The Importance of Understanding

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Recommended: Major themes in to kill a mockingbird

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart,” 1 Corinthians 4:5. To Kill a Mockingbird is a spectacular novel that sports a variety of themes through different characters. Scout, the narrator of the novel, is the eye that shows the reader the stories that take place in To Kill a Mockingbird. Although there are a variety of themes, there is one that is the most important and it is Scout learning to walk around in other people’s shoes before making quick judgments. This theme is viable for a variety of reasons, including: the importance of learning to walk in someone’s shoes then and now, how it relates to the touchy subject of segregation, and learning how to understand someone’s position even if they appear to be the “bad guy.” Although it can be a challenge to understand where other people are coming from, it is an important life skill that Scout ends up mastering by the end of the novel.
Towards the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus recites an important quote to Scout on page 33, “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.” This quote is the first step to understanding this theme, yet one must understand the meaning behind this quote and idea, relate the theme back to the novel, and understand that it is still applicable to today’s society. Atticus shares this quote with Scout as a teaching moment from father to daughter. This quote, in basic terms, means that to fully understand a person’s predicament, one must fully understand where they have come from. One must have extra humility and understan...

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...ins during this challenging chapter of her life are a lesson that anyone can learn from. The majority of students in High School, judge the ones around them, usually unconscious ally. After reading this novel, it is apparent that any person, no matter their age can learn how to take the time and make a conscious effort to not judge and to understand the people that a person may have a relationship with. During the time the To Kill a Mockingbird was written riots took place on a daily basis and it was not out of the ordinary to be punished for being set apart from others whether it is the person’s colors and/or beliefs. Now people find a way to punish themselves in a similar matter, and it damages the person’s confidence and morality as a human. After reading this novel, there is still hope in society and that good people are alive and are still being created.

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