In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus teaches his children many lessons about life. Atticus teaches his children the importance of acceptance, how to avoid stereotyping, and lastly how racism shows the people of Maycomb’s true colours. To conclude Atticus makes it clear to his children that they should never judge a person before getting to know them. Firstly,stereotyping is the main thing in To Kill a Mockingbird.Scout and Jem learn from their mistakes or they learn from the people themselves. For example, Scout judged Mr.Dolphus Raymond because she thought he was a drunk and he had mulatto children from a black woman. She thought that it was wrong to speak to a drunkard and to even deal with someone that loves and lives with black people. But he confronts her and Dill, as a result he makes a simple point that he prefers blacks over his kind because they are uptight and are hypocrites. The white people have their views and judgemental ways against the black community. Mr.Dolphus Raymond tells them this so they can change their views on how they see people. "I try to give 'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason... folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whiskey­­that's why he won't change his ways... that's why he lives the way he does." (Chapter 20)... I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew it, but he was fascinating. (Chapter 20). People stereotype Mr.Dolphus Raymond based on his past,even Scout stereotyped him and when she realized that he was man with a bad past she started to enjoy more of his company. She took Atticus’ lessons into a real life stitution and had sympathy for Mr.Dolphus Raymond. Atticus would always tell her never to judge a person and to get to know them before assuming. Scout did that with Mr.Dolphus Raymond for this reason she slowly stopped judging people based on appearance and gossip Second, there are a lot of racist events that happen in To Kill a Mockingbird with this in mind, black people never get the justice that they need. Atticus wanted the children to hear all the racist comments and what the people of Maycomb say about black people. When Atticus found out that his children were in the courtroom above all, he did not want them to leave but he wanted them to hear the point that he was making about how the white people portray the blacks. When Atticus makes his point, Jem is certain that Atticus is going to win the case. In the end the the verdict is that Tom Robinson is guilty because he’s a black man. Atticus was trying to teach Jem and Scout that people of Maycomb are not what they seem like."Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom

Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire."(Chapter 20) "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life.(Chapter 23) "I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: 'Guilty… guilty… guilty…guilty…'”(Chapter 21). In the end, Jem and Scout learned that the people in Maycomb are not what they appear to be and justice will not come to black people. Atticus taught them that racism will not stop for a lot in Maycomb no matter how much amount of effort you put into it. The verdict taught Jem and Scout that Tom Robinson is only guilty because of the accusations and the racism that is approached. Lastly, people do not think of how they emotionally affect others because of the way they act between each other. Human kindness was important for Jem and Scout to learn because they never treated Boo Radley like a real human being. But they tried to understand and give him the benefit of the doubt. As time past, Jem started to realize that Boo Radley will never come out of the house but he’s watching them from the inside. When Boo put the blanket on Scout in all honesty, she was freaked out but she kind of knew that Boo would always be there for the children. At the end Scout almost knew where Boo Radley was coming from and all the pain that he experienced in the past. "Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside." (Chapter 23) Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. (Chapter 31) "Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." (Chapter 31). Atticus teaches Jem and Scout that just because you do not see a person does not mean you start judging them. He also shows Jem and Scout that a rumor does not clarify what type of person they are. Lastly, when you get to know a person they may be nicer than what they are known to be. At last, Atticus did teach his children some life lessons that they took into consideration and used them in stitutions. Scout realized that Mr.Dolphus Raymond was being

stereotyped and in the end, listened to what he had to say and did not judge him. Jem and Scout learned that a lot of the people in Maycomb are racist and will never change but they have to deal with it. Jem and Scout mostly learned that they should treat each other with kindness and stop judging based on what they hear from people. In conclusion, Atticus taught them life lessons that they can carry with them further and especially, the importance taught that it taught the readers; courage, acceptance and hope.

Citation
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). Arthur Radley (Boo) in To Kill a Mockingbird. Retrieved May 20, 2014 from http://www.shmoop.com/to­kill­a­mockingbird/boo­radley.html Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). To Kill a Mockingbird Race Quotes Page 3. Retrieved May 20, 2014 from http://www.shmoop.com/to­kill­a­mockingbird/race­quotes­3.html Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). Dolphus Raymond in To Kill a Mockingbird. Retrieved May 20, 2014 from http://www.shmoop.com/to­kill­a­mockingbird/dolphus­raymond.html Enotes. (2014) Dolphus Raymond in To Kill a Mockingbird. Retrieved February 26 2012 from http://www.enotes.com/homework­help/what­some­qoutes­about­douglas­raymond­kill­318237

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Karissa Mignott May 21 2014