To Kill A Mockingbird: PrejudiceThe Main theme in this book is prejudice. You will learn aboutsegregation and how unfair it was. To Kill A Mocking Bird deals with many primal and basic lessons in humannature. The book exposes many issues that affect most people throughout theirlives. Scout, the main character was one of the most affected by these lessons.
During the book she was exposed to many profound experiences, which no doubtwill leave a lasting impression. In the three years that the book took place,she may have learned the most important things she will learn over her entirelife. One person that affected Scouts life was Boo Radley. He brought wonder,fear and then finally relief to her heart.
At first kids thought he was evil. There were rumours that while he cut out the newspaper for his scrap book he”drove the scissors into his parent’s leg. “(pg11) He had tried to kill them. Even though this may have been just a rumor the kids were terrified of theRadleys.
They described him often as a monster “six-and-a-half feet tall” with”bloodstained” hands. He was said to eat “raw squirrels and any cats he couldcatch”. (pg12) During the rest of the book Scout and companions tried to meetArthur (Boo) and get over their fear of him. They did not succeed. But he showedaffection for them by leaving them gifts in a tree. Finally at the end of thebook he proves he is a good person by saving Scout and Jem’s lives.
In thisinstance Scout may have found that to negatively prejudge someone is wrong. Shealso learned compassion. Scout also learnt about the ugliness of life. About death and pain. This lesson occurred while her brother had to read to a sick and dieing old lady.
This lady’s name was Mrs. Dubose. She had been a morphine addict and had decidedto go clean till her death. To die as a free women, to die knowing she had won.
Scout describes her as a ugly lady and during their reading sessions she wouldhave some kind of spasm-fits. Her head moved side to side. She would drool. “Hermouth seemed to have a private existence of it’s own. ” (pg. 107) After manyreading sessions with her having a fit each time, she died one day.
Probably the most important person in Scout’s life was the one who hadset the best examples for her. This was Atticus. He taught Scout how to dealwith people. One of his teachings was to be the bigger person. When Bob Ewellspit in Atticus’s face and threatened his life, he did nothing and walked away.
All he had to say later was,”I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco. “(pg. 217)Atticus reacts with his brain not emotions. He encourages Scout to do the same. Another trait that he teaches is respect. Respect for people who aredifferent.
People such as Boo Radley. The kids had been acting out a play whichinvolved Boo’s scissor incident. They also tried to give a letter to him, sothat he would come out to meet them. Atticus found out about both incidents. They were put in their place and told to, “stop tormenting that man. ” He thentold them that, “what Mr.
Radley did was his own business. “(pg. 49) Atticus alsocommanded respect for black people. He once told Jem that if a white man cheatsa black man, “no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comesfrom, that man is trash.
“(pg. 220) At the trial he also explained that there arebad and good black men as there are good and bad white men. (pg. 204)Two more models that helped Scout out.
The first was a valuable exampleset by Atticus. He had been told to defend Tom Robinson. The case was a lostcause because he was beat before he began, and itwould bring hardship tohimself and his family. He knew this, but did not give up.
It was the rightthing to do. As he told his brother, “do you think I could face my childrenotherwise”(pg. 88) Scout heard this conversation and understood it in later years. Again teaching this gives her a valuable example; Stick to what you believe in.
A lesson in effort and commitment was also demonstrated by Mrs. Dubose. Afterfinding out that she would soon die, she decided to kick the morphine. This wasa very hard thing for her or for that matter anyone to do. “She was the bravestperson I knew.
” said Atticus. He also again repeated that courage is when, “youknow you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway”. (pg. 112) This is infact a mirror image example of what he was doing by taking on the Robinson case.
And finally not so much a lesson but a warning for Scout. The warningcomes from Boo Radley, a man who keeps away from society as he seems to fear it. His life is a perfect testimony for all the bad and ugliness of our world. AsJem said best.
“I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shutup in the house all this time. . . . . .
It’s because he wants to stay inside. “It become apparent that the things that Scout has learned are all veryimportant. Some maybe the most important during her lifetime. This is why thesemay have been some of the most important years of here life. And that all theexperiences that she went though were essential. English
