Real Lessoms are not Graded

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In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the ideals upheld in southern culture result in the senseless killing of several people, but also give refuge to teachings of how to become a better human being. To Kill a Mockingbird consists of many life lessons taught to Jem and Scout, the main characters, by their father Atticus while he defends a negro in court, which is greatly frowned upon by his peers in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s. Lee shows often the best lessons are learned outside the classroom. Courage means overcoming obstacles to do what is right. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the idea of true courage plays an important role in the trial of Tom Robinson. Even though Atticus and his family receive ridicule and discredit from their peers and own family members, Atticus stills defends Tom. He explains his reasoning when Scout questions him. “I’m simply defending a Negro… For a number of reasons… The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town…” (Lee 75). Atticus conveys that even though he would not be ridiculed for not de...

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