Dutton 1

Sydney Dutton

Ms. Akers

English 10

6 September 2017

Lessons in To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird, a southern gothic novel by Harper Lee, takes place in Alabama in

the 1930s. It is the heart of living with Jim Crow laws, and there are many people being

discriminated against everyday. The reader follows the story of a young girl named Scout, and

how she deals with coming of age in Maycomb County. However, Lee is still able to teach

important lessons throughout the book such as feelings change an outcome, race determines what

is thought about someone, and it is wrong to kill innocence.

One major lesson taught in To Kill A Mockingbird is that feelings change an outcome.

When the trial began, everyone had already made up their minds about Tom Robinson.

Throughout the trial, statements spoken against Tom do not help his case in any way as exhibited

when Mr. Ewell exclaims, I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin on my Mayella! (231). He

exclaims this with such force that everyone in the room who was sceptical about Tom being

guilty believes he is now. Mr. Ewell knew the statement would shake the crowd, because after

all, he lives in Maycomb County, a very racist town. Also during the trial, Tom Robinson was

questioned about the crime he supposedly committed. He said he felt sorry for Mayella, and

immediately regretted what he said; The witness realized he made a mistake and shifted

uncomfortably in his chair. But the damage was already done. Below us, nobody liked Tom

Robinsons answer (264). Nobody believed that a black man would feel sorry for a white

woman. They all thought he was just trying to get her to like him. Everyones feelings towards
 Dutton 2

him were that he was a horrible man, trying to get a white women to like him, and these thoughts

determined his outcome. Finally, almost everyone in a jury believes what the victim says even

before the trial. People started making assumptions such as, Tom was a dead man the minute

Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed (323). When Mayella started yelling that she

was being raped by Tom Robinson, everyone made up their mind. A black man raping a white

women; no one in Maycomb County liked the thought of that. This accusation affected his case

greatly. The feelings towards him were negative, and he could not change them. Everyone is

biased in some way, and those certain feelings change the outcome.

Another important lesson taught in the book is that race determines what is thought about

someone. Throughout the book, the reader discovers many examples of discrimination in

Maycomb County. The white people know that they are discriminating and the black people

know they are being discriminated against. Tom answers nervously to a question during his trial,

Mr. Finch, if you was a black nigger like me, youd be scared too (261). Tom understands that

since his race is different, he will be punished for anything he does wrong, even if he technically

did not commit a crime. Since he is black, the white people automatically think he is a lousy

person, and does not deserve anything good in life. Furthermore, during the trial, Tom is asked

many questions rudely because he is black. He answers one and Mr. Gilmer screams back, You

felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her? (264). Mr. Gilmer thinks that black men should not

feel sorry for white women, and immediately believes that Tom is a awful person. If a white

man said that, the people of Maycomb County would think nothing of it, but since Tom stated

that, everyone thinks he is a horrendous person. Lastly, even the children of Maycomb County

understand discrimination. Scout reveals to Dill, Atticus says cheatin a colored man is ten

times worse than cheatin a white man (269). Scout understands that since Tom is black, he
 Dutton 3

will get the worst punishment that could happen to him, whereas a white man would get the

minimum. Since Maycomb County is such a racist county, race determines what is thought

about someone.

The last major lesson learned in the book is that it is wrong to kill innocence. Innocence

can help solve a problem or make something clearer, since the whole truth is not known. Scout

asks Ms. Maudie, Do you think theyre true, all the those things they say about B- Mr. Arthur?

(60). Scout wants to hear what someone else believes, because she does not know the full story

about Boo Radley. One part of her believes that what people say is not true, and her innocence

teaches her to be kind and not assume the worst. Also, when the men of Maycomb County went

to kill Tom in jail, Scout steps in and saves the day. She whispers to Mr. Cunningham, Dont

you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? Im Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts

one time, remember? (205). Scout does not understand what the men are trying to do, so she

just starts a conversation with Mr. Cunningham. The men realize that Scout has no idea what is

happening, which gives them time to realize it is wrong to hurt Tom, although those thoughts do

not last for long. The innocence Scout has saves Tom, which is why innocence is positive.

Finally, near the end of the trial, Dill cannot contain himself, and starts crying, It aint right,

somehow it aint right to do em that way. Hasnt anybody got any business talkin like that. It

just makes me sick (266). Even though Dill does not understand the full trial, he understands

that it is wrong to speak to someone the way Mr. Gilmer is speaking to Tom. His innocence

could make people understand that it is wrong, so the adults could realize discrimination is bad.

The innocence in people can be helpful, which is why it is wrong to kill innocence.

The lessons feelings change an outcome, race determines what is thought about someone,

and it is wrong to kill innocence are all taught in To Kill A Mockingbird. The reader learned how
 Dutton 4

Scout was able to deal with coming of age in such a racist county. Maycomb County was a

perfect example of the worst that could happen to African Americans in the 1930s and the way

of life stayed that way for some time.