This novel charts three years in the lives of Scout and Jem. In those years they not only learn where evil is to be found in their community, but also develop the ethical principles to withstand it. The children inherit these principles directly and indirectly from adult characters throughout the novel.Atticus is the single parent of Scout and Jem. His maxim, which he teaches the children, is that before prejudging a person on the basis of class, gender or race you should 'put yourself in their skin.
.. and walk around in it'. Otherwise, you can 'never really understand a person'.
It is this liberal, tolerant attitude that the children learn and which sets them apart from the all-pervading racism that is at the core of Maycomb society. They are told not that 'it is a sin to kill a mockingbird' and by following this teaching they later gain understanding of the town's mistreatment of mockingbirds Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.Atticus subtly imparts wisdom to the children, which allows them to make sense of the controversy and events surrounding the trial of Tom Robinson. This is shown when Scout faces criticism of her father from other children such as Walter Cunningham and Francis, who call Atticus a 'nigger-lover'.
Atticus explains that to say this is 'common', and it is just a meaningless phrase that when a white man uses it against a black man, 'that man is trash'. He explains that 'it is not right to hate anybody' when Scout asks him whether or not it is okay to hate Hitler.The children also learn and mature through their contact and interaction with Boo Radley. The community's attitude towards Boo Radley as a phantom responsible for things that go wrong in the area establishes him in the children's mind as less than human. To feed Dill's vivid imagination, Jem describes Boo as a monster of over six feet who feeds on raw squirrels and cats.
However, throughout the novel they discover more about him, and with the changing of their attitude towards him, they reach a maturer acceptance of people's differences. Jem understands early in the novel that it is Boo who is leaving them gifts in the knothole of a tree, and is saddened when he realises that the knothole was cemented up by Boo's mean older brother Arthur, thereby breaking their relationship. Jem also reveals his growing understanding when he knows that Boo must have put the blanket around Scout's shoulders without them knowing it after the fire- he burst out 'he ain't ever hurt us, Atticus'.Crucially, after the verdict, Jem tells Scout "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". Jem displays a growing moral perception, and learn how they should treat people who are different from themselves.
For example, when taking Boo home in the penultimate chapter, Scout takes his arm under his, understanding that this would increase his dignity and prevent the likely-to-be-watching Stephanie Crawford from spreading more gossip about the already victimised and isolated Boo.Calpurnia plays a direct role in the children's development, teaching Scout early in the novel that people in Maycomb like the Cunninghams should be treated with kindness and respects irregardless of their prejudices. When Calpurnia sends Scout to eat in the kitchen for being critical of Walter Cunningham's table manners, she insists on Scout recognising that Walter is her guest. Scout is ashamed of trying to disgrace him.
The children's summer-time boundaries are determined by Calpurnia's calling distance - as if she were their mother. The fact that they obey her is a sign of their acceptance of her authority. Her influence on Scout is sometimes so gentle that Scout finds herself interested in the kitchen activities, making her feel that there was "some skill involved in being a girl"In Calpurnia's discussion about the different languages she uses in their house and in her own community, she teaches Scout about attitudes towards your neighbour: "It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike - in the second place, folks don't like to have someone around knowin' more than they do.
It aggravates 'em."When Atticus defends Calpurnia, he tells Alexandra "She tried to bring them up according to her lights, and Cal's lights are pretty good...
". This indicates that she has the same ideas about what is right and what is wrong as Atticus has.Fair treatment of others is a lesson the children also learn from Miss Maudie. She has a down -to-earth attitude towards the children's fantasies about Boo - "His name's Arthur and he is alive" she answers to Scout's persistent questions.
Miss Maudie is clear in her mind as to what is good and what is evil, and teaches Scout about such issues in the community. This takes place on her porch in the evenings- Miss Maudie realised that when Jem took Dill as a companion Scout would become lonely.She is scornful of people so concerned about the next world that they cannot enjoy this one, and whose narrowness and bitterness darken lives. When she speaks of "foot-washing Baptists" who reject all pleasure as sin, and condemn her for spending time in her garden, she shows Scout how to judge by actions and not pious words.
Miss Maudie also alters the children's perception of their father- Atticus does not boast about his shooting ability because he considers his skill a gift not to be used at random. In addition, her lack of self-pity and ability to see the positive aspects when her house burns down is a valuable lesson for the children in acceptance of difficulties.Miss Maudie's key role in the children's development comes when she guides them through the events surrounding the trial. She refuses to attend the trial: "I am not. 't's morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. Look at all those folks, it's like a Roman carnival" Her gift of the cakes after the verdict is her way of offering sympathy and putting an end to Miss Stephanie Crawford's taunting of the children about their father's defeat.
She comforts them with praise: "I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them" (p.219)Her determination to keep up appearances gives strength to Aunt Alexandra and Scout at the missionary tea party. She knows that racial prejudice will make it impossible for the visiting ladies to have any sympathy for Tom's death or for the effect this will have on Atticus and the rest of his family. By her actions she causes Scout to conclude: "After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I".The children mature and grow in understanding and in moral awareness from the example, words and guidance of the adults in their lives.
These adults- including Atticus, Boo Radley, Calpurnia and Miss Maudie- set a good example to them and help them understand and combat the irrational attitudes of racism and prejudice possessed by many of the minor characters in the novel.
