To Kill A Mocking Bird : Children Are What They Learn (grade 10 Essay

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Children are often influenced by adults in their life. Children often receive advice and encouragement from their parents or adult figures. In Haper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch helps, his daughter, Scout deal with situations, causing her to become a mature, open-minded individual. Scout learns about courage when Atticus sends her and Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose everyday. Scout learns to fight with her heads instead of her fists when Atticus is defending Tom Robinson. Scout finally learns what Atticus means when he says that you can't understand a person until you walk around in their skin. Atticus' influence shows in Scout accompanying Jem to Mrs. Dubose's.
First, Scout learns about courage from Atticus. One can see this when Atticus sends her and Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose as a punishment for destroying her garden. Scout at first does not realize the courage Mrs. Dubose has. She thinks that she is just an angry, bitter old woman. Through going with Jem each day to her house, Scout finally discovers how courageous Mrs. Dubose is. One can see this when Atticus says, "‘I wanted you to see something about her – I wanted you to see what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what'" (116). This quote clearly shows that Scout learns about courage through the influence of Atticus, as well as Mrs. Dubose. It shows that Atticus does his best to steer his children in the right direction so they will mature into kind, loving people. Atticus also influences Scout when he asks her to fight with her head.
Second, Scout learns how to fight with her head. One can see this when Atticus is talking to her about the Tom Robinson trail. He tells her that several people in the town will say mean things about him, and that instead of attacking them, or fighting them, Scout should ignore them. He tells her to hold her head up high. One can see this when Scout says, "Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him" (81). This quote illustrates that because of Atticus, Scout chose not to fight.

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