Lessons Atticus Learned In To Kill A Mockingbird

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According to Harper Lee, a lady or a gentleman should be able to sympathise with others and fight for their beliefs no matter what the cost. Through the lessons Atticus teaches the children, Jem and Scout learn to walk around in someone else's shoes to understand them and that real courage is doing what you believe is right even if you are going to fail.
In Maycomb society, many people do not consider other people's troubles when assessing their actions. The children learn that it is easier to understand people if you can understand their backgrounds and reasoning for their actions. Atticus does this when Bob Ewell threatens him at the post office. After Bob Ewell spits in Atticus’ face and threatens to kill him, Jem is worried for his father's safety. Atticus brushes away his worry and says,”Son see if you could
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I destroyed his hais last shred of credibility, if he had any to begin with.”(Lee, 292) Even though Mr. Ewell threaten Atticus, Atticus kept calm and tried to understand things from his perspective instead of getting angry. This same thing happens to Mr. Cunningham at the courthouse. When Scout singles out Mr.Cunningham in front of the courthouse, she gets him to disperse the mob by talking to him about his son. The next day Atticus explains to Scout that she, “...made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute, that was enough”. (120) Scout separated Mr.Cunningham from the mob and made him think as an individual. This stopped him from being part of the mob mentality and forced him to think about the aftermath of his actions.
In Maycomb, physical bravery is held to a higher esteem than moral bravery. Physical strength is seen as the default for bravery instead of strength of conviction. This is the lesson Atticus