Virtue vs. Immorality in To Kill A Mockingbird It has been found that “by age 2, children experience some moral emotions — feelings triggered by right and wrong” (Grant 1). To Kill A Mockingbird is about the experiences that the two main characters, both children, one girl and one boy, go through to learn what exactly their father means by “you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them (Lee 283). Harper Lee examines the qualities of human nature through a child’s perspective to develop the theme of virtue vs. immorality. The children’s encounters with virtuous people, their contacts with immoral people, and the effects of others on the children’s perspectives are all essential points that help up to recognize
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Above all, the most important person the children come in contact with would have to be their father, Atticus. The two children, Scout and Jem, are around him the most out of all the characters in the book, and so therefore, he sets the most important example in their lives. Atticus portrays the characteristics of a virtuous person in the book. A senior lecturer in psychology stated that “‘Good’ means a lack of self-centeredness. It means the ability to empathize with other people, to feel compassion for them, and to put their needs before your own.” (Taylor 1) Atticus is ‘good’. He definitely lacks self-centeredness by putting others before himself. Not only does he take care of his children like a father should, but he is also a lawyer. Meaning, he takes the time out of his life to fight for others who are desperate for it, which proves that he puts others needs before his …show more content…
Harper Lee took the time to write in thorough detail the children’s experiences with immoral or “bad” people. Bob Ewell is one character that portrayed evilness. As written by a psychiatrist, “‘Evil’ people are those who are unable to empathize with others. They are selfish, self-absorbed and narcissistic.” (Taylor 1) Bob is without a doubt unable to empathize with others. He beats his daughter and accuses Tom Robinson, an innocent colored man, of raping his daughter. Mr. Ewell did not care that he was going to make another man suffer for something he didn’t do. He was only concerned about himself, which is another characteristic of immoral people- selfishness.
Lastly, the theme is reinforced again and again by the affects that others have on the children’s perspective of virtuous vs. immoral people. For example, the effects that the case Atticus is going through throughout the book has on the children, is essential to the development of their point of views on righteous versus wrongful people. Scout and Jem’s father is Tom Robinson’s lawyer. Mr. Robinson is accused of raping Mr. Ewell’s
Above all, the most important person the children come in contact with would have to be their father, Atticus. The two children, Scout and Jem, are around him the most out of all the characters in the book, and so therefore, he sets the most important example in their lives. Atticus portrays the characteristics of a virtuous person in the book. A senior lecturer in psychology stated that “‘Good’ means a lack of self-centeredness. It means the ability to empathize with other people, to feel compassion for them, and to put their needs before your own.” (Taylor 1) Atticus is ‘good’. He definitely lacks self-centeredness by putting others before himself. Not only does he take care of his children like a father should, but he is also a lawyer. Meaning, he takes the time out of his life to fight for others who are desperate for it, which proves that he puts others needs before his …show more content…
Harper Lee took the time to write in thorough detail the children’s experiences with immoral or “bad” people. Bob Ewell is one character that portrayed evilness. As written by a psychiatrist, “‘Evil’ people are those who are unable to empathize with others. They are selfish, self-absorbed and narcissistic.” (Taylor 1) Bob is without a doubt unable to empathize with others. He beats his daughter and accuses Tom Robinson, an innocent colored man, of raping his daughter. Mr. Ewell did not care that he was going to make another man suffer for something he didn’t do. He was only concerned about himself, which is another characteristic of immoral people- selfishness.
Lastly, the theme is reinforced again and again by the affects that others have on the children’s perspective of virtuous vs. immoral people. For example, the effects that the case Atticus is going through throughout the book has on the children, is essential to the development of their point of views on righteous versus wrongful people. Scout and Jem’s father is Tom Robinson’s lawyer. Mr. Robinson is accused of raping Mr. Ewell’s