TKM

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

Although most parents in the time setting of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee were very strict and punishing, Jem and Scout’s father Atticus was an exception. Atticus taught Jem and Scout through moral lessons and which was more effective than the traditional teaching method of punishment. Three examples of moral lessons Atticus teaches Jem and Scout throughout the novel are the importance patience and kindness, the importance to respect people and privacy, and what true courage really is. Atticus’s parenting style is simple yet very effective, and I believe it’s a more modern way to parent.

The first moral lesson Atticus taught Jem and Scout in the book chronologically was the importance of patience and kindness. Early in the book Scout starts her first year of school and becomes extremely impatient and intolerant with her teacher Ms. Caroline. This is caused by the annoyed attitude Ms. Caroline is displaying to Scout, because Scout is ahead of the class and has the ability to read. Ms. Caroline slaps Scout with the ruler. Disappointed, Scout proceeds home and discusses the issue with Atticus. A piece of advice Atticus gives to Scout is "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (Lee 16) With this quote Atticus is trying to teach Scout not to be judgemental or impatient, and to treat everybody equally and fairly especially Ms. Caroline. Atticus taught Scout this important lesson not by punishment because she got in trouble at school, but by a meaningful explanation. Scout listens to and uses Atticus’s useful tip and has a slightly better experience at school and with her despicable t...

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...later when the book mentioned “The full meaning of the night's events hit me and I began crying.” (Lee 83)

In conclusion, Atticus taught his kids important life lessons through moral lessons, rather than the traditional way of parenting with punishment; and it was simple yet effective. Although Jem and Scout didn’t always understand and listen to the lessons immediately, they grew to finally understand the meaning of their fathers’ words and actions and acted with the knowledge. Even though only three examples of the moral lessons he taught Jem and Scout were defined here, patience and kindness, respect, and courage are far from the only ones. Many more lessons were taught throughout the novel, some small and some significant. Atticus was a great parent and the style of parenting he demonstrated was very interesting and a good example of how parents should be today.