The lessons one learns as a child help to shape them as they mature. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout learns lessons that influence the way she changes throughout the novel. As much as Scout learns in school, she obtains most of her values and ideals from her family and town. Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee reveals that even though formal education is important, the most valuable lessons in life are taught by the people around you.
Scout’s first experiences at school are a huge wake up call to the realities of Maycomb’s inhabitants. In the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout believes she knows everything about everybody. To her surprise, the first day of school teaches Scout that for most people, there's …show more content…
Atticus instills the values of compassion in his children from a very young age. One of the first times Scout encounters this idea is after her first day of school. She is devastated after Miss Caroline denounces her reading with Atticus, and turns to her father for advice. Atticus explains “that you never really understand a person until you...crawl into their skin and walk around in it” (39). Knowing Scout is upset and confused, Atticus does not tell her to fight back, he asks her to stop for a moment and put herself into Miss Caroline’s shoes. Even though Atticus disagrees with Miss Caroline, he respects her opinion and allows Scout to grow from it. Scout carries this lesson with her for the rest of her life. Atticus’ lesson of empathy comes to fruition again at the end of the novel. After years of scheming to see their reclusive neighbor Boo Radley, of hours spent fantasizing of what he is like, Scout meets the mystery man. After he saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell, she learns that Boo is not what she expected him to be. He is the opposite of the menacing, crazy loner she imagined. He is quiet, shy, and anxious. Scout walks him home after the attack and realizes “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough” (374). Scout learns from Atticus’ lesson of understanding and sympathizes with Boo. She realizes that he is a human being, and the way Jem and her treated him when they were younger was wrong. Empathy is a major theme in Scout’s life and helps her mature. As she grows up, she realizes the valuable ideals Atticus taught her as a young child influence her life as she
Scout’s first experiences at school are a huge wake up call to the realities of Maycomb’s inhabitants. In the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout believes she knows everything about everybody. To her surprise, the first day of school teaches Scout that for most people, there's …show more content…
Atticus instills the values of compassion in his children from a very young age. One of the first times Scout encounters this idea is after her first day of school. She is devastated after Miss Caroline denounces her reading with Atticus, and turns to her father for advice. Atticus explains “that you never really understand a person until you...crawl into their skin and walk around in it” (39). Knowing Scout is upset and confused, Atticus does not tell her to fight back, he asks her to stop for a moment and put herself into Miss Caroline’s shoes. Even though Atticus disagrees with Miss Caroline, he respects her opinion and allows Scout to grow from it. Scout carries this lesson with her for the rest of her life. Atticus’ lesson of empathy comes to fruition again at the end of the novel. After years of scheming to see their reclusive neighbor Boo Radley, of hours spent fantasizing of what he is like, Scout meets the mystery man. After he saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell, she learns that Boo is not what she expected him to be. He is the opposite of the menacing, crazy loner she imagined. He is quiet, shy, and anxious. Scout walks him home after the attack and realizes “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough” (374). Scout learns from Atticus’ lesson of understanding and sympathizes with Boo. She realizes that he is a human being, and the way Jem and her treated him when they were younger was wrong. Empathy is a major theme in Scout’s life and helps her mature. As she grows up, she realizes the valuable ideals Atticus taught her as a young child influence her life as she