Personal Values In To Kill A Mockingbird

“‘If you shouldn’t be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it?’ ‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus. ‘The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again’” (Lee 100). Atticus Finch is a man of many values, and one who judges himself before he judges others. He explains to his daughter, Jean Louise Finch (Scout), that he believes in order to tell others how to be, he first has to follow the guidelines himself. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, many various characters, such as Atticus, try to have an impact on others’ morals and values. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in a town that may at

Through all of the opposition, most of the characters follow the majority filled with hostility and prejudices, but the remaining few who hold on to their personal values help to influence other characters positively for the rest of their lives. Through the many contrasting characters, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird teaches the values of courage, loyalty, and honesty.
The first value expressed through many characters throughout the novel is courage. One character in the novel who showed a great amount of courage, although at first glance it may not have seemed this way, was Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. After Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her older brother Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) spent a good amount of time reading to Mrs. Dubose, they both came to the conclusion that she was evil. To their surprise, however, explained that she was actually battling an addiction that she recently lost her life to.

Courage was a leading value taught throughout the novel mainly by Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose and Boo Radley. Mrs. Dubose tried her hardest to end her addiction, even though she knew she would not survive. Boo Radley came out of his safe home to save Scout and Jem, where he put himself in both physical danger and at vulnerability to gaining public attention. Loyalty was another important value conveyed by Jem Finch and Atticus Finch during the story. Jem Finch was loyal to his father, Atticus. When Jem sensed Atticus was in danger, he did not leave his side even against his orders. Atticus Finch was loyal to his case in court. Through all of the pain and hatred aimed towards him and his children, he never gave up and gave his all to winning the case, even when the odds were not in his favor. Lastly, Atticus Finch and Jem Finch value honesty throughout the story. Atticus shows honesty when he blatantly tells Scout the definition of rape. Jem displays honesty when he tells Atticus that Dill ran away from home, and was hiding in their house. Atticus Finch has a main goal of spreading important values to all people, but most importantly his children. When Scout asks Atticus why he is defending Tom Robinson, he makes sure to tell her honestly, revealing his inner motives and values. Atticus explains, “‘‘For a number of reasons,’ said