To Kill A Mockingbird Morals

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the author uses the experiences of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in rural Alabama during the 1930’s, to portray important life lessons and morals. The Tom Robinson case is a prime example of how the author used the experiences of Scout Finch to demonstrate the necessities of empathy, and unbiased perspective. The author uses an innocent child as a lens into some of the biases we develop gradually from society, and the people around us. Through the experiences and relationships of Scout Finch, the novel communicates the importance of morals like empathy, equality, doing the right thing, and not taking advantage of those who are less powerful than you. The interactions between Scout and her family,

Raymond has a huge impact on her knowledge, because these people have such different perspectives, and they teach her things that maybe Atticus could not. While Scout and Dill are talking with Mr. Dolphus Raymond during the trial, Mr. Raymond reveals that “Secretly, Ms Finch, I'm not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live” (Lee 228).Mr. Raymond’s way of life fascinates Scout because never before has she seen someone who believed so strongly in something, and then continued to make up a fake reason for why they might be acting that way. Mr. Raymond brings to the table a whole new perspective, and Scout once again learns that you need to see things from that person's perspective before you make false accusations and judgements. After Tom died, Scout realized that Atticus could have tried his hardest to prove him free, but in reality, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (Lee 276). This quote demonstrates the harsh reality of the court system and greater society, and that Tom never really had a chance of winning the trial, just because of his race. Tom Robinson is living proof of the injustice not only in Maycomb, but in the world itself, and it teaches Scout to never judge someone based on their appearance. Scout overhears Atticus and Jack talking about

When Jem and Scout invite Walter over for dinner, and he starts pouring maple syrup all over his food, and Scout criticizes him for it, Calpurnia lectures Scout that it "Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo’ folks might be better’n 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 27). Even though the Finch family is better off than the Cunningham family, it does not mean they should be treated any differently. This scolding shows Scout Calpurnia's beliefs, but also gives her a peek into the perspectives of the Cunninghams, and gives her a brief, but different view on things. During school, Scout’s classmate Burris Ewell goes on a tantrum complaining about how “no snot-nosed s*** of a school teacher ever born c’n make me do nothin’! you ain't making me go nowhere, missus. You just remember that you ain't making me go nowhere” (Lee 31). Scout and Jem are raised to respect authority, and treat others with kindness and respect, whereas it is clear that the Ewells lack these fundamental values. This teaches Scout the difference between those who are privileged and those who are not, and the consequences that result from