The modern classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee exposes the truth of society and teaches valuable life lessons to Scout and Jem about prejudice, moral courage, innocence of a mockingbird, and patience and tolerance. The characters, Scout, and her brother, Jem, are both children of the morally passionate lawyer, Atticus Finch, and both are exposed to the same experiences that shape their sense of right and wrong, yet, Scout and Jem come to dramatically different conclusions about good and evil and the essential nature of humankind.
Understanding prejudice is one of the most valuable life lessons that Scout and Jem learn as they grow and mature. The children learn harsh lessons about the ways in which small towns and other close-knit communities can sometimes marginalize and devalue individuals who do not fit the mould. These two see things of which the older folks
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Moral courage is demonstrated in this novel numerous times. For example when Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson in court he shows true courage in the face of the prejudiced community in Maycomb. This can be seen when Atticus is talking to Scout saying, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what”. (p112). This message learnt by Scout teaches her that real courage is not about shooting people but it’s one that teaches people to have the ability to go through with something that might frighten them. It also teaches the audience that hiding behind physical strength, violence is not true bravery. True courage is having the mental fortitude to do what is right in the face of great pain, difficulty and conflict. By doing this Scout learnt the act of courage which made her think twice about what she would say to