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Adults In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

507 Words3 Pages

Adults can positively and negatively impact children’s beliefs and behavior altering their actions in life. This is proven true for Scout in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Scout is only a child throughout the book and is easily influenced by those around her. The many adults in Maycomb, Alabama teach her valuable lessons. Two of these adults are Atticus, her father, and Calpurnia, their family’s maid. They teach her many lessons in this time of development. Calpurnia teaches Scout to not judge others for their differences and Atticus teaches her to have empathy; these lessons influence her beliefs and behaviors. “---and she said you taught me all wrong, so we can’t ever read any more, ever. Please don’t send me back, please sir” (Lee 29). Scout is angry with Miss Caroline for telling her to stop reading with Atticus. Her and Miss Caroline don’t see eye to eye on many situations which causes Scout to …show more content…

‘He’s poured it all over–” (Lee 24). Scout saw Walter Cunningham pouring syrup on his dinner and was appalled. Scout had never thought of or heard of someone doing that to their food so she judged him for it. She thought that his differences made him strange or beneath her. Although, Calpurnia taught her to not think this way. “There’s some folks who don’t eat like us,’ she whispered fiercely, ‘but you ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table” (Lee 24). Calpurnia scolds Scout for judging Walter for his differences. Just like many children, Scout shuns others when they act or think differently than she does. Calpurnia knows firsthand how it feels to be unfairly judged for your differences which is why she teaches Scout to not think that way. The people of Maycomb taunt black Americans for their differences. This behavior at Scout’s age can turn into something more serious when she's older, so Calpurnia saw the importance of teaching her that

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401 Words | 2 Pages

10- This quote is when Walter Cunningham has not brought any lunch to school, and is interrogated by Miss Caroline. Scout has to explain why Walter couldn’t have a lunch, and is “whipped” after explaining that Walter is poor. Scout knows that the Cunninghams only pay back in favours, are poor, and work hard, but she can’t explain this all as “well as Atticus did.” This quote is important because it shows how unfamiliar Miss Caroline is to Maycomb, and that Scout is the one looked to to explain these

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1972 Words | 8 Pages

This particular lesson concerns the larger theme of the novel, prejudice and racism, by showing how the children are being taught to treat others equitably. If the younger generation, Jem and Scout are instructed in the fair treatment of all, the cycle of bias could be broken. This instance is particularly impactful coming from Calpurnia due to her being on the end of such racism. Calpurnia understands how hurtful negative preconceptions of people can be and by teaching the children in ways of equality it shows how she is not prejudiced herself, knowing that the children are not bad because of some of their prejudices and judgment of different people but are brought up in the way. By teaching them equality she is showing them how to be a good

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1537 Words | 7 Pages

He poured it all over--” (Lee 24). What she did not understand was that his family was less fortunate than the Finch’s, and he did not get to eat like this at home. Seconds later, Scout learns one of the limits of adult patience when Calpurnia calls her into the kitchen to scold her. “Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny, and don’t let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo’ folks might be better’n than the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em-- if you can’t act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen” (Lee 25).

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1433 Words | 6 Pages

The silver saucer clattered when he replaced the pitcher, and he quickly put his hands in his lap. Then he ducked his head. Atticus shook his head at me again. “But he’s gone and drowned his dinner in syrup,” I protested. “He’s poured it all over-

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456 Words | 2 Pages

Scout’s family is more middle class, but she is having a lower class kid over for lunch. Calpurnia yells, “Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, any-body sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny and don’t you catch me remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty!” (Lee 33) In this quote, Scout has Walter Cunningham over for lunch.

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787 Words | 4 Pages

He begins teaching Scout the importance of looking at things from the other person's point-of-view early in the story which contributes to her growing maturation. Later in the book, Scout incorporates that into her worldview that it is a necessity of walking in someone else's shoes before making false assumptions about who they are. On her first day of school, she gets into a disagreement with her teacher about Atticus teaching her how to read and her quick temper Scout starts an argument with Miss Caroline without thinking. When Scout goes home, she tells Atticus about what the teacher said and Atticus advises her that “‘[y]ou can never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view’”(39). Atticus teaches Scout that she has to understand things from Miss Caroline's standpoint.

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1247 Words | 5 Pages

Many children have adults in their lives who influence the way they turn out in the future. These people can affect the children in negative or positive ways. Scout learns the importance of respect from Calpurnia, the ways of the world, how to live life to the fullest, and walking in someone else’s shoes to understand them throughout the entirety of To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee truly portrays Scout ’s coming of age by using the character’s Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Atticus as very important role models in Scout’s life.

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915 Words | 4 Pages

(Lee 26). Scout observes that Miss Caroline doesn't comprehend why Walter can’t take the quarters which embarrasses Walter even more. As a result, Scout informs Miss Caroline of the fact that Walter lacks the finances to compensate Miss Caroline. Scout is aware of this information since Atticus

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794 Words | 4 Pages

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

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754 Words | 4 Pages

Scout also questions Calpurnia on the morality of persecution, specifically that of Tom “Cal, I don't think it's right to persecute anyone, is it? Pg 112 Demonstrating her moral compass and beliefs in the situations faced by the coloured folk of the era. The quotes express her concern over Tom's trial and an opposite opinion to that of the majority of white folks in Maycomb. This everlasting fight between right and wrong develops the idea that the fight to rid the world of social separation and segregation will never be won.

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751 Words | 4 Pages

”(39) He says this to Scout because she did not understand Miss Caroline was

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380 Words | 2 Pages

In the beginning of the book in chapter 3 Scout is shouted on her first day of school for knowing how to read, and for trying to help Miss Caroline by explaining who Walter Cunning is and that she has shamed him. Atticus tells Scout that “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around it. In the early chapters the kids are

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794 Words | 4 Pages

After watching her father fight hard for a case he was bound to loose, hearing all the mean names her family and Tom was called and hearing the news of Tom’s death she began to understand the reality of racism. “Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.” (Lee, 110)

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1089 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the novel, Scout indicates change and maturity in her actions. She learns from Atticus to understand a person by considering their perspective. Furthermore, first day of school starts and Scout is already in trouble because she can read. Later that evening, Scout tells Atticus she is sick and cannot continue school anymore. He tells her that she is going and Scout tells him about the bad day and school.

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1016 Words | 5 Pages

Scout and Jem both learn most of their knowledge from, their father Atticus, their maid Calpurnia, and their neighbors. The people that are present in their lives shape Jem and Scout into the people they are becoming. Education from school helps Jem and Scout advance, but the information they learn from life allows them to mature. Scout learns a major lesson about empathy towards others when she invites Walter Cunningham, a boy she goes to school with, over to her house. Scout does not realize that she is disrespectful to him when she makes mean comments.

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