Corruption In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the historical fiction novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Scout and Jem’s experiences in Maycomb shape their moral compass as they grow. In the beginning of the novel, Scout and Jem are naive and are politically inept, unable to differentiate between what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable in society. However, their father Atticus’s guidance shapes Scout and Jem’s capacity to grow as characters amidst a tumultuous time period of racial injustice. Through Scout and Jem’s experiences of the Tom Robinson trial and their near-death encounter with Bob Ewell, they have a strengthened perception of right and wrong. To start, the Tom Robinson trial communicates to Scout and Jem the importance of maintaining dignity in an environment where others hold

Atticus responds by stating, “if I didn’t [defend Tom Robinson], I couldn’t hold my head up in town” (Lee 86). Atticus is instilling in Scout at a young age that he is morally obliged to advocate for the justice of the vulnerable. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson because he knows that declining the case is the equivalent of succumbing to the corruption of Maycomb. Scout and Jem learn through the example of their father that they must adhere strongly to their own convictions, regardless of whether it diverges from popular belief. Therefore, Atticus’s audacious gesture of defending Tom Robinson teaches Scout and Jem the importance of persisting to represent justice in a prejudiced society. In addition, the Scout and Jem’s near-death encounter with Bob Ewell instilled in the the significance of having empathy for others. In the beginning of the novel, Scout and Jem made superstitious claims about their neighbor Boo Radley, rumoring that he is a haunting figure. Boo Radley is a symbol of mockery and the children often tormented his residence to obtain a sense of