Sunday 22 December 2013

What are passages in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird that show Atticus teaching his kids the right things to do?

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most important lessons Atticus teaches his children is seen in the following speech he makes early in the novel:


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. (Ch. 3)


Atticus makes this statement to Scout when she complains about her disappointing first day of school....

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most important lessons Atticus teaches his children is seen in the following speech he makes early in the novel:



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. (Ch. 3)



Atticus makes this statement to Scout when she complains about her disappointing first day of school. His point is to explain to Scout that had she seen things from Miss Caroline's perspective, as a person brand new to Maycomb, Scout may have annoyed her by trying to immediately teach her all the ways of Maycomb. What's more, had Scout seen things from Walter Cunningham's perspective, Scout would not have blamed him for her own embarrassment. This is a lesson Scout takes to heart all throughout the book. We especially see the lesson make its full impact in the final chapter after she had walked Arthur (Boo) Radley back home and stood on his porch thinking of the ways in which he observed the world, especially the children he cared for.

A second valuable and famous lesson Atticus gives his children is seen the moment he gives his children air-rifles for Christmas. Atticus says to Jem, "I'd rather you shot at tine cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Ch. 9). In this very simple speech, Atticus speaks of the value of life. But, more importantly, his speech relays a dominant theme in the book: There are things and people in this world who are innocent and only serve to give us pleasure, and its a sin to kill or torment any of those innocent beings though they are sadly being killed and tormented all the time.

No comments:

Post a Comment

In "By the Waters of Babylon," under the leadership of John, what do you think the Hill People will do with their society?

The best place to look for evidence in regards to what John's plans are for his people is the final paragraphs of the story. John has re...