In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout matures and learns many valuable life lessons from the people and situations that occur in the story. One of the first lessons Scout learns is from her father about the importance of respect. Mrs. Dubose teaches her about the meaning of real courage and perseverance. Scout learns from Boo Radley that it might take a while for someone’s true colors to show, and that she should not judge them before she meets them. The lessons Scout learns from these people help her to mature from a naïve child to a child that understands how the world works. Atticus, Scout’s father, teaches her about the importance of respect and tolerance towards everyone, regardless of their background or race. When Scout comes …show more content…
Dubose, an elderly woman, is very influential to Scout’s maturity by teaching her about real courage. Mrs. Dubose has an addiction to morphine and wants to die without having any of it in her system. She has Jem and Scout read to her as a distraction from her suffering. Atticus wants Scout to go with Jem to read, so that she would be able to understand what real courage and perseverance is. “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 you see it through no matter what” (Lee, 112). Atticus believes that courage and bravery is when someone knows that the odds are not in their favor, but they do it anyways, either for themselves or others. He does not want Scout to think that courage is only a man behind a gun, because anyone can hold and fire a gun. Mrs. Dubose only had a few months to live and every day she would try to go longer without taking any morphine, eventually she was able to go the entire day without having any spasms. Although Mrs. Dubose is always yelling at Scout, she is one of the most influential characters for Scout’s
In this lesson Atticus teaches Scout that you must understand where someone comes from in order to show true sympathy and compassion. Now before Scout judges someone she steps into their shoes. Allowing her to show compassion towards that person and many more. She has learned that the most compassion you can give someone is sympathy and understanding. Jem also learned these lessons but through experiences and challenges he had to face and go through.
Courage can mean being adventurous or doing something by yourself for the first time. Real courage is having perseverance, determination and doing what you believe in. According to Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, real courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, and Atticus show their courage by never giving up when things get tough or being afraid of going against societal norms.
Scout's father, Atticus, had played a huge role on her development by teaching her life lessons and making her a better person. Atticus would always teach her life lessons on becoming a better person. Atticus would explain, “ Until you
A mother of a gay student that faced bullying stated in an article, that anyone who has “‘’hate in their hearts’” should accept people with differences because they are “‘going to be who they are’” (James, Boy Assaults Gay Student as Cellphone Captures Attack). In a perfect society, everyone would accept each other and not judge others based on appearance or social status. However, today many people still face the problem of acceptance. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, illustrates how others can learn to be accepting from the characters in the novel. Scout leaves her naïve childhood behind and changes to into an accepting young adult through
Atticus, a man of virtue, educates his children that the color of someone’s skin shouldn’t determine how you treat them. His teachings are reflected in the way Scout
Mockingbird Personality Growth Have you ever heard of a mature and polite 5 year old? What about 8? During the great depression, and living around racism, Jean Louise Finch (Scout), grows up and her personality matures and she learns how to act civilly and polite. At the beginning of the story, Scout was an immature little girl who acted how she wanted to. Following the examples that significant people in her life set; Scout started acting more mature and polite towards others.
Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Atticus teach valuable lessons to Scout about how to treat other people, to accept different perspectives, and to maintain self-control; furthermore, these lessons Scout learns are still useful since they can be taught to some people today who experience
To begin, Mrs. Dubose displayed courage in this book by overcoming addiction. While she was living, Scout and Jem thought that Mrs. Dubose was a horrible person, but they thought differently after Atticus explained why she died. “Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict,” Atticus had said (Lee, 147). “She was going to leave this world holden’ to nothing and nobody,” (Lee, 148). Atticus said this to explain how going over to Mrs. Dubose’s house had helped her overcome her addiction and as a result, he said, “She was the bravest person I knew,” (Lee, 149). From this, Scout and Jem learned that courage is not just having the guts to fight another person, it is also the strength in the face of pain.
According to her, she died beholden to nothing or nobody. She was the bravest person I knew.” (p.149) Jem and Scout don't realize the hardships and struggle Mrs. Dubose is facing by simply choosing to overcome her addiction. Atticus admires and respects Mrs. Dubose for facing her addiction so he uses the example of Mrs.Dubose’s courage to Jem and Scout to show them what real courage is. By reason of her courage Mrs. Dubose died free of her morphine addiction, because she knew it was the right thing to
The single most important piece of advice Scout received was given to her by her father in the third chapter of the book. Atticus says, “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” (Lee 39). Throughout the book, Scout and Jem had been fascinated with Boo Radley,
Dubose, an elder lady who lives in Macomb, was important in the novel because it introduces the themes of forgiveness and courage. Ms. Dubose is an addict, who is shunned by her community. Jem’s desire to help her and have patience with her is more an attempt to bridge the gap between acceptance as individuals and racial undertones. “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 head” (Lee 149). Atticus explains that courage is a mental decision; he wanted Jem to find true courage in standing up for and defending a person who would otherwise be an outcast.
He starts off as an immature boy who considers himself courageous, and often commits mischievous acts to prove his fearlessness. An example of this is when Dill dares him to go and touch the Radleys’ house. Insead of giving up, he “wanted Dill to know once and for all that he wasn't scared of anything” (Lee 14). He believes that being afraid was a weakness, while never declining a dare was the definition of being courageous. His definition of courage changes as he matures. After destroying Mrs.Dubose’s camellias due to his anger and his hate for her, Jem is forced to read to her as a punishment. She has fits during the reading sessions and soon dies. Atticus explains to the children that she fought with a morphine addiction and he claims, “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... According to [Mrs. Dubose's] views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew” (Lee 112). She didn’t give in to her morphine addiction and dies clean. From this Jem learns a different form of courage. He realizes that courage is not only having the ability to do something frightening, but it is also going through with something that is destined to
After Jem spends a month reading to Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose and she later passes, Atticus explains to Jem that Mrs. Dubose was trying to beat an addiction to Morphine before she died. He continues that he wanted Jem to see her courage up close because, "“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 are licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” (TKAM, 149) At a time when Jem was fascinated by the physical expressions of courage and use of weapons as a tool of courage, Atticus sought to give Jem a deeper definition of courage.
Dubose, Bob Ewell, and Francis influences Scout. Atticus teaches Scout “there’s no point in saying sorry when you aren’t” and Scout needs to “see what real courage is” (140, 149). Atticus’ effective communication teaches Scout to be truthful because . Atticus spreads love when he receives hate in return, teaching Scout that hate cannot fight hate, only love can. Atticus wants Scout to have courage because Mrs. Dubose was a disrespectful old lady, yet she was courageous for curing her addiction before she passes away.
Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict; she knew that she would die very soon because of it. Because she knew what the consequences would be and still fought through her addiction, she was a courageous person in the eyes of Atticus. He explained to Jem his view on the situation, “‘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