The theme of moral education is explored most powerfully through the relationship between Atticus and his children, and Calpurnia’s teachings.
Atticus takes great pride in instilling a powerful sense of morality in his children. He truthfully answers whatever questions they ask, and encourages them by treating them as adults. Atticus also teaches Scout that she should never judge people without understanding them first. “First of all,' he said, '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.'" (Page 30. Chapter 3) He teaches the children that they have to judge themselves before they can judge anyone
…show more content…
Atticus being the good father he tries to instill some morals into his children by teaching them life lessons. He prepares the children for adult life when issues such as racism, and discrimination are part of a daily routine and teaches them how to be good people. Atticus also tries to teach the children to treat everybody with respect. He tells Jem that" I have no doubt that you've been annoyed by your contemporaries about me lawing for niggers, as you say, but to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable." (11.43). In his opinion, just because Mrs. Dubose strikes out at Jem doesn't mean he's allowed to strike back. He treats everybody kindly and respectfully even though they may not deserve it. Another example of Moral Education is when Scout says to Mr. Dolphus Raymond, "Atticus says cheatin' a colored man is ten times worse than cheatin' a white man. Says it's the worst thing you can do," (Lee, 201). Scout has learned from Atticus that it is wrong to cheat anyone whether they are Black or White. However, she knew specifically not to cheat black people as they are already cheated enough. Both Scout and Jem are very good and well
Throughout the book, Atticus educates Jem and Scout when they deal with problems or are confused about the way people go about doing things. He also does many courageous acts in society in respect to each and every person in Maycomb whether or not they agree on certain things . Just like Atticus, My mom showed the qualities of a good parent and a courageous personality when she made us realize how grateful we should be in life. When people aspire to be a good parent or do courageous things for people, they should look at a good example like
Atticus is an unbiased in the way he gets his children to see different perspectives and accept others for what they are because he realized there is no major difference between them and himself. On page 39, Atticus is talking to Scout about Miss Caroline. He says, “You can never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into this skin and walk around in it.” This shows that Atticus never judges people until he can comprehend their views and this is important to the story because it explains why he fights for Scout’s dressing rights and agrees to the Tom Robinson case. Later in the story, on page 144 Atticus tells Scout “I do my best to love everybody...
By being strong in his belief of what's right, Atticus is a true role model. When Scout and Jem are lost Atticus is there to give them advice and take care of them. “His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me” (Lee 281). Atticus is a loving father that wants to take care of his children. “Depends on how you look at it, what was one negro, more or less among two hundred of ‘em” (Lee 235).
The protagonist of a literary work is often viewed as a remarkable person with distinctive qualities. These Qualities make the character admirable in the novel. The novel to kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee, illustrate the protagonist as a role model. Atticus has many values, morals and set examples for his children. Atticus Finch is portrayed to be a good father, not racist, and courageous.
Atticus tells Jem a life lesson, “‘in our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man;s the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life’”(Lee 220). Jem is older than Scout, so he has seen more inequality within the society. Jem understands better than scout, as she is still learning.
Atticus could’ve been the best lawyer in the world, but that wouldn’t have mattered because of the race of the defendant. Atticus’ morality is depicted through how he raises Scout and Jem, his children. In the beginning of the book Scout enters the first grade, and immediately wants to quit. When Scout to school already
Atticus has molded his children by exposing them to people in the town of Maycomb who have questionable morals in order to teach his children acceptance. Jem and Scout live in a primarily racist society and learn quickly that the children's
He shows this by not following the majority conscience, for example, he took on a “coloured” persons case, which shows how he opposes racism despite the hate he will receive from the people in Maycomb. He not only teaches Jem and Scout but he also teaches us, the reader, our principles, for example, “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. The word sin in this quotation shows a religious point of view, which emphasises the word. Miss Maudie states “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy”, this links into many events taking place in the novel, for example, Tom Robinsons case. This particular event focuses on Tom Robinson, the mockingbird of the novel, he is the mockingbird because he is being judged by the people in Macomb for “raping” a white girl, which he didn’t do, this also shows Atticus’s integrity as he is the only person supporting
This shows a moment Atticus took to explain to Scout the importance of realizing that arguments can not get in the way of your friends and home. Another example of Atticus exemplifying his morality, is when he explained racial differences to Scout. “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, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Lee, 220). This quote demonstrates another example of Atticus passing his values down to his kids. In the end, Atticus wants his kids to grow up with good morals with them treating people fairly and with
Without moral education, society will not be able to distinguish the difference between right and wrong. Morality is a large theme throughout the book, as Calpurnia and Atticus teach Jem and Scout what is acceptable to say and do, as well as what is not. Atticus repeatedly said to the children, “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” (39). To Kill a Mockingbird faces the issue of prejudice and racism, without first knowing the actual person, causing major damage, and in Tom Robinson’s case, death. Society needs to learn the importance of moral education and without To Kill a Mockingbird, a tough, concrete example will be
Landon Bennett Mrs. Alfaro English 3 May 22, 2023 To Kill a Mockingbird In Harper Lee's timeless novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the character of Atticus Finch serves as a moral compass and a pillar of righteousness. Through his actions, words, and unwavering principles, Atticus demonstrates the qualities of a compassionate and just individual, whose beliefs are deeply rooted in fairness, equality, and respect for all individuals. Atticus's commitment to justice and equality is evident throughout the novel. He consistently upholds the belief that every person deserves to be treated fairly and without prejudice. Atticus imparts this wisdom to his children, Scout and Jem, when he tells them, “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”.
His method of teaching is a way for him to instill virtue into his two children. An example of Atticus’s process is when he encourages Jem to stay calm and refrain from anger. To make his children better people Atticus says: “‘...hold your head high and be a gentleman... it’s your job not to let her make you mad’” (Lee 133).
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Alabama in 1930’s. The main characters are a family of three, Scout, Jem, and Atticus Finch. In the novel there are many different examples of moral education but, the meaning behind moral education is much more important than examples. Moral education is the building blocks of society's outlook on you and your upbringing. Not only in the novel do characters get judged because of their sense of moral education, but this is also seen in modern day.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird is a timeless, touching novel. The novel was set in the Great Depression in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the novel, is faced with an extremely difficult trial. Atticus was chosen to defend a black man, Tom Robinson that was accused of raping a white woman.
Nevertheless, when Scout talks about her family she says: “Jem and I found our father satisfactory: he played us, read to us, and treated with us with courteous detachment.” (6) Atticus did as much as he can as a parent. He gave his children entertainment and good memories with each other by “playing” with them, gave education by “reading” with them. Also, Atticus “treated” his children “with courteous detachment”, showing that he respects his children and is not careless about his children. If he was a careless and irresponsible parent, he would not have cared for his children and treated them with “courteous detachment”.