Text Response – To Kill a Mockingbird
How do different characters attempt to impart a “moral education” onto Scout?
A fundamental aspect of human nature is the desire to teach and impart knowledge unto others. In To Kill a Mockingbird, many characters similarly try to influence Scout with the aim of encouraging her to make more moral decisions. Scout’s most prominent role model is her father, Atticus. Throughout the novel, he provides much of the moral thought, not only for Scout, but also for the reader. Atticus “dangerous question” – “Do you really think so?” captures the mature way he tries to impart wisdom unto his children in the most powerful way; letting them uncover the answer themselves. Calpurnia also imparts on Scout an important lesson. She tells Scout “Don’t matter who they are, anybody who sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em.” Both of these examples consider prejudice, …show more content…
Considering this context, it has been concluded that Lee drew inspiration from a case that occurred when she was 5. In the Scottsboro trial, nine young black men illegally rode a train to find work. When found, they were taken off the train, and deputies pressured two white women into accusing the men of rape. Within two weeks, 8 of the men were sentenced to death, and the youngest, aged 13, was sentenced to life imprisonment (Black Past, 2015). This case clearly impacted To Kill a Mockingbird, with Tom Robinson representing the 9 boys, Mayella Ewell as the two women, and Bob Ewell as the corrupt authorities. The impact this had on the outcome was that Robinson was sentenced to death. The use of this court case allowed people to link the book to real life and reconsider prejudice in the new approach to civil
How do different characters attempt to impart a “moral education” onto Scout?
A fundamental aspect of human nature is the desire to teach and impart knowledge unto others. In To Kill a Mockingbird, many characters similarly try to influence Scout with the aim of encouraging her to make more moral decisions. Scout’s most prominent role model is her father, Atticus. Throughout the novel, he provides much of the moral thought, not only for Scout, but also for the reader. Atticus “dangerous question” – “Do you really think so?” captures the mature way he tries to impart wisdom unto his children in the most powerful way; letting them uncover the answer themselves. Calpurnia also imparts on Scout an important lesson. She tells Scout “Don’t matter who they are, anybody who sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em.” Both of these examples consider prejudice, …show more content…
Considering this context, it has been concluded that Lee drew inspiration from a case that occurred when she was 5. In the Scottsboro trial, nine young black men illegally rode a train to find work. When found, they were taken off the train, and deputies pressured two white women into accusing the men of rape. Within two weeks, 8 of the men were sentenced to death, and the youngest, aged 13, was sentenced to life imprisonment (Black Past, 2015). This case clearly impacted To Kill a Mockingbird, with Tom Robinson representing the 9 boys, Mayella Ewell as the two women, and Bob Ewell as the corrupt authorities. The impact this had on the outcome was that Robinson was sentenced to death. The use of this court case allowed people to link the book to real life and reconsider prejudice in the new approach to civil