Around the world, children go to school for years to be taught many things, from simply learning how to read, to solving complex math equations. However, it is very common for them to go off into the real world, and never again use the information they were given. The topics they were expected to learn and remember in school may not always be as valuable as those taught by parents. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, two children, Scout and Jem, were given valuable lessons, that were especially helpful in the 1930s. These lessons were mostly taught by their father, Atticus Finch. He focused more on being socially and mentally smart rather than being school smart. The two children interacted with many different people with varied beliefs, and used the lessons given from neighbors and family other than those working in the school system. Time and time again, these children were taught at home and around town more valuable lessons than when they were inside a classroom.
At the age of six, Scout is taught
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Not only was it occurring in Scout and Jem’s hometown, but around the world. One summer, Calpurnia, a black woman and the Finch’s housekeeper, brought Scout and Jem to her church. Upon arrival, a woman named Lula criticized Calpurnia for bringing white children into a black church. Instead of leaving, Calpurnia argued, “It’s the same God, ain’t it?”, and continued to the pews (Lee 158). This displays that Calpurnia believes that the color of people’s skin does not mean people cannot have the same beliefs. From this encounter, Scout and Jem learned that reverse racism does exist between the two races, and that some people believe the two races should not join as one. It is very unlikely this is a topic would have been discussed Scout and Jem’s school, and especially in Miss Gate’s classroom. This demonstrates that the children learn a variety of lessons outside of school, from people with several different
The way and rate that people mature at can be directly attributed to the values and beliefs of the society that surrounds an individual. It is undeniable that society’s perspective on many controversial issues will generally be adopted by the younger generations in a given society. Moreover, the exposure to significant events, coupled with the major influence of family members, can have an enormous impact on how an individual matures. Additionally, family members greatly help each other develop into moral adults by instilling in each other values that will ultimately determine an individual’s character. In Harper Lee’s timeless classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, the constant reiteration of Atticus Finch’s values, in conjunction with the exposure to significant events, assist in Jem and Scout’s maturation into virtuous adolescents.
Imagine just two young kids maturing within a matter of years. Imagine that same two kids, experiencing or understanding things that they aren’t meant to at a young age. Jem and Scout were just like that. They have experienced many things that they shouldn’t have at their age. Scout on the other hand, seems to be the one maturing the most. Throughout this whole essay, you will learn about Jem and Scout’s attributes, personality, and how alike or different they are from each other.
Every second, there are five children born into this world. That is five living, breathing babies that begin to grow and mature the moment they breathe in the Earth’s air. They start off by learning the essentials, talking, walking, and sleeping, however, as they hit five or six years old, these children start to comprehend the world for what it truly is. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, this theme of growing up, and understanding the world, is present throughout the novel. The book proves that what a child grows up to be like, has a lot to do with their parental figures in life, and how harsh vs. gentle their upbringing was. Moreover, To Kill a Mockingbird also shows that the type of society, or neighborhood that one lives in, affects how children will think of others, and how they behave. For example, if the characters in the novel had developed in a city instead of a town, they would have been entirely altered characters at the end of the book. Not only is it the type of neighborhood that a kid grows up in that affects how they will behave later in life, but it is also the major events that happen during their childhood. Major milestones during a childhood, and things that have a direct impact on a kid’s life also affects how a child will grow up to be like. It is because everything, and everyone around a child affects how they grow up, that parents have to be careful with how much they expose their children to the world.
In the early chapters of the novel, Scout Finch joins her brother Jem at school. School is something that the precocious Scout has been looking forward to attending. Her first day proves to be a disappointment when Jem (Scout's primary playmate at home) tells Scout that they are not to play with each other, and when Scout gets into trouble for educating her teacher about a fellow student, Walter Cunningham, who belongs to a family that doesn't take charity. Her worst disappointment of all is when her teacher, Miss Caroline, tells Scout that Atticus has been teaching her the wrong way. Instead of feeling pride for her reading skills, Scout is made to feel ashamed. She tells her father that she will not return to school, but he compromises with her and tells her if she goes to school that they will continue reading just as they always have. Through their talks on the porch and at night, Atticus teaches Scout more than she will ever learn at school. The most important lesson he teaches her is how to treat people. The moral education Scout receives from Atticus is juxtaposed by Lee in the novel with formal education, which is depicted mostly as rigid, narrow-minded, and not very useful.
Due to the Development of Part 1, Jem and Scout characters grow, tremendously, due to the people they have met and things they seen. These children learn a lot about, the community, social justice and courage and the lessons that they both faced changes them, Jem and Scout understand the world now. Over the course there are dramatic changes and behaviors, Jem and Scout have been through a lot as young children, they learn life lesson on their own.
Although most discrimination appears as white people against African American people, there is one case where the discrimination appears as African American people against white people. On a Sunday when Jem and Scout’s father, Atticus, is not home, Calpurnia, their cook, takes the two children to her church. Once there they were confronted by a woman named Lula. She is racist against white people, and shows it by saying, “‘I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to n***er church’” (Lee 158).
When children grow up, they face difficult problems, and. they learn to cope and take responsibility. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a flashback about two kids that spans over a few years. Jem ages from ten to thirteen over the course of the novel, and undergoes much change, as his sister describes him. Over the years, he is exposed to issues adults face, and eventually shows an understanding of racism and innocence. As Jem grows up, his view on courage also changes. Jem follows his father's footsteps, and gets much of his knowledge from him.
In English we are reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”. This story is about a young girl who goes by the name Scout. In the story to far she has shown herself to be a very tough girl for her age. She knows what she wants, is very intelligent for her age which will be very helpful in the story, she also has an okay bound with people, she knows how to interact with them. So far in the story it is really just her showing that she wants to be tough and a rebel like her brother and her friend Dill.
During the book Scout and Jem are at an age were people around them greatly affect their thoughts, views and ideas about the world. Although Atticus tried to raise them to treat Negroes as equals, people around them affected their views on them. A good example is when Dill questioned the seemingly rude way which Mr. Gilmer treated Tom Robinson. Scout replied by saying, "…after all he's just a Negro." (Lee 201). She believes it to be acceptable. This is not something her father put in her head but people in her town. The same also happens in the black community. When Atticus asks Calpurnia to watch his children for him while he is out, Calpurnia accepts and takes the children with her to church, a church for black people. When she arrives with the children, they are greeted kindly except by a few people. These people use the same reason as in the last example as to why they should not be there, because they are white.
School does not teach students the right and important knowledge they need to survive and thrive in the real world. In fact, based on fairtest.org, over 80% of the adults tested in a middle school exam, with four questions, answered three or less questions correctly. On the contrary to most school knowledge, many young adults struggle with maintaining their lifestyles and fitting in with the real world. The novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” , written by author Harper Lee, introduces and develops two young, main characters: Scout and Jem Finch. One can see how they grow up and mature as time passes in the novel. However, school is not the factor that is helping that is helping Scout
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee Writes about the life lessons Atticus teaches Jem and Scout. Atticus teaches Jem and Scout Different life lessons in order for them to learn how to cope with different situations and problems. Atticus teaches his kids to treat others with respect, he also teaches his kids that having manners and being polite will go a long way. Atticus teaches his kids the importance of equality and by treating people equally you will be treated with respect.
Jem is growing up all the time. This can be seen when he stops Scout
During the 1930’s in Maycomb, the mentality of many southern people reflected that of the nation. Harper Lee explores the idea that most people were racist and discriminatory through Jem and Scout Finch. The story writes, “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr. Jem, I ain’t ever seen a Jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man”. This was said by the character Reverend Sykes and it outlines a major event in court. This was the first time, Scout and Jem got a real glimpse of the racial inequality, in Maycomb. The author, expresses the extent of this social issue, using the setting of the courtroom. Throughout the intense trial, we get to go on a journey with Jem and Scout, feeling the hope and faith that they have in their father. However, this quote creates another angle for readers consider. Jem and Scout grew up pure of heart and were taught by Atticus and Calpurnia. Calpurnia is a lovely black woman, and every day she helps the Finch family. She is a mother figure in the household, which suggests to readers that respecting a colored person is completely normal in the children’s lives. Growing up in an environment where it is normal to perceive Negroes as equals and respect them as you would a white person, separates Jem and Scout from the unjust and the provincialism world around
Life is full of lessons. The lessons you learn adjust and fit your character and who you are. In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, the characters of Jem and Scout are young, and have to figure life as they go. Jem and Scout witness and live through life lessons. They learn these lessons from others around them. Some lessons come from their town itself, while others come from people. Their father, Atticus, teaches them a lot about life and the right and wrong. Jem and Scout learn what it means to have empathy, courage, persistence and personal integrity. Also, the Mockingbirds themselves adjust and appoint life lessons.