Words of the Wiser
By Richard and Alvin
Atticus tells Scout a simple trick- p. 33
The Meaning
Atticus tells Scout a simple trick- p. 33
What Atticus is saying is that Scout can’t judge someone until she understands where he or she comes from, how they struggled, and their life right now. Atticus doesn’t want Scout to turn into a racist or just not bother to help people. He doesn’t want her to just think that someone is bad without knowing anything about them. That’s a big part of the book. Scout is learning from her father how to care for people, and consider their history. He knows Scout is different than most kids, and he wants her to do what's right.
Miss Maudie tells Scout about Mockingbirds- p.103
The Meaning
Atticus is teaching Scout another lesson. He is telling her to never kill a mockingbird. He is saying that the mockingbird does too much for us that we would be loosing more than gaining if we kill it. He might be comparing a mockingbird to African Americans during the thirties. Africans were being used for cheap labor and were contributing a lot to southern society, but they were still being blamed and lynched. He is one of the only people in the south who realize how much African Americans contribute to their society. He also might be saying that we don’t kill them because we have the power. He doesn’t like killing things. He feels too powerful. He definitely doesn’t want any one to kill mockingbirds, because of what he compares them too.
Atticus and Scout talk about Boo- p.323
Scout,
when you finally see them.” He turned out the light and went into Jem’s room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.The Meaning
Atticus is talking to Scout about their time talking to Boo. Scout said that she had always been afraid of boo and that she was always scared when the boys tried to get him out. When scout and Jem get attacked by Mr. Ewell, Boo saved them from death. If it wasn’t for Boo Radley, they would’ve been dead. They didn’t know who it was that saved him, but when they found out, they were totally surprised. They never thought that the person who saved them would be Boo. The children thought that he was scary, but when he saved them, she though of him as a hero. This shows that you can’t judge someone that you don’t know. The children find out that Boo doesn’t want to have all of the attention, and the children don’t understand. But they are the only ones that actually know what happen. They know that Boo was a hero. And that just what they wanted.