I think we
can all learn from Scout’s message when she says,
“Naw, Jem, I think there’s
just one kind of folks. Folks."
A large theme of this novel is that before
we judge a person we should put ourselves in their shoes. “You never really
understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until
you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” It’s only when we put ourselves
in their point of view that we can make the best decisions of how to act
towards them.
This novel teaches of
adults’ tendency to become desensitized to prejudice. When Scout, Dill, and Jem
find themselves sickened by injustice, racism, and dishonesty, the town
continues to do what is looked highly upon, rather than doing the right thing
despite what people think. It shows that children have a certain innocence and
awareness that we lose over time. Their compassion and empathy for people is
something that should be kept especially as we grow older and enter
professional settings.
Atticus is an example
of integrity inside and outside of the home. He taught his children the
importance of following your conscience no matter the circumstances. So often
there is a separation of public and private virtue. People act differently when
around other people than they do by themselves and compromise their integrity
to be looked upon favorably by society. Atticus stood strong by his conscience
even when he knew he would lose. He said....
To Kill a Mockingbird
teaches timeless lessons and talks about problems that we as a society continue
to face today- lessons regarding racism, prejudices and judgments, constant
integrity, and so many others. For these lessons and many other reasons, To
Kill a Mockingbird should continue to be taught in schools.
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