A person’s beliefs and personality are influenced by their nurturing during childhood. Interactions with parents, guardians, and others determine how a child chooses to conduct their life. Also important to the development of a child’s values are how well parents or guardians understand that child’s abilities and needs. Parents or guardians with views different from society may transfer their belief system to their children. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus shows compassion and shapes the way his children, Scout and Jem, perceive society and people’s actions in their hometown of Maycomb. Atticus demonstrates respect for his children by treating them like mature adults and not over controlling their lives. He also acts respectfully
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Atticus is a lawyer defending Tom Robinson, a respected black man living in Maycomb who is accused of rape. Most people in Maycomb dislike Atticus for defending a black man. One of these people, Mrs. Dubose speaks poorly about Atticus’s role in the trial and is constantly rude to Jem and Scout. Out of anger toward Mrs. Dubose’s disrespect, Jem destroys her Camellia bushes. While Jem acts out of anger, Atticus routinely greets Mrs. Dubose kindly despite his feelings toward him. To punish Jem for his actions and to teach him positive behaviors, Atticus has Jem read to Mrs. Dubose daily. Jem and Scout later learn that Mrs. Dubose was addicted to morphine and this contributed to her anger and disrespect towards Atticus. Jem continued to read to Mrs. Dubose, which in the end, helps her recover from morphine addiction. Atticus wants his children to “... see what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand” (149). Since Atticus requires Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose, he allows Jem to interact with Mrs. Dubose differently and settle his conflicts without Atticus’ involvement. Atticus wants his children to solve issues on their own, similar to the way a respected adult would solve their conflicts. Although many people in Maycomb dislike Atticus for defending a black man, he works hard to prove …show more content…
Scout’s first-grade teacher, Miss Caroline, is considered peculiar by other students because she is not from Maycomb. Since Miss Caroline does not understand the unwritten rules in Maycomb, she makes many mistakes and behaves unusually in the eyes of her students. Miss Caroline does not know how to teach the intelligent children in her first-grade class. When Miss Caroline finds out Scout can read impressively well for her age, Miss Caroline rudely tells her to stop learning to read because she is uncomfortable teaching other skill levels. Because Miss Caroline did not approve of Scout’s literacy as well as other mistakes made at school, Scout becomes angry at Miss Caroline. However, Atticus teaches her to understand why Miss Caroline made these mistakes and did not want Scout to be literate. Scout realizes if she had put herself “ ..in [Miss Caroline’s] shoes, [Scout] would have seen it was an honest mistake on her part...and [Scout] could not hold her responsible when she knew no better. (40)” Atticus’ methods to understand people are admired by his children. Atticus respects his children and they in turn, respect Atticus and learn from him. Unlike other residents of Maycomb, Atticus does not discriminate against outsiders or racially different people. Atticus makes Scout realize that Miss Caroline was nervous, unknowing, and viewed as strange in the
Atticus is a lawyer defending Tom Robinson, a respected black man living in Maycomb who is accused of rape. Most people in Maycomb dislike Atticus for defending a black man. One of these people, Mrs. Dubose speaks poorly about Atticus’s role in the trial and is constantly rude to Jem and Scout. Out of anger toward Mrs. Dubose’s disrespect, Jem destroys her Camellia bushes. While Jem acts out of anger, Atticus routinely greets Mrs. Dubose kindly despite his feelings toward him. To punish Jem for his actions and to teach him positive behaviors, Atticus has Jem read to Mrs. Dubose daily. Jem and Scout later learn that Mrs. Dubose was addicted to morphine and this contributed to her anger and disrespect towards Atticus. Jem continued to read to Mrs. Dubose, which in the end, helps her recover from morphine addiction. Atticus wants his children to “... see what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand” (149). Since Atticus requires Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose, he allows Jem to interact with Mrs. Dubose differently and settle his conflicts without Atticus’ involvement. Atticus wants his children to solve issues on their own, similar to the way a respected adult would solve their conflicts. Although many people in Maycomb dislike Atticus for defending a black man, he works hard to prove …show more content…
Scout’s first-grade teacher, Miss Caroline, is considered peculiar by other students because she is not from Maycomb. Since Miss Caroline does not understand the unwritten rules in Maycomb, she makes many mistakes and behaves unusually in the eyes of her students. Miss Caroline does not know how to teach the intelligent children in her first-grade class. When Miss Caroline finds out Scout can read impressively well for her age, Miss Caroline rudely tells her to stop learning to read because she is uncomfortable teaching other skill levels. Because Miss Caroline did not approve of Scout’s literacy as well as other mistakes made at school, Scout becomes angry at Miss Caroline. However, Atticus teaches her to understand why Miss Caroline made these mistakes and did not want Scout to be literate. Scout realizes if she had put herself “ ..in [Miss Caroline’s] shoes, [Scout] would have seen it was an honest mistake on her part...and [Scout] could not hold her responsible when she knew no better. (40)” Atticus’ methods to understand people are admired by his children. Atticus respects his children and they in turn, respect Atticus and learn from him. Unlike other residents of Maycomb, Atticus does not discriminate against outsiders or racially different people. Atticus makes Scout realize that Miss Caroline was nervous, unknowing, and viewed as strange in the