What Does Scout Learn In To Kill A Mockingbird

One theme that plays a very big part in the novel is the theme of ‘Usual Disease’. The ‘Usual Disease’ of Maycomb, Alabama, is racism and prejudice. Atticus is afraid that his children will catch this disease and become just like everybody else in the town. So he tries to teach them as mildly as he can, and shows them how a white man, like him, can defend a black man, like Tom Robinson. One thing that Scout and Jem find out during the novel is that Atticus didn’t have to defend Tom Robinson, but that he chose to help him. Scout and Jem learn here that their father doesn’t see the difference in skin color, and that he isn’t as judgmental as some of the people in Maycomb. The children have always really admired and looked up to their father, so when they see that he isn’t judgmental, I believe that something within them clicks and they see that it’s ok to just accept people for who they are, it doesn’t matter what race, or gender, or occupation. You can stand up for someone no matter who you

Throughout this novel, Scout gains insight into herself by learning to cope with racism. Scout first discovers that her father is defending Tom Robinson, an African American in the Maycomb community after she gets into a brawl with Cecil Jacobs when he calls her father a “nigger-lover”. “Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting anymore … the sooner I learned to hold in, the better off everybody would be”(Pg. 74). This quote shows how Scout has to cope with different ways to deal with the racism directed toward her father for defending a black man. Moreover, Scout learns to refrain from showing belligerence to those who insult her family and, instead turns to ignoring them and not giving them a reaction. When Scout acts out and harms those who are racist toward her family, it shows how she finds racism morally incorrect. Though she does not know what the term nigger-lover means, she still acts out because she is aware that it is an offensive term. Scout believes that people should not be discriminated against and her bursts of anger support this concept. Racism provides maturing children insight into themselves because whilst Scout

The whole of the part one of this novel is a series of life lessons preparing Scout for the hardships she is going to face in the second part of the novel. Due to the influence of the likes of Atticus, Miss Maudie and Mrs Dubose, Scout goes from a naïve young girl who thought with her fists rather than her head, into a more mature, empathetic girl. This essay is going to discuss some of the lessons Scout learns and how they impacted the way she became at the end of part one.

As children grow up, they open their eyes to the harsh truths in the world around them that they once did not understand or question. This is experienced by the main characters of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is of a girl called Scout and her older brother, Jem, who go through the trials of growing up in the fictional small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is rampant in the mindset of the townspeople, shown when the children’s lawyer father, Atticus, takes the case of an obviously innocent African-American man and they convict him in their hearts before the trial even starts. Through this all, we can see the theme of loss of innocence in the children. Lee uses characterization to portray

Scout’s school did not stress the importance of equality, and it showed in the town’s ignorance. But, Scout did not let school taint her perception of others, and she believed “everybody’s gotta learn, nobody’s born knowin’. That Walter’s as smart as he can be he just gets held back [...]. Nothing’s wrong with him. Naw, Jem, I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (Lee 304). Scout’s friend was going to get held back in school because he was poor and unable to attend as often. She stood up for him, because she thought everyone deserves an equal chance. However, a place that did not give everyone an equal chance was the courtroom where Atticus defended a black man accused of a crime he did not commit. After losing the case, Atticus consoles his children and tells Scout and Jem that “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, or how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Lee 295). While others may see a situation such as this and say that the black man was at fault, Atticus sees through the color of a man’s skin. He wants to make sure his children do this, too. Growing up in the south, racism was expected to be seen. But, just because something is common does not make it right. Atticus made it a priority to teach his

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she reveals that society enforces strong racial boundaries, and when one is only associated with another of a different race they are labelled as strange and regarded as an outsider. In the story, young Scout Finch learns life lessons from her father Atticus, a lawyer in their small town, Maycomb. Throughout the novel many people disapprove of Atticus for his job since he defends black people and for the way he raises his children to accept everyone no matter their skin color. Scout is often taunted and picked on for her dad’s profession at school and even by relatives; at Christmas time, their cousin, Francis, humiliates Scout for having “a [negro]-lover” as a dad and describes how it “[mortifies]

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

After Scout fights with Cecil Jacobs at her school for calling Atticus a ‘nigger-lover’, she is told by her father to “ just hold your head high and keep those fists down.” (Lee, 76) Atticus is expressing that one should not let others get to them and stand up for themselves. She takes up the courage to do so the next time she is yelled at by the boy, although with much difficulty. Through this account, Scout’s willingness to learn and grow is portrayed. Also, Scout is able to stand by her morals when she confronts the mob with Jem and Dill. She demonstrates this by kicking the man who harmed Jem and eventually repressing the mob to leave the county jail, in order to protect her brother and Atticus. The ultimate fear Scout conquers was her unease of ‘Boo’ or Arthur Radley. In the beginning, she identifies Arthur as a mysterious and frightening person who lives on the other side of the street. After Arthur saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell’s attack, she realizes that Arthur wasn’t so frightening anymore and learns to embrace her fear. She does so by walking Arthur home and when she stands on his porch for the second time, not with fear, but with understanding. Scout was able to progress as an individual, stand up for her beliefs, and embrace her fears throughout the

As the United States “progresses” in economic, educational and technological advancements we still are fighting for racial equality. With more than 50 years since the brown vs. board of education case there is still incidents like Ferguson, Baton Rouge, and Phiando Castile where many questions are still unanswered. However, Harper Lee dealt with these same problems in 1960 when she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee created an emotionally confronting story. Lee writes through the eyes of “Scout” a lawyer’s daughter in a small sleepy town of Maycomb in Alabama during the great depression. Throughout the book “Scout” learns coming of age lessons from Atticus and her own experiences. But when Atticus takes on a case defending a black man (Tom Robinson) convicted for rapping a white woman (Mayella Ewell) and is found guilty. “Scout” her brother Jem begin to understand the effects of the prejudices in society. Therefore, Lee applies the literary concepts of diction and tone to revel the truth that prejudices in society negatively affect the way people treat each other in To Kill a Mocking Bird.

Scout always vividly remembers, “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). Scout learns a lot about becoming compassionate and sympathetic towards people from Atticus. Scout tries to understand why people act a certain way even if the actions confuses her. Atticus strives to show Scout that, “Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything… it just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you” (Lee 144). Scout gains the trait for seeking equality and loving everybody the same no matter the race at an early age. From this lesson, Scout disregards any or most insults, and treat blacks the same way as she treats everyone else. The guidance Atticus gives to Scout lets Scout become one step closer to a mature adult, with a little help from

When Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, the white population of the town is baffled as to why Atticus would defend somebody whom they believe is surely guilty. The information spreads that Atticus is defending Tom, and Cecil Jacob, one of Scout’s classmates, announces in the schoolyard that Scout’s father defends “niggers”. Scout fights Cecil at first, but when Cecil again brings up that topic the next day, Scout “...drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then …walked away”(102). Although there will inevitably be some name calling directed at Scout after this incident, Scout is undeterred and backs down from the fight, knowing that the insults will not affect her in the long term. This shows that Scout has the courage to know that unimportant matters are not worth fighting

A child’s naivety is able to overcome prejudice ideas thus promoting change in society. Lee conveys emotive language when Scout is talking to her father Atticus after her fight with Francis, “You aren’t really a nigger-lover than, are you” Atticus then responds with “I certainly am” the use of high modality on Atticus’ behalf helps show that scout shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for what is

Child one: He is a child who is white and was born to racy parents and does not like being near black people when he goes to school. He is approached by a black child who wants to be his friend. He then proceeds to run away.

“Back in ninth grade when every other American kid read Harper Lee’s novel of racism, moral courage and coming of age in 1930s Alabama.” (Lanham) The story is written from the perspective of a girl named Scout and the conflicts that accrued in this time period. Readers explore the understanding of Scout and her brother Jem and their moral growth. This particular conflict involving a black man “Tom Robison” against the victim “Mayella Ewell” and her bitter father “Bob Ewell” is one of the main topics. “Tom Robison,” defender “Atticus Finch” also Scout and Jems father shows his kids the principled path through life. The Finch’s cook, Calpurnia, treats Jem and Scout as if they were her own. Calpurnia can be harsh at times but is still like a motherly figure. Scout has chosen to follow her father’s advice and in her novel Harper Lee states, “-Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” In the end Scout stands on Boo’s porch and witnesses Maycomb through his eyes. But in reality not all her decisions lead to marvelous outcomes. From all of the above the most important thing to remember is the lesson she learns from it. This particular lesson of Lee’s novel, acquiesce to the books moralists propulsive strength lawyer Atticus Finch, is to put yourself in other people’s skin and walk around in it. Prejudice also plays a serious role in telling the trail

Scout is the daughter of Atticus Finch, an important character in To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout is the epitome of a playful, rambunctious child. Scout is a symbol of a mockingbird because she did not let society influence her. Like many children, Scout dances to the beat of her own drum. Scout is forced to succumb to rumors she heard about Boo Radley, she is a tomboy, and she is not prejudice. Scout’s innocent and youthful character is influenced by the racist society she lives in. While explaining Tom she explains her idea of race in the form of confusion. “A nigger lover. I ain’t very sure what that means, but the way Francis said it” (Lee 86) … Scout is not sure why Tom Robinson is convicted of this crime even though he is innocent. Scout can not