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How to kill a mockingbird lessons learned
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The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird affects the entirety of the novel and explains much of the racial prejudice that occurs. Scout, Jem, and Atticus live in Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930’s. “Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it” (6), Scout describes. By saying this, she is introducing Maycomb as old-fashioned and strictly ruled. As the book progresses, Scout learns not to follow the conventionally racist ways of most of the Maycomb population. She is affected by everyone else in the novel because of their personal beliefs and values that fit during that time period as well. When she adds that “Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself” (6), she is referencing …show more content…
Scout is just beginning the first grade when the novel begins. The education system of this time and place is very contradictory. Her teacher, Miss Caroline, says, “‘Now you tell your father not to teach you any more. You tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage… Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now’” (23). Scout is embarrassed for being singled out in front of the entire class on the first day of school for a talent she should be proud of and not ashamed of. “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing” (23). When Scout made this analogy of reading to breathing, I truly understood the difference between her and the rest of Maycomb. Much of Maycomb does not think education is very valuable to a child’s development. The young Ewells, for example, only go to school on the first day and not again for the rest of the year. However, after Atticus’s teachings, she realizes that reading and equality are very important to being a successful and good person. This is another way in which Atticus is different from the people of Maycomb, for he does not see eye-to-eye with much of their values. Years later, Scout is taught by another teacher by the name of Miss Gates. Miss Gates tells the class about the war going on in Germany. Everyone is astonished of how cruel Adolf Hitler is, yet they do not recognize …show more content…
Atticus’s teachings are much more beneficial than those of Maycomb’s education system. He teaches Scout the importance of understanding what other people are going through before judging them right away. He teaches them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because they do not harm anyone in any way. He teaches Scout and Jem that you must think for yourself rather than following what other people think, because sometimes other people have bad ideas. Overall, even if Miss Caroline tries to stop Scout from learning, Atticus will still keep doing his best to prepare her for the world. Although Scout is constantly learning new things from people all around her, she is also teaching others herself. “‘Your daughter gave me my first lessons this afternoon. She said I didn’t quite understand children much and told me why. She was quite right’” (115). This is spoken by Scout’s Uncle Jack, Atticus’s younger brother. It goes to say that sometimes the most unexpected people can be teachers of
To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on “Maycomb’s usual disease,” as a pivotal part of the book, but also shows that compassion and wisdom can exist in these most bleak areas. The prejudice and bigotry comes from the lack of knowledge of Maycomb, and their fear of changing what they have grown up with. Pre-conceived ideas are the main reason that Maycomb is ignorant of black people as they are afraid of what a change of those pre-conceived ideas will bring. Even so, compassion still exists, as Atticus is able to save Scout and Jem from the influence of ‘Maycomb’s usual disease.’ Wisdom is also embodied by Atticus, where his wisdom, which is not necessarily knowledge but life experience, is able to force him to do things which are right, shown in his reluctant shooting of the rabid dog.
Through the development of Scout’s relationship with Arthur Radley, Scout develops and becomes more empathetic. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, is her most consistent role model and used by Lee as the moral compass. Atticus is a firm believer in teaching by example, and his respect of his children is such that he treats them almost as adults, emphasised in the line ‘he played with us, read with us, and treated us with courteous detachment’ pg. 6. This refusal to shelter Scout from the harsh realities of life in Maycomb allows her to learn from experience. The strong moral guidance offered by Atticus allows Scout not only to learn from experience, but also to develop her personal integrity. Atticus exemplifies his strong beliefs, as illustrated when he says ‘Shoot
One thing that Scout learns is not to believe that everything she hears as the truth. This is a very good lesson because if you did, you become very confused because people can rarely agree on how a story went. For instance, when Scout wants to know more about Boo Radley, Stephanie Crawford gets excited because she sees this as an opportunity to open her mouth and goes on to tell Jem that, " she woke up in the middle of the night and saw him looking straight through the window at her .... said that his head was a skull" (13.) Then Jem goes further into what he heard by saying, " he dined on raw squirrel and any cats he could catch" (13.) This shows how the town compensates not knowing things about others by making up stories. Also Scout sees lies getting passed off as truth when Atticus takes on Tom Robinson as a client. Mean things are spread about Atticus and his credibility is questioned. Since Scout has a short temper and ears that hear everything she is easily offended at the comments that are said, such as the comment made by Mrs. Dubose, " Your father father's no better than the ni**ers and trash he works for." This angers Scout and Jem very much. It also shows that the town isn't happy with the moral decision's that Atticus makes and feel the need to bash him in unfair ways. Scout learns that if she keeps listening to what is said, she would go insane from not hitting anyone.
Scout always listening to the knowledge of her teachers when she was younger makes her innocent and naive. First, Scout’s constant obedience to her teachers and lack of retaliation for her beliefs express her naiveness: “Now tell your father not to teach you anymore. It’s best to begin reading with a fresh mind. You tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage...Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now” (Lee 23). This quote expresses how Scout was belittled by her teacher for reading outside of school. This aggravates Scout, however she holds in her anger, like any child, and she is forced to sit down at the command of her teacher, Miss Caroline. Also, Scout couldn’t defend herself when she explained to
Harper Lee introduces Scout as an insensible tomboy caught in the midst of contrite prejudicial conception. She has not yet discovered what is right and wrong due to various misconceptions that the people of Maycomb influence her with. ?Don?t say nigger, Scout. That?s common? (75). This particular quote is said by Atticus, Scout?s father, while referring to Scout?s racial ignorance towards African Americans. This quote portrays her social standing at the beginning of the novel as she tends to act ignorant by speaking with rude racial terms. ?Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don't pretend to understand? I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town. I hope they trust me enough?? (92). This quote expressed by Atticus describes Scout?s mental and emotional state near the dawning of the novel. Scout is given influential lessons through the form of words on what to think therefore she is misguided by false pretenses. These ?pretenses? may be misleading, consequently Scout is basing her beliefs about prejudice on the conceptions of others instead of what Scout truly believes. Although Scout?s ...
...of her father. She takes greater pride in calling herself his daughter, even though she cannot tell anyone about what happened. This event plays a great role in how Scout views talents and people’s attitude towards their own skills.
Scout first learns to show compassion and tolerance by refusing to go to school because she hates Miss Caroline. Atticus tells her that, 'First of all, if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it'; (30). When Atticus told her this, she began to accept Miss Caroline as well as other people's differences and opinions.
highlighted by the reader, often understanding events better than Scout herself. The first example of Scout moving from innocence to experience is in Chapter 2, when Scout unwillingly begins school. Her fellow pupil, a student. Walter Cunningham, refuses to borrow money from Miss Caroline. buy lunch, however Miss Caroline will not accept this refusal.
As a result, this dramatic and deeply moving novel takes us into the world of Jem and Scout, in a journey that teaches both the characters and the readers about lessons in life that we witness everyday and learn from, growing and maturing, day by day. The main problems that were faced in the book were of: prejudice and hate, people judging others, and the inequality between the treatment of men and women. These are problems that are faced in places by people, everyday, even today, and together we must work to overcome these problems and unite, every person equal to any other.
If Maycomb had the ability to speak this is what she would utter. Maycomb is in the heart of Alabama and is the setting of To Kill A Mockingbird. She has been around for years and years; She is talked about as boring and old, yet the youth keeps her young. She was told once that she had “nothing to fear but fear itself”-indeed this was correct. The old town is kept vigorous as courage is demonstrated from adults sticking to their values no matter what, Few adults see new moral values. Atticus and Miss maudie are open to these new moral values that are not yet seen by the rest of the town except by the young kids like Jem
Throughout the novel, Atticus’ assistance to Jem and Scout’s development becomes evident. Atticus takes every opportunity to attempt to teach his children the importance of having an open-mind. For instance, when Scout queries Atticus about Maycomb’s prejudice perspective, he tells her, “You never really understand a person until…you climb in their skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 30) Even during the early stages of the novel, it is apparent that Atticus endeavors to instill the values of empathy and tolerance within Jem and Scout by teaching them how to have multiple perspectives on a situation. In addition, Atticus also attempts to enlighten his children about peaceful resolution in society. For example, when Atticus is chosen to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus tells Scout, you might hear some ugly talk about it at school but…you just hold your head high and keep those fists down.”...
In the book to kill a Mocking Bird the story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb County’s setting was different depending on the weather. During the rainy weather grass was growing on the sidewalks, and the streets turned to red slope. During the hot days there were flies under the shade. The setting is important because the time of the book was when the Southern states where still racist, and they were living a poor life style. Another way the setting is important to the time of the book because winter comes to early, and it snows, so the neighbors want there flowers protected and the kids want to make a snowman so it works out for everyone.
Miss. Caroline also upsets Scout on her first day of grade one about having the ability to read and write at the grade one level. Miss. Caroline tells Scout that her “father does not know how to teach” (17)
This shows Scout how she is unaware of real life conflicts and what the society has come to. In her early years, life was very robust for her, but as she gets older, she begins to come aware of real life
In the beginning Scout's childhood innocence is shown through the first day of school because she is known to act without thinking. For example, on the first day of attending to school she get criticized for knowing how to read and write by Miss. Caroline. Miss. Caroline thinks its best if she wasn’t taught by her father Atticus but Scout does not agree.