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Importance Of Life Lessons In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Life lessons must be taught by others to influence the growth of young children. Throughout the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ several life lessons are taught to Jem and Scout, thus impacting their growth and maturity. Scout and Jem’s morals and values develop due to the interaction with various characters. Atticus teach his children about empathy; to not judge others until you view things from their perspective. Calpurnia acts as the mother figure towards Scout and Jem, teaching important lessons they will need to know in life. Finally, Boo Radley demonstrates to Jem and Scout that everything you hear, all the stories that are told, are not always true. The relationship between the children and the different adults are influential for Jem …show more content…

Atticus Finch,the father of Jem and Scout teach his children the importance of empathy and how you can never truly understand someone until you put yourself in their shoes. Atticus explains to Scout it is important to think about her relationship with others before she lets her emotions take over her thoughts. When Calpurnia disciplined Scout for acting disrespectful to their guests, Scout tried to convince Atticus how she thinks he should get rid of Calpurnia and how she is no help. Scout kept ranting on how she hated Calpurnia. Atticus then says “ We couldn't operate a day without Cal, have you ever truly thought about that? Do you think about how much she does for you, and you mind her?” (Lee 33). Atticus puts the thought of how much Calpurnia does for the family, how she acts as an important role in the children's life, across Scout’s mind. Scout needs to think about what Calpurnia does daily to help the Finch family out before she can say how Calpurnia does not benefit them and how she wants her gone. Similarity, Atticus shows understanding and empathy to Mrs.Dubose, even though she talks cruel about him and his family. Jem and Scout show hatred towards Mrs. Dubose as they believe she is true evil. When Jem was expressing his emotions after his interaction with Mrs.Dubose, Atticus responds “Easy does it son, she's an old lady and she’s ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentlemen, it’s your job not to let her make you made” (133). Atticus is trying to explain to Jem the condition Mrs. Dubose is in and how it can affect her particular actions. He adds that Mrs. Dubose is raised differently, so she has different expectations on how certain people should be acting. Teaching this to Jem, educates him in the sense that he does not truly understand what is going on in her life. As well, when Bob Ewell shows hatred to Atticus, Atticus displays understanding towards his certain actions.

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Calpurnia is Jem and Scouts mother figure, because their mother died due to a sudden heart attack. Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church, First Purchase, and introduces them to the fact that not all black people are bad people. She shows courage because it’s nerve racking to bring 2 white children to an all black church. Calpurnia says, “I don’t want anybody sayin’ I don’t look after my children” (Lee pg. 118). Calpurnia takes pride in Jem and Scout and shows a massive amount of courage taking these children to her type of life, and to her church.

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As a result, Calpurnia would have empathy for Walter. She was infuriated at Scout because she didn’t want the same inadvertent discrimination happening to Walter, as she had experienced it first-hand. Calpurnia emphasizes the fact that social status does not determine a person’s worth and teaches Scout to treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of social status. Calpurnia deems treating anyone disrespectfully or making rude comments in their home unacceptable, as it is against her values and those of the Black community. Moreover, Calpurnia relates to Scout as she is a mother figure to her.

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Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout 's perception of courage drastically changes their behavior as they mature. They learn a lot about courage throughout the novel from their father Atticus and what they learn from him influences their choices and opinions. Although Jem is older than Scout, they both experience change in their behavior. At the beginning of the novel, Jem is still a young boy. He is defiant towards Atticus, he plays all the usual childhood games with Scout and Dill, and he engages in the younger children’s obsession with Boo Radley.

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Scout looks up to Jem, greatly values his opinion on many different topics and trusts him completely. She follows his lead on may things such as when Atticus enquire about the nature of a game they are playing which depicts Boo Radley , “ Jems evasion told me our game was a secret so I kept quiet.” (Page 45) Jem in turn enjoys spending time with her and adores her.

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When one grows up, it is inevitable they will lose their innocence. Seeing the world through rose colored glasses can only take one so far, and eventually they will have to open their eyes to real issues in their lives. While this happens at different ages for everyone, Atticus in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee believes that his kids should not be sheltered from the real world. As Scout and Jem, Atticus’ children, grow up, especially in a time where Maycomb is so segregated, Atticus teaches his kids real life lessons and to not become like the rest of their town; racist and judgemental. This comes with a cost, however, as the kids “grow up” at an expedited rate.

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Character Analysis Essay Jem represents the idea of bravery in the novel, and the way that his definition changes over the course of the story is important. The shift that occurs probably has as much to do with age as experience, although the experiences provide a better framework for the reader. When the story begins, Jem's idea of bravery is simply touching the side of the Radley house and then only because "In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare." But as the story progresses, Jem learns about bravery and being helpful from Atticus facing a mad dog, from Mrs. Dubose's fight with addiction, and from Scout's confrontation with the mob at the jail, among others.

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It is indecent to have random assumptions towards a person without true facts and strong evidence to somewhat support it. In chapter 11, Jem and Scout assume that Mrs. Dubose is a vile and bitter woman who has no positive emotions towards other people. They assume this because she shouts at them when they are doing the simplest of actions that other people would find nothing wrong with, however Atticus puts the two children in her shoes. He tells the children that she is alone in the world, with a drug addiction, and that yelling at others would help keep her mind off of it. Jem’s reading also helped her, Atticus describes.

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”(page 99). This paragraph set the harsh mood to chapter 11. Obvious tension was built especially between Jem and Mrs.Dubose because Jem would always be infuriated by something that Mrs.Dubose would say to them. “You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you.

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Personal values and morals are instilled into children by their parents . Jem and Scout Finch, characters from Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, are open minded, educated, young children that have a father named Atticus Finch who tries to teach his children to have sound morals and personal values . The children have not been sheltered from life's hardships due to their father Atticus's views on parenting instead they have learned right from wrong. Atticus Finch believes that not sheltering his kids from the world allows them to form strong morals and values. Atticus Finch does what he believes will help make his children into strong citizens with outstanding values and morals.

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Calpurnia is seen both by Atticus and the reader as more than just a housekeeper and a cook; she is a part of the family and fills in the role of a mother to Jem and Scout by helping raise them alongside Atticus. Atticus deeply cherishes Calpurnia’s efforts of taking care of the children. With her doting attitude, yet, strict disciplinary, Calpurnia treats both Scout and Jem as she would her own children. Furthermore, this following quote proves that fatherhood is indeed an arduous and burdensome role as Atticus says these following words. Without Calpurnia by his side, Atticus would have found fatherhood even more of a demanding role without a wife by his side to help support and take care of the family, as well as raise his children to grow

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So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you down. She has enough troubles of her own” (pg. 124). Consequently, this short sentiment displays Atticus’ unfailing desire to find everyone agreeable despite the circumstances and does well as an example for his growing children. Furthermore, he presents his unconditional love by following, possibly unconsciously, the commandments of the Bible where it lies said, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Not once in the pages of the To Kill a Mockingbird novel does Atticus result into severe and unfair disciple toward Jem and Scout, rather he determinedly instructs them in the ways of tenderness.

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Throughout the novel, Scout and Jem learn more and more valuable life lessons through real life scenarios than they ever would have ever learned at school. They learn morals such as courage, selflessness, and equality through their own lives. Therefore, real life experiences give more valuable lessons than education to Scout and Jem.

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One lesson in the book that I feel Jem learns as a part of growing up is moral courage. Atticus once told Jem that “courage is [not] 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.” Jem had always seen bravery as important and often tried to show the courage in him but only learnt about what moral courage really was through a series events that took place in the book.

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The Finch family takes kindness for granted in different ways. Calpurnia is a busy person but she still spends time with Scout when Jem going through some phases and wanted to be left alone. Calpurnia tells Scout “I just can’t help it if mister Jem’s growin’ up” and Calpurnia tells her “you just come right on in

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Thus, whilst slightly unconventional, Calpurnia has a distinct role in teaching the Finch children respect and responsibility. In conclusion, Atticus Finch and Calpurnia are contrasting characters with the same purpose in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus maintains a fair, wise character throughout the novel, in comparison to Calpurnia's cogent, blunt personality. What brings them together is how they set the correct example for and give life lessons to Jem and Scout.

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