Lutfiyya Essack Literary Essay Question One
“It is clear from the novel that children learn attitudes and actions from their parents.”
In the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, six children namely, Jem, Scout, Dill, Zeebo, Burris and Mayella learn very important things, good and bad, from their parents that will lead to them growing up with the attitudes and lessons needed to try and understand the world. I agree with the statement and will prove myself below, referring to incidents from the novel.
Atticus Finch is a highly respected and responsible citizen of Maycomb County. He is the father of Jem and Scout Finch. Atticus teaches Scout and Jem that if any white man cheats a black man, than that white man is trash. He tries to explain to Scout why the whites find it difficult and unacceptable to consider blacks equal. Atticus teaches Scout the legend of the mockingbird which only sings to please others and therefore the sense of sin associated in shooting a mockingbird. Atticus teaches the children not to make fun of Boo. When he catches the children playing the game of imitating Boo, the game is immediately stopped. Atticus describes to Scout that if he didn't take the case of Tom Robinson, then he wouldn't be able to hold his head up high in town and this case is important to his self-esteem. He thought Scout and Jem the importance for him to be able to stand up to his anti-racial stance. This teaches Scout and Jem to have pride for what you believe in. The children learn from Miss Maudie that that though Atticus is such a fine shooter, he decided long ago that he would only shoot when it was absolutely...