To Kill a Mockingbird- Literary Essay free essay sample

To Kill a Mockingbird Literary Essay Kaylin Molnar March 1, 2013 Block D One of the things we learn as kids is to look at life through another’s perspective, which in the book is a very prominent factor as to how Jem and Scout see other people in Maycomb County. Throughout the book Atticus teaches the kids allot about life, but the one thing he emphasizes the most is to consider things from another’s point of view. Harper Lee integrated many life lessons into To Kill a Mockingbird but the one that stood out the most to me you had to see life through anothers eyes to fully understand them. This plays a huge part in how events in the book play out and how Jem and Scout act towards people in Maycomb County. Atticus giving Scout advice changed her opinion of people in many different ways. The first person Scout sees differently was Mis Caroline. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird- Literary Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When Scout comes home from school she is frustrated as to why Miss Caroline did not support her in the fact she could read. Atticus illustrates to her that you never really understand a person until you consider things from [her] point of view(30). She then realizes that Miss Caroline is new in the town and does not quite understand it yet. Atticus also helps Scout see that Bob Ewell and Mayella Ewell hate Atticus because he made a fool of both of them in front of the whole town in court. By the end of the book Scout understands that she has to see life through anothers point of view to understand them fully. Harper Lee combined plenty of life lessons that were ultimately meant to mean something deeper. The underlying message about seeing life from anothers point of view is that most people have a good heart if you see and understand things from their viewpoint. Harper Lee exemplifies this from these quotes when they finally saw him, why he hadnt done any of those things Atticus, he was real nice (281), and Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them. (281). These quotes were when I fully understood Harper Lees underlying message about seeing things from anothers viewpoint. Jem is a very bright, stable headed ten year old boy but the one struggle he had in the book was when people in Maycomb insulted Atticus, calling him a nigger lover, saying he was disgracing family. While the Tom Robinson case is playing out, Jem has to deal with all the name calling and accusations, but with Atticuss help he handles it very well by looking at it from anothers point of view. When Atticus had to protect Tom Robinson at the town jail Jem feared for Atticuss life so Scout, Jem, and Dill went looking for him. When they found him Scout made Walter Cunningham stand in [Atticuss] shoes for a minute(173), which made Walter see what he was putting Atticus through. By Scout showing Walter Atticuss viewpoint, Walter called off his men which ultimately saved Atticuss life. To Kill a Mockingbird incorporates many ways of saying look at life through anothers eyes. This moral is repeated many times and used to make Jem and Scout understand the people of Maycomb. Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it(30) is the first and most influential use of the moral. Harper Lees inspirational and classic American literature novel, To Kill a Mockingbird wouldnt have been possible without the life lessons she so brilliantly integrated into it.