Everybody has their own morals and values. In the time period that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in, it is very hard to stand by them when many others are against them. Maycomb is a town with a very large amount of discrimination and prejudice, whether it’s about racism or even the clothes you wear. The early 1930’s is when this story takes place. During this time, many people discriminate the African American people as the “bottom of the social hierarchy”. In Maycomb everybody knows everybody's families and history, and are ranked by that as well. Even if someone in that family is a genuinely good person, if that family is lower in class or have bad reputations, the person will be judged based on that, not themselves personally.
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When Atticus took on the Tom Robinson case, many school friends begin questioning Scout on why he took it. Scout is surprised that people have taken such interest in her father's work, and goes to ask him about it. I believe that Scout does not yet fully understand why people are so interested in her father’s work life, but it is also understandable because it is uncommon what he is doing. Scout tells her father “Then why did Cecil say you defend n*****s? He made it sound like you were runnin’ a still” (75). When Cecil made Scout think that her father was not doing a good thing it made her question her values and beliefs. She is not against African Americans as much as many others are. She does not have anything against them, so she does not understand why people are making such big deals about her father’s case. Scout knows that the African Americans are typically lower class and treated unfairly, but she does not believe in that. In addition, Scout realizes that everybody in Maycomb can have their own opinions and think the way they want to think. When she hears all these things that others are saying about her father taking on Tom Robinson’s case, she, with the help of her father, teaches herself that even though she does not think highly of it, others may have a lot to say about it. Atticus says, “.. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat” (76). After Scout asks her dad why people are saying all of these things, Atticus explains to her that there are going to be people in this world who do not like what he is doing, and that is most people. He is telling her that no matter what , she can not let it get to her or influence her values.
When Atticus took on the Tom Robinson case, many school friends begin questioning Scout on why he took it. Scout is surprised that people have taken such interest in her father's work, and goes to ask him about it. I believe that Scout does not yet fully understand why people are so interested in her father’s work life, but it is also understandable because it is uncommon what he is doing. Scout tells her father “Then why did Cecil say you defend n*****s? He made it sound like you were runnin’ a still” (75). When Cecil made Scout think that her father was not doing a good thing it made her question her values and beliefs. She is not against African Americans as much as many others are. She does not have anything against them, so she does not understand why people are making such big deals about her father’s case. Scout knows that the African Americans are typically lower class and treated unfairly, but she does not believe in that. In addition, Scout realizes that everybody in Maycomb can have their own opinions and think the way they want to think. When she hears all these things that others are saying about her father taking on Tom Robinson’s case, she, with the help of her father, teaches herself that even though she does not think highly of it, others may have a lot to say about it. Atticus says, “.. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat” (76). After Scout asks her dad why people are saying all of these things, Atticus explains to her that there are going to be people in this world who do not like what he is doing, and that is most people. He is telling her that no matter what , she can not let it get to her or influence her values.