These are things that he applies to both his home life and work like, and that he puts above all else. He also tries to teach these to Jem and Scout, and pass these values down to them so that they are well mannered and mature about any situation that they are faced with. He teaches them kindness by telling them about how to approach people in certain situations, and how to talk to or about people without being rude. He teaches them both proper body language and the proper way of speaking so that you are being kind to whomever you are talking to. He also teaches them about respect; he says to always respect people, even if they do not respect you, and how to show respect to elders and high authorities.
One lesson in the book that I feel Jem learns as a part of growing up is moral courage. Atticus once told Jem that “courage is [not] a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Jem had always seen bravery as important and often tried to show the courage in him but only learnt about what moral courage really was through a series events that took place in the book. In the first few chapters of the book where Jem and Scout were young children, he accepted a dare to touch the wall of Boo Radley’s house because he thought that was what real courage was, accepting dares. Although he had heard the stories told of Boo Radley and was terrified by them, it did not stop him from going ahead to accept the dare because he thought that it would determine how much courage he had.
Courage was a leading value taught throughout the novel mainly by Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose and Boo Radley. Mrs. Dubose tried her hardest to end her addiction, even though she knew she would not survive. Boo Radley came out of his safe home to save Scout and Jem, where he put himself in both physical danger and at vulnerability to gaining public attention. Loyalty was another important value conveyed by Jem Finch and Atticus Finch during the story. Jem Finch was loyal to his father, Atticus.
Jem and Scout are taught a very different, and more humane, way of treating people, regardless of how different the person may be, by their father, Atticus. He teaches them that “you never really understand a person… until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it” (P 33). Scout tries to apply this as she struggles to understand the inhumanity she witnesses around her, but is largely unsuccessful until the end of the novel. Only after walking Arthur home on the night Arthur saved her life did she truly understand this; “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.
He specifically focuses on the development of honesty, courage, and humility. One of the most prominent character traits that Atticus tries to teach Scout and Jem is honesty. During the Robinson case, Atticus
Moral courage is shown in Atticus when he is risking himself for Tom Robinson and same with Malala when she is standing up for her right to go to school, this shows moral courage because they are not doing this for the attention they are doing this for the good of others. For instance, in To kill a Mockingbird when Scout is playing in the playground at school he asks, “ Do you defend niggers.” and Atticus replied, “ Of course I do..” (Lee 99). This quote shows taking risks for others is morally courageous because no one wanted to help a black man because they are at the bottom of the social class. However, Atticus didn’t care where Tom Robinson was in the social class he took this risk because he had hope and trust in Tom Robinson. For other reasons taking risks for the good of others is important since Atticus doesn't care what race you are he sees an
The virtue I value most is respect because I think that it is one of the most important and most used virtues. The meaning of respect is to admire someone or something deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. There are many examples of respect in the book To Kill a Mockingbird like when Jem started to hit and cut all of Mrs.Dubose’s flowers and then he ended up having to read to her for two hores every day, he later found out that she was wanting to stop being addicted to her medicine morphine before she died. When Atticus went to trial with Tom Robinson he worked very hard to try to show that Tom was innocent but the jury wasn’t convinced so Tom was convicted guilty so, when Atticus was about ready to leave all
Scout and Jem both learn most of their knowledge from, their father Atticus, their maid Calpurnia, and their neighbors. The people that are present in their lives shape Jem and Scout into the people they are becoming. Education from school helps Jem and Scout advance, but the information they learn from life allows them to mature. Scout learns a major lesson about empathy towards others when she invites Walter Cunningham, a boy she goes to school with, over to her house. Scout does not realize that she is disrespectful to him when she makes mean comments.
Like the other life lesson Scout is introduced in this lesson by Atticus again. Atticus tells Scout and Jem, “Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(119). This is important to Scout because out of everyone Atticus is the one to say it's a sin, which might be why Scout may have paid double attention to this life lesson. Tim Johnson is another figure that shows Scout this life lesson. The author states ,“Tim Johnson was the property of Mr.Harry Johnson who drove the mobile bus”(122).
His method of teaching is a way for him to instill virtue into his two children. An example of Atticus’s process is when he encourages Jem to stay calm and refrain from anger. To make his children better people Atticus says: “‘...hold your head high and be a gentleman...it’s your job not to let her make you mad’” (Lee 133). The behavior of Atticus’s children is a result of his advice. For example, Scout is able to understand people and their motives at a young age.