To Kill a Mocking Bird
Themes Throughout the Novel
Bravery and Courage
Miss Dubose
Miss Dubose had a morphine addiction. Before she died she was trying to get over her addiction to it. This is a very brave thing to try to do. It takes a lot of courage to try to fight what your body wants. Atticus helps her by having Jem and Scout read to her after Jem tore up her flowers. Atticus knew she was on her last stretch and thought this would be a nice thing to do for her.
Jem Finch
Jem showed lots of bravery and courage. He helped out the Cunningham boy and brought him home for lunch. Not very many people would bring one of the Cunningham kids home. Also at the end he tried his best to help protect Scout from Bob Ewell who was trying to hurt them. Jem was very brave for his age and stood up for his sister.,
Atticus Finch
Atticus was very brave when it came the trial. Nobody wanted to be a lawyer for a black man and try to protect him, but Atticus did his job and tried very hard in Tom's favor. It didn't work but Atticus tried and when Bob Ewell spit in his face he didn't react in rage he reacted calmly. This takes a lot of strength to do and not hurt someone after what Bob did.
Boo Radley
Growing Up
Scout Finch
Scout is a tomboy, she hangs with Jem and Dill and dresses like a boy. When Aunt Alexandria visits she wants Scout to grow up and be a woman. Scout though doesn't like wearing dresses and being proper so aunt Alexandria had a lot of work. By the end Scout was much better. She had better manners and was better behaved. She also, since Jem was older new a lot more than she should have.
Jem Finch
Jem tries his hardest to grow up. He wants to be an adult and be smart and caring like his father. Jem, to Scout, is acting weird because he is getting older. One day Scout points out a hair on his chest. Then Jem gets on the football team, but only a water boy. He tries gaining more weight to be bigger to make the team the next year. Jem is working his way up.
Dill
Dill is a crazy little boy. Him, Jem and Scout would alway try to do mischievous things. Like see Boo Radley, give him notes, and sneek through his yard. Dill goes away for awhile but runs away because he feels alone and wants to be were he feels welcome. He listens well to Atticus and by the end better knows his right from wrongs.
Family
Atticus Finch
Atticus always thinks about his kids. He wants them to know right from wrong and not be out in the town. He tries to keep them out of trouble, but because of the trial this was hard. He worried about them getting picked on and made fun of then fighting. He didn't want this he wanted them to be adults about it and just walk away.
Aunt Alexandria
Aunt Alexandria cares about the family name. She doesn't want Scout growing up like a boy she wants her to be a woman of great manner. She doesn't want the family name to be brought down. By the end she starts to worry less about the name and more the family.
Calpurnia
Calpurnia has a family of her own and still treats Atticus like her own. She worries bout where they are and if they are safe. When the kids left to watch the trials she goes looking for them. She brings them home and tells them off about what they did and how they shouldn't be there.