Examples Of Moral Development In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Throughout the novel in To KIll a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, one of the main themes is moral development. This is well exhibited in the character Scout, as she sees many pivotal moments in her development as a child. In the story, Scout functions as both questionnaire and observer. Scout asks questions, certainly questions that aren’t “politically correct,” but she can ask their questions because she is a child. As a child, Scout doesn’t understand the full implication of the things happening around her, making her an objective observer and a reporter in the truest sense. Several events occur during the book which test her moral foundation. In fact those events make her into a more compassionate and humane human being. In the first few chapter …show more content…

She has many people who have influenced her and got her to think the way she does now. Scout is being brought up by her father, Atticus and their housemaid Calpurnia. The mid 1930’s was a time of civil racial prejudice and closed segregated views especially against Afro-Americans. Scout gets bullied by Walter Cunningham because they find out her father is defending Tom Robinson who was an African-American. “Scout,” said Atticus, “nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything-like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain-ignorant, trashy people uses it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody” (Lee 108). Scout has a hard time trying to understand and process the meaning of what a Negro-lover is. Her father has brought her up protecting her from hate and racism. He has taught her to think, to question and to make her own choices and decisions. However he can’t completely protect her from the upcoming events or reality of the life. On the other hand, her relationship with Calpurnia, she saved from racial discrimination and she has well given Scout a perspective of the true value of a human being, whatever their color may be. A great given example is when Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to the local Afro-American Church. While being at the church they are being approached by an Afro-American woman who states that they aren’t welcome there. Calpurnia reacted by defending them aggressively, showing the true value of a human being. Scout begins to learn that there are bad people and good people regardless of their skin color. As it says in the book, “Mister Jem,” he said, “we’re mighty glad to have you all here. Don’t pay ‘tention to Lula, she’s contentious because Reverend Sykes threatened to church here. She’s a troublemaker from way back, got fancy ideas

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