Did you know you could bypass some of lifes difficulties by reading a book? In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, otherwise known as Jean Louise Finch, learns valuable lessons on the evil of prejudice present in her Southern town of Maycomb, on the true nature of courage, and on the dangers of judging others before ".climbing into their skin and walking around in it." Set in the mid 1930s, Scout Finch is a young girl living with her older brother, Jem, and her lawyer father. Being a kid, Scout has the simple duties of a minor, to have fun and to stay out of trouble. But along the way, she also learns many important things. Although the majority of her hometown is prejudiced, Scout's innocent mind remains non prejudice and caring of others. To her, all is equal, so therefore, all should be treated equal. There is no doubt that Scout's character is one who will stick to her own perspective no matter how cruel and racist other people can be. In her adult world, Scout learns to treat all people fairly with dignity and respect. One of the most important role models in Scout's life, is her father, Atticus. Atticus is a small town lawyer who deals with a very tough case involving a black man and his rights. Although Atticus is a single father, he manages to teach his children right from wrong. He makes it a common practice to live his life as he would like his children to live theirs, and therefore displays the characteristics of an honest, respectable, and kind man. Atticus demonstrates his feelings for example, by showing the highest respect for everyone in Maycomb, regardless of their color or class. His serious defense for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, proves his high ideals. Throughout the trial process, Atticus shows Scout that a true person is standing up for what you believe in, and all human beings, despite their race, deserve respect. Atticus not only shows his non-prejudice ways through defending Tom Robinson, but also through his everyday dealings with Calpurnia, the cook.
