Essay/Term paper: To kill a mockingbird

Essay, term paper, research paper:  To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill A Mocking Bird deals with many primal and basic

lessons in human nature. The book exposes many issues that

affect most people throughout their lives. Scout, the main

character was one of the most affected by these lessons.

During the book she was exposed to many profound

experiences, which no doubt will leave a lasting impression.

In the three years that the book took place, she may have

learned the most important things she will learn over her

entire life. One person that affected Scouts life was Boo

Radley. He brought wonder, fear and then finally relief to her

heart. At first kids thought he was evil. There were rumours

that while he cut out the newspaper for his scrap book he

"drove the scissors into his parent's leg."(pg11) He had tried

to kill them. Even though this may have been just a rumor the

kids were terrified of the Radleys. They described him often

as a monster "six-and-a-half feet tall" with "bloodstained"

hands. He was said to eat "raw squirrels and any cats he

could catch".(pg12) During the rest of the book Scout and

companions tried to meet Arthur (Boo) and get over their

fear of him. They did not succeed. But he showed affection

for them by leaving them gifts in a tree. Finally at the end of

the book he proves he is a good person by saving Scout and

Jem's lives. In this instance Scout may have found that to

negatively prejudge someone is wrong. She also learned

compassion. Scout also learnt about the ugliness of life.

About death and pain. This lesson occurred while her

brother had to read to a sick and dieing old lady. This lady's

name was Mrs. Dubose. She had been a morphine addict

and had decided to go clean till her death. To die as a free

women, to die knowing she had won. Scout describes her

as a ugly lady and during their reading sessions she would

have some kind of spasm-fits. Her head moved side to side.

She would drool. "Her mouth seemed to have a private

existence of it's own." (pg.107) After many reading sessions

with her having a fit each time, she died one day. Probably

the most important person in Scout's life was the one who

had set the best examples for her. This was Atticus. He

taught Scout how to deal with people. One of his teachings

was to be the bigger person. When Bob Ewell spit in

Atticus's face and threatened his life, he did nothing and

walked away. All he had to say later was,"I wish Bob Ewell

wouldn't chew tobacco."(pg.217) Atticus reacts with his

brain not emotions. He encourages Scout to do the same.

Another trait that he teaches is respect. Respect for people

who are different. People such as Boo Radley. The kids had

been acting out a play which involved Boo's scissor incident.

They also tried to give a letter to him, so that he would come

out to meet them. Atticus found out about both incidents.

They were put in their place and told to, "stop tormenting

that man." He then told them that, "what Mr.Radley did was

his own business."(pg.49) Atticus also commanded respect

for black people. He once told Jem that if a white man

cheats a black man, "no matter who he is, how rich he is, or

how fine a family he comes from, that man is trash."(pg.220)

At the trial he also explained that there are bad and good

black men as there are good and bad white men.(pg.204)

Two more models that helped Scout out. The first was a

valuable example set by Atticus. He had been told to defend

Tom Robinson. The case was a lost cause because he was

beat before he began, and it would bring hardship to himself

and his family. He knew this, but did not give up. It was the

right thing to do. As he told his brother, "do you think I

could face my children otherwise"(pg.88) Scout heard this

conversation and understood it in later years. Again teaching

this gives her a valuable example; Stick to what you believe

in. A lesson in effort and commitment was also

demonstrated by Mrs. Dubose. After finding out that she

would soon die, she decided to kick the morphine. This was

a very hard thing for her or for that matter anyone to do.

"She was the bravest person I knew." said Atticus. He also

again repeated that courage is when, "you know you're

licked before you begin but you begin anyway".(pg.112)

This is in fact a mirror image example of what he was doing

by taking on the Robinson case. And finally not so much a

lesson but a warning for Scout. The warning comes from

Boo Radley, a man who keeps away from society as he

seems to fear it. His life is a perfect testimony for all the bad

and ugliness of our world. As Jem said best. "I think I'm

beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shut up in

the house all this time......It's because he wants to stay

inside." It become apparent that the things that Scout has

learned are all very important. Some maybe the most

important during her lifetime. This is why these may have

been some of the most important years of here life. And that

all the experiences that she went though were essential.