We know that Atticus' influence over Scout continued far
beyond the ending of To Kill a Mockingbird, because on the first
page of the novel, the adult Scout mentions an argument with brother Jem. Instead of
settling it with a fistfight,
... we consulted Atticus. Our father said we were
both right.
Atticus gave both
of his kids far more independence than most parents would allow children of that age.
They are taught to think for themselves and express themselves, but Atticus also sets
limits that he expects them to follow. They don't always follow his instructions: For
example, Atticus orders the children to leave during his confrontation with the lynch
mob at the jail. But Jem refuses, sensing that Atticus is in danger; Scout's sociable
conversation with Walter Cunningham shames the men into leaving, saving Atticus and Tom
Robinson from injury or death. Atticus teaches Scout to obey Calpurnia and Alexandra,
the two adults in the household. He teaches her that reading is an essential tool of
education, and to stick with school in spite of some of the questionable teaching
methods she encounters. He teaches her not to settle arguments with her fists, and that
using the "N" word is " 'common.' " Atticus influences Scout through his own actions as
well: She recognizes his patience, his humble nature, his belief in justice, and his
willingness to call just about everyone in town a friend. Most importantly, she heeds
his two best remembered philosophies. One concerns the need to consider a person's right
to their own point of view; the second concerns how a person should always treat others
with kindness.
- "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." - "Remember, it's a sin to kill a
mockingbird."
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