protagonist innocence leaves her naive to the harsh realities of Maycomb. As she involves herself more with the town, people's true colours begin to unravel. Her eyes begin to open to the mirage of her pure life by rumors and actions of the people around her. Along with the verdict of Tom Robinson. Scout learns that reality is different than it appears through her unassuming neighbors, father and the trial.
Atticus is a great leader of his family, teaching his children morals and life lessons. He makes them better people by showing them how to deal with the trial and people making fun of them. Atticus teaches Scout how to respect other people. First, Scout learns to respect Atticus, then to respect "Boo" Radley, and finally to respect a whole race of people, negroes. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and thus displays the attributes of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Jem and Scout that true courage is standing up for what you believe in and that all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. "You never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This quote shows that Atticus wants his children to get along with people, and so other people will respect them for whom they are.
Due to the manner she was raised she was able to understand people in a distinct way. As scout reveals “We had almost seen Boo a couple of times a good enough score for anybody”(325). Scout has always tried to get a glimpse of Boo, but never obtained a chance to see him. There have been many stories of Boo spread throughout the town in regards to his disappearance. The gossip and rumors have caused most people to think of Boo, as some sort of monster, but Scout saw him differently. It seemed that Boo Radley had given Scout and her brother a gift in the tree nearby their home which brought their relationship to one of a distant friendship. Scout also confesses” Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes… just standing on the Radley porch was enough”(372). Scout at first saw Boo Radley as an evil spirit, but her perspective of him transformed and she later saw him as a guardian angel as he ended up saving her life. She ended up gaining a great respect for Boo. In the past years of Scout’s life the stories about Boo Radley were scary and a mystery to Scout, but as Scout and her brother tried to continue to get Boo Radley to come out of his house their opinion of him changed from fear to
Atticus is wise and always mindful of others based on how he treats others and reacts to certain situations. His job is to defend people who need him because he’s a lawyer and race should not be a factor that determines whether he will try his best when defending someone. When he has to defend a “Negro”, the town spreads gossip about him because they are so focused on society and how they would be viewed if they supported him. Scout becomes confused when she hears about her father and she decides to confront him about it, “Atticus sighed. I’m simply defending a Negro. . . Scout you aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, but there's been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn't do much about defending this man.” (75).
When Tom Robinson is accused of rape, Atticus is asked to defend him. Scout asks why Atticus has to defend him, and in response, Atticus says “The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 75). This excerpt shows just how devoted Atticus is to the case; he is trying his best so Tom can receive an acquittal. He grasps the concept that Scout looks up to him, and will imitate his footsteps, so he tries being an upstanding man. Despite the entire town disproving of Atticus defending a Negro, he continues with his decision, stating “... before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (Lee 109). Utilizing the best of his abilities, Atticus wants to defend Tom, otherwise he would not be able to look at himself in the mirror and properly teach his children. Protecting a black man is a risky thing, as Maycomb is a racist and prejudice place; not only is he risking his reputation and career, but he also endangers the safety of his family. Furthermore, the most important lesson that Atticus teaches his children is about true courage. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (116). He wants Jem and Scout to understand the idea that even if the whole world turns against them, they should always strive to deliver justice. Atticus’ stature as a pillar of support of Maycomb faces the uncertainty of the bleak future, yet he continues so he can guide his children onto the correct
He is the one everyone looks up to and can turn to in their time of need; he is well regarded and respected throughout the county. Later Atticus sacrifices his reputation to help an innocent man and everyone turns their back on him. On page 100, when Scout asks Atticus why he is defending Tom Robbinson, he responds by saying “If I didn’t, I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” Atticus does this simply because it is his job and the right thing to do. As mentioned earlier, when the head of the family is labeled a certain way, the whole family is destined to have that label on their name. Atticus isn’t just sacrificing his own reputation, he is sacrificing his family’s reputation. Throughout the story Scout stubbornly defends the family and her father. As the trial moves forward Atticus tells her “You might here some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you.” Scout is seen as the girl who throws punches first for the family, but she cannot do that anymore as told by Atticus and has to sacrifice her own reputation as well. At the end the family is going to be seen as outcast, for example, Francis says “We’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again.” Thus the
Among many things, Miss Maudie teaches Scout that she should not judge people based solely on rumors she might hear about them. Scout, being only six years old at the time of the story, believes everything that reaches her hears and takes most things literally. Rumors she hears about a man named Boo Radley, who many consider the town freak because of his different lifestyle and because nobody ever sees him, create in her the belief that he is a crazy maniac. The activities she takes part in with her older brother Jem and their friend Dill only fuel her theories about Boo. When Jem and Dill begin shunning Scout aside, she spends her time with Miss Maudie instead, and they develop a kind of friendship. Miss Maudie, a Baptist who loves nature, has high morals, and treats everyone as equals, aids in Scout discontinuing her belief about Boo Radley’s state of mind. At one point, they have a conversation regarding Boo. They discuss the rumors Scout has heard thus far about him, and Miss Maudie shoots down her beliefs. When Scout asks Mi...
Miss Maudie is a Mockingbird because she exerts positivity through other's lives. Miss Maudie wants Jem and Scout to "Take it all"(88) when trying to build a Snowman. Miss Maudie is subconsciously improving Jem and Scout's lives by providing them with snow in order to build a snowman. Jem and Scout have never seen snow before so Miss Maudie is adding onto the experience that Jem and Scout are having. Mockingbirds are making life better just by being there, even in a not so positive event - "Miss Maudie looked around, and the shadow of her grin crossed her face. 'Always wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard. Just think, I'll have more room for my azaleas now!'"(96). This demonstrates Miss Maudie's exerting positivity in a time of despair, showing that she doesn't have to try to be a mockingbird to make the world better around her.
Among the many plots within the story, many of them surround Boo Radley or attempting to have Boo Radley come out of his house. In these stories show Jem, Scout, and Dill are terrified of the Radley house and what be inside. However, they are mistaken, for Boo Radley wants to do the exact opposite of scaring the children. For example, Boo tries to show friendship to Scout and Jem by leaving them gifts in the tree outside of his house. These gifts include dolls, gum, a knife, a watch, etc. Boo also is thought to have wrapped Scout in a blanket during the chapter in which Miss Maudie’s house had burned down. Boo Radley is thought to have done it because Atticus says “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.” (Lee 96) supporting the fact that Boo Radley was looking out for Scout. Lastly, Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem when they were attacked by Bob Ewell. This heroic effort was not only full of care, but also, full of
He states, “Scout, you never really understand people until you consider things from their point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39). This means how sometimes unless you are someone you can’t fully understand them and how they feeling and behaving. Atticus explains to Scout that caring about others will help Scout understand them more. It will help Scout further understand why something may be happening. Also, Miss Maudie also explains how the Mockingbirds in the trees help further understand life lessons. Miss Maudie states, “Mockingbirds don’t do nothing but make music for us to enjoy… they don’t do one thing but sing our hearts out for us” (119). This means how in life, people shouldn’t naturally hate someone or something. People need to be able to care and have empathy for others. People in the book become the characteristic of mockingbirds. For example, Boo Radley. Boo doesn’t do anything to annoy or harm people, but the children decide to
Unfortunately, even though Atticus gave strong evidences in his defending, the white people accused him of rapping Mayella Ewell. He considered also a mockingbird because he is an innocent man and all the evidences are supporting his story but they accused him and send him to jail because of racism. He was trying to help the Mayella but every thing went against him. In this part of the story Scout and Jem have learned another two life lessons, the first one is to keep fighting even if you are going to lose. They learned that from Atticus when he kept defending on Tom even that he knew he would lose of racism. Moreover, they learn that the world is very unfair after they crushed by Tom story. Scout had problems in her school because her father defending a black man but Atticus said to her “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don 't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change." - Chapter 9 .page101) this is how she grap the first lesson about being optimistic no matter of the obstacles she would
Atticus changed the racist society of Maycomb by defending Tom Robinson in his trial. By acting as Tom's defense Atticus, an influential member of his community, is standing up for an oppressed group in his society. In the quote ." . . If I didn't take this case (Scout) then I wouldn't be able to hold my head up, I wouldn't be about to tell anyone what to do, not even you and Jem." the reader can understand that Tom's case is significant to Atticus. He knows that it will shape his community, that a serious change will be a result from the trial, and if he did not accept the trial no one else in Maycomb would help Tom and the rest of the African-Americans in the community. Atticus also changed his community by standing up against the majority and defending a man he knows is innocent. In the quote " Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told . . . and you know what the truth is" Atticus is facing a mob of his peers (Lee 148). The reader can conclude the he is willing to risk his own safety and reputation to bring justice to the trial, no matter who is in the way. Atticus shows great compassion towards the blacks and makes sacrifices by defending Tom, which is another way he helps change his community. His compassion is displayed in the quote " (Courage is) when you know you licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win but sometimes you do" (116). Atticus was going to see his case all the way through, if the result was positive or negative, under any circumstance.
Atticus changed the racist society of Maycomb by defending Tom Robinson in his trial. By acting as Tom's defense Atticus, an influential member of his community, is standing up for an oppressed group in his society. In the quote ." . . If I didn't take this case (Scout) then I wouldn't be able to hold my head up, I wouldn't be about to tell anyone what to do, not even you and Jem." the reader can understand that Tom's case is significant to Atticus. He knows that it will shape his community, that a serious change will be a result from the trial, and if he did not accept the trial no one else in Maycomb would help Tom and the rest of the African-Americans in the community. Atticus also changed his community by standing up against the majority and defending a man he knows is innocent. In the quote " Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told . . . and you know what the truth is" Atticus is facing a mob of his peers (Lee 148). The reader can conclude the he is willing to risk his own safety and reputation to bring justice to the trial, no matter who is in the way. Atticus shows great compassion towards the blacks and makes sacrifices by defending Tom, which is another way he helps change his community. His compassion is displayed in the quote " (Courage is) when you know you licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win but sometimes you do" (116). Atticus was going to see his case all the way through, if the result was positive or negative, under any circumstance.