Social Values in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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With over 30, 000, 000 copies sold, Harper Lee’s world-renowned novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The enduring success of the novel can be attributed to the character of Atticus Finch; the lessons that he teaches his children are the lessons that a 21st century society still needs to learn.
Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird represents honesty and respect, these social values are especially important as they contribute greatly towards the prejudice shown and the novel’s enduring success because of the way he speaks not just to his children, but to Mayella Ewell as well. Atticus displays honesty to his children when Scout has difficulty understanding why defending Tom Robinson was so controversial by asking him if he is going to be successful in winning the case. Scout says, "Atticus, are we going to win it?"
"No, honey." "Then why-""Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win," Atticus said. (pg 84) This shows that Atticus believes that Scout should have the right to recognize ho...

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