Learning from Experience in To Kill a Mockingbird

Learning from Experience in To Kill a Mockingbird

In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", Jem and Scout Finch develop

their moral conscience and awareness of the reality of the situations

they are facing. Atticus's teaching method of "personal experience"

instead of being told how to do something is important as they learn

various lessons in this process. Jem and Scout learn many lessons in

the story but they are mainly based on the concept of prejudice,

courage, and misunderstanding.

There are many cases of courage shown in the novel. But, the most

significant one is the episode on Mrs. Dubose. Mrs. Dubose shows

courage as she fights her morphene addiction. Jem's punishment of

reading to Mrs Dubose, ("the meanest old woman who ever lived"), every

afternoon is necessary for him and Scout to learn about Mrs Dubose's

"true courage". This lesson the children learn from their contact with

Mrs Dubose is contrasted with Atticus's courage in the "Mad dog"

incident.

"I wanted you to see something about her - I wanted you to see what

real courage is, instead of getting th...