Student Essay on To Kill a Mockingbird: Characters That Taught Scout Finch Lessons

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, There are plenty of characters that taught Scout Finch something valuable. The characters I choose to write about are Calpurnia, Arthur Radley, and Atticus Finch. The lessons that Calpurnia teaches Scout are to be tolerant of other's ways and courteous conduct. Arthur (Boo) Radley involuntary teaches Scout that looks deceive us and not to judge someone till you walked in their shoes. The person that Scout learns the most from is her own father who teaches her the basics on society and why people think they way they do. These lessons that Scout was taught were the lessons that she needed to know to grow and to try to understand the cruel world.

Calpurnia's presence has contributed to the molding of Scout's character in great extent. Calpurnia was not only the house keeper for the Finches, but a surrogate mother. She takes Scout at hand, teaching her rudimentary reading, and courteous conduct. Calpurnia never stops teaching Scout the life long lessons that she will always remember. Calpurnia teaches Scout to be tolerant of others. When Scout makes an involuntary remark at the dinner table, she is severely reprimanded by Calpurnia. Because Calpurnia was like a mother to the children, she taught them the same lessons that your own mother would Calpurnia teaches Scout how to still be tolerant and patient as a young lady.

Arthur (Boo) Radley is an enigmatic character, who never steps out of his house, or maintains any relation with the townspeople, yet he attempts to still have an indirect friendship with the children. Boo tries to make friends with the children by placing little gifts inside the tree hole in his yard. At the beginning of the book, Scout imagined Boo as a vicious phantom. At the end of the book, when Scout and Boo meet she learned not to judge someone because of what you have heard. Boo teaches her what looks deceive us and that personality is all that matters when it comes to friendship. Boo involuntary teaches her to look beyond people's differences of people.

Atticus Finch is a highly respected and responsible citizen of Maycomb County. He is an attorney by profession, he is very particular about delivering justice. In the book, the children don't mention why they call him by his first name but they only point to the genuine love he has for his children. Atticus teaches Scout 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 decribes 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 the importance for him to be able to stand up to his anti-racial stance. This teaches Scout to have pride for what you believe in. Scout, child that she is, is amazed at her father's perceptiveness. 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 necessary to do so. They children learn how very civilized their father is at heart. These are only a few great life long lessons that Atticus Finch thought Scout.

All three of the characters in the novel some how thought Scout Finch something valuable. Scout learned that there are hard lessons that need to be learned to be a civilized young woman. When around Calpurnia, Scout is influenced to have her courteous conduct. When around Boo, she is constantly reminded not to judge someone until you walk around in their shoes. When around her father, Atticus, his courage, perceptiveness, and

Openness towards others is greatly respected by Scout. The character thought Scout that life is not always fair and there are always hard lessons to learn. The characters in this novel have played a huge part in Scout's development and maturity. Morals such as love for human beings, importance of living things, and an open attitude towards others' beliefs and actions are well demonstrated by the characters and help Scout understand life better.