preview

Themes of Courage, Prejudice, and Maturity in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

Decent Essays

In Harper Lee’s historical fiction novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus shows the children that Maycomb is prejudice, teaches them courage, and the children show maturity. Scout and Jem are children of Atticus who's assigned to defend Tom Robinson is his case and throughout this case Scout’s summer neighbor and friend, Dill, Jem, Atticus, and Scout exuberate of these themes in their actions .Prejudice is when one pre-judges another based on their race, gender, age, or sexuality which one don’t understand and one hates the unknown of another. Courage is doing something without the fear of being judged or fearing the unknown. Maturity is learning lessons and applying them to oneself where one start to display adult characteristics. These …show more content…

“ As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t forget it whether a white man does that to a black man, no matter who [or what] he is … That white man is trash” (297). Atticus is saying that every man should respect and accepting of all men including the blacks. The truth of the matter is that man is a man and prejudice is never the answer but a choice of those who don’t want to try to understand but they pre-judge making a stereotype. Prejudice still exist but we need to bring awareness and extinguish it. Maturity comes last but most definitely not least out of the themes. “You can’t run three hundred miles without your mother knowin’” (188). This already used in courage but many way Jem is also displaying maturity. Jem uses the common sense and logic of an adult on the fact that they worry about their children and want to know that they are always safe. Dill’s mother is knowing now that he is fine and safe and has no worries even though mother’s always worry. Scout also grows up and learns and starts to display maturity. ‘“… [Scout is] a co—ward”’ (102). Atticus had just taught the lesson that fight back isn’t the answer to Scout, Scout puts to use this newly acquired skill of adults and shows great signs of maturity . No atter how old or young one is always maturity ad becoming a

Get Access