What Does Scout Learn In To Kill A Mockingbird

As Billy Graham said, "Racism and injustice and violence sweep our world, bringing a tragic harvest of heartache and death. In "To Kill a Mockingbird" the setting takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the point of view is through the eyes of Scout, who is still very young but unusually intelligent because of her surroundings. Scout had learned about her father Atticus and his trial of defending an innocent black in a discriminated county. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus influences Scout throughout the story because scout has been taught to not have any discrimination or a feeling of superiority over colored people, Scout learns life lessons to keep calm and believe what is right, the ability to not quickly judge people and try to understand how they feel.

Scout has been taught not to have any sort of discrimination or a feeling of race superiority over the colored people. Atticus has said on page 144, "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything-like snot-nose. It's hard to explain-ignorant trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves." Scout had

learned that the discrimination towards the blacks went as far to have a name branded to them, and those that are associated with them, those names should mean nothing, but those who use it are scum.

Looking down on others where some people think others are inferior, brand the people who associate themselves with the inferior people a term or name, which should mean nothing in reality. Atticus also says on page 295, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it- whenever a white man does that to a black man no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” Atticus firmly

tells Scout though directed at Jem, his beliefs in which when people treat other people as trash, they are worse trash. Social standing is no justification to ridicule another man. Atticus tells the court in which Scout hears on page 273, "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, and some Negro men are not to be trusted around women— black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men." Scout should have learned that negroes are capable of doing what whites can do as well, and vice versa. The prejudice towards other kinds of races of men should be nonexistent because there are only one true race of humans homo-sapiens. These teachings that Atticus showcases his ideals present how Scout will be influenced during this time of her life.

Scout learns life lessons to keep calm and believe what is right. Atticus says on page 144, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes— baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you." While Atticus says this to Jem after Mrs. Dubose dies, Scout also hears it. Although directed at Jem, Scout also learned that insults shouldn't be minded. Atticus, as a role model and example for his kids, he treats everyone fairly, no matter how another thinks of any other person lowly, he treats anyone fairly and was proud of it. Atticus says on page 139 “when summer comes you’ll have to keep your head about far worse things… it’s not fair for you and Jem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down—well, all I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you’ll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn’t let you down.” Atticus tries to be a role model for Scout through his words and actions trying to be the example for when Scout grows older, she will know what is right. With the events and situations occurring in Scouts childhood life, Atticus guided her on the right path using what had happened during the time they were present together. What Atticus teaches to the intelligent Scout may be difficult to understand, but he knows that Scout will remember and take it to when she becomes an adult. In the book Atticus says on page 101, “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down.” Atticus tells Scout that to take in everything and still be proud of whatever comes at oneself. Atticus wanted to be a good example to his kids and instill in them a strong sense of moral values.

The ability to not quickly judge people and try to understand how they feel. On page 39 Atticus says “First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot 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.” Scout had troubles at school where she got in trouble on the first day, and was hated by the teacher. Mrs. Caroline Fisher was the person who didn’t know what to do with Scout because she knew everything that was planned to teach. On page 119 Atticus says “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” The meaning that should be interpreted from this is both literal and figurative. This lesson becomes extremely valuable in which, mocking birds are purely innocent and harmless and should not be killed, since there is no reason to, with the same meaning to humans that are innocent. On page 149 Atticus says “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 you see it through no matter what.” Though Atticus directed this to Jem after receiving the news of Mrs. Dubose’s death, Scout was also present in hearing this. Scout had thought wrong about Mrs. Dubose, but she was worth respecting because in her final moments resisted to the use of drugs before her death. Scout was guided on the right path to understanding others. The moral education of Scout transcends what would normally be taught.

He tries to be a role model for Jem and Scout, teaching them life lessons, morals, ethnics and to not prejudice other fellow humans. Throughout the story Atticus shows a great example as a person who had integrity, courage, responsibility and he was a person who focuses on the moral ethnics of people. From when Scout first goes to school to Atticus defending the innocent black man to the end of the story where he learns Boo Radley really killed Bob Ewell, Atticus uses all these experiences as life lessons to mature his kids, Scout and Jem. As Billy Graham said, "Racism and injustice and violence sweep our world, bringing a tragic harvest of heartache and death.