Audacity Through Simple Gestures In this changing world, one has to be very careful about not making assumptions based on traditional values and what appears on the surface. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is constantly teaching his children life lessons after they make a mistake or accomplish something childish or wrong. During the book, Jem learns a valuable lesson from his father Atticus of not judging someone by what appears on the surface. Few children in our society today can say that they have a stay at home father, when their mother is at work during the day. Having a father at home as opposed to a mother, is different especially because similar to Atticus, my father is always teaching me life lessons.
Mrs. Dubose represents everything wrong with the city of Maycomb. The old woman’s constant tantrums, cursing, and rude comments add to how the town is labeled as racist and bigoted. As Jem and Scout were walking past her house one day, she began to shout nasty comments at them, especially about their father and his upcoming trial. Jem reacted by using his sister’s recently purchased baton to destroy the old lady’s camellia bushes. As his punishment, he was faced with the task of having to read to her for a month. His father Atticus Finch, helped Jem by explaining the reasoning for her random tantrums and impertinent remarks. He clarified that the woman was addicted to morphine, and was trying to overcome her addiction by having a distraction. In this case, having Jem read to her everyday. Atticus explained how Mrs. Dubose had the greatest courage he had ever witnessed. He also believed that people should not judge her by the things she says, before realizing the background story behind it. During Atticus’ talk with his son, he said “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 112). Atticus was simply providing reason for Mrs. Dubose’s courage and bravery, towards overcoming her addiction to