YOU LIVE, YOU LEARN
Beyond such issues as racial tensions, classism, sexism and injustices that minorities face throughout the novel, Harper Lee is also telling us a coming-of-age story or what is known in the literary world as a Bildungsroman (a word of German origin meaning a "novel of personal development or education"). As the narrator and protagonist, Scout is telling a story of her journey from youth to maturity amidst a racially charged era. Throughout the chapters we see her moving from a state of innocence to one of maturity as the result of suffering and surviving various misadventures.
As Scout finishes her first year of school, the author expands on several themes, each becoming a life lesson for the young girl. Think about the topics llisted below and explain what you believe to be the most important lesson Scout learns so far, how she learns it and why it is so important to learn.
· Prejudice (other than racial)
· Education (school vs. home)
· Truth and Lies (good vs. bad lies)
· Femininity (Women’s roles in Maycomb’s society/ boys vs. girls)
- Al Franken
18 comments:
Scout learns that adults are not always right. Her teacher had no right to hit her out of her own fustration. She finds she is learning better from father. But Miss Caroline does not understand and offten scorns Scout for that reason. Scout learns that people do not always understand things as well as others and sometimes she must take matters into her own hands. It is a sign of some maturity when does not listen to Miss Caroline when she says not to learns things at home any more, beacuse Scout thinks that the teacher is wrong. She can now form her own opinions.. I can sorta relate to that. I used to live in East Orange and the teachers there were terrible. My kindergarden teachers would always move my napping place because I never used to go to sleep, and one of them even yelled at me during a class disscusion because I did not know who my grandfather was. I was never really thought is was right, but I did not say anything because I did not have the courage to complain like Scout. I also remember one time we made paper people and I colored the feet of my person black so they could have shoes and then the same teacher yelled at me "DO YOU BLACK FEET??" I did not say anything, I even started crying. If it was me now, I would say "ITS SHOES DUMMY!" I still have a grudge against them. I always thought I was wrong. I wish I had mind like Scout at the time....
The most important lesson that Scout has learned so far in my opinion is the lesson of education and how home and school education differ. She learns about the about education through her experiences in school. Prior to going to school her dad had taught Scout how to read. When she went to school her teacher scorned for being able to do things that the other children could not. The education she gained at home proved to be much more valuable then what she had experienced in school. Even though I believe this is an important lesson in education, I also believe that it ties to the other topics that Scout has experienced such as prejudice and how adults and people behave towards one another
Between Ms. Caroline and Atticus, Scout is constantly being taught new things.
Ms. Caroline, who is bent on enforcing a new system of teaching, forbids Scout to read. Scout is upset by this, and complains to Atticus. Atticus then tells Scout that Ms. Caroline has good intentions that Scout has not seen yet.
Atticus teaches Scout life lessons, rather than Ms.Caroline teaching Scout the lessons of writing, reading, math, etc. Atticus is trying to raise her right by teaching her to look at both sides of the situation by stepping into the other person's shoes.
Scout has learned many lessons so far in her year of school but by far the most important one she has learned is about education. She learned that the education that some kids get at home is SO different from what they learn at school. Scout was one of the smartest kids in her class and you know this because her teacher tells her to stop reading with her father at night. She is just naturally smart and her education is shown. Also many examples of how important education is in each family is the poverty rate of her fellow class mates. Whether it be a boy that cant afford shoes or a boy that only comes to school once a year and has worms in his head. So scout learns that education is key and she will always prosper if she has knowledge
Miss. Caroline is teaching Scout in a different way then she is used to. She goes and complains to her father. Her father takes advantage of this and says just play along. He is teaching her that she has to deal with new ways. She cannot always get the way she wants. Her dad wants her to be able to get along with other people even though shes is prone to her fathers way of teaching.
Even though most people do not agree with Miss. Caroline's way of teaching, they should respect her because she is a teacher and she qualifies as one.
I would have to agree on what Cesar and Vivek said. So far on how this story is progressing, I believe Scout's most important lesson is education. The way how a child may be brought up in their household can be completely different than it is taught in school. I think it mainly depends on your culture or religion is how you are brought up to be a young adult. Atticus, Scout's father, taught her how to read before she even attended school in Ms. Caroline's class. Atticus and Scout would read right before bed, while Ms. Caroline would just tell her that her father is wrong. I think that whatever important lessons Scout learns at home and in school will all eventually come together as she grows up.
Scout Finch, a girl, who constantly wishes she wasn't a women or that she could fit in with the guys better. Scout plays with the boys, and enjoys getting her hands dirty. her brother Jem, keep saying things like, "I declare to the lord you're gettin' more like a girl everyday!" This is meant as an insult to Scout, because for one she as a person did not like being a girl, and the society of Maycomb didn't let the girls have input in anything, they couldn't do anything because they were a girl. Scout learns how important, at least to her being a girl really is. This is an important lesson for Scout to learn so she can understand how women are treated and Maycomb, and then probably not like that.
The most important lesson that Scout has learned is how to deal with her education. It is much harder for the kids in this book than it is for kids in a modern school like ours. Although her father has taught her on his own the teacher tries to convince Scout that he is wrong. At this point she does not know who to believe and who is right. She continues to follow her dad's instruction at home and apply it to her work at school. By following her dad's teachings she passes the first grade unlike the majority of the class. This also ties into the prejudice option because the teacher Miss Caroline is white and that becomes a racial debate in itself. School is hard enough for Scout but when she is forced to chose between two different decisions from two different races it only makes her life harder and more unbearable.
In my opinion, the most important lesson Scout learns so far is that, unfortunately other people that she knows aren't as privileged as her. Scout has learned how to read from Atticus before she went to first grade, and other students' parents don't have the time or ability to do something like that for their own kids. Also, by telling Scout that she has to deal with the fact that she can't show off her reading abilities in school, Atticus indirectly teaches her that you can't always do what you want and sometimes you have to sacrifice things that youo want to do in life for others. In addition to these lessons that Scout learns, Scout learns that there is a social divide in Maycomb. She thought Walter Cunningham was crazy for pouring syrup all over his food, but Calpurnia told her that some kids don't grow up with all the luxries that she grew up with like sweets.
Scout has been learning alot of lessons during her first year of school. But so far the most important lesson, in my eyes, is education. Ms.Caroline is constantly becoming upset with Scout because of the reason that she is too smart. Scout for being in the first grade knows how to already read. She learned this because she has been reading at home with Atticus. Ms. Caroline has now began to tell Scout to stop reading at home. Everything she is learning at home and at school will sooner or later help Scout out in the future. Ms. Caroline is now always telling Scout that her father is wrong and that she must stop reading with her father. Education is a useful content in a person for the future. Without education, someone would not have a future.
Scout learns many things as the novel progresses. However, the most important lesson Scout learns is about sexism. In the Maycomb County there are certain ways that a female must act. On the other hand, Scout has never had a female role model because her mother died when she was younger. The sexism issue really hits Scout the hardest because it seems as if people only judge her by that. The other characters in the novel see that Scout wear overalls instead of dresses and they think that she is an abomination to the County. Scout sees that girls should play with dolls and tea sets but she does not. She would rather play with her brother, Jem, because if she does not she will be lonely. The matter of sexism is very important, not just her to learn, but for all women because it teaches them their own value. When one does not her worth then who will? Women in the Maycomb County are seen as to be submissive and subordinate to the men. Scout sees this and it shapes her outlook on life as a whole.
Well, clearly, it sucks in a lot of ways to be a girl. In the story, Scout is put in numerous situations where she is put down or spoken to negatively for being a girl. Her brother, Jem accuses her in the story of becoming more and more like a girl. This was done in a negative way that was meant to insult her.
Scout, however, refuses to let this get in the way of her being a part of the summer's adventures and her time with their good friend, Dill. She ends up completing every adventure and game that the boys do.
I find that it is important that Scout has learned to have such high regards for herself in terms of what she is capable, despite the fact that others seem to believe otherwise.
I believe it is the most important lesson a young girl can learn - that she is of just as much (if not more) worth as any boy and can do anything she sets her mind to.
Scout is learning that sometimes what you may believe to be the truth is a lie. People around the town of Maycomb make up a bunch of stories about the Radley's which Scout, her brother, and Dill all believe to be true. They have no proof of these stories yet seem to spend alot of time pursuing the so called truth about the Radley's. Through the story Scout will learn that just, because you may hear something that does not mean it is true or real.
Well i do agree that Scout has learned a number of lessons. One of the most important lessons that Scout learned was not to listen to what everybody says.When you believe everything somebody tells you tend to make a fool out of yourself because it might not always be true. If you really want to know something then find out yourself. And that does not mean you go around being in people business it just means not to listen to the next person unless you know for sure that they are telling the truth.
Understanding the difference between “truth and lies” is the most important concept that Scout needs to grasp. Early on in the book, Scout defends Walter Cunningham who continually “forgets” his lunch, when in reality, he is too poor to bring one. Scout learns that maintaining a family’s reputation can be more important than the truth. Scout does stand up for Walter and the truth, but is punished for being outspoken. From this experience, Scout learns that telling the truth may have consequences. Similarly, Scout learns that it is to her benefit not to tell Miss Caroline that Atticus teaches her reading at home. Whenever Scout offers her teacher explanations, she accuses Scout of lying or at the very least, of having an overactive imagination. Scout also learns that it may be more important to have social grace than to tell it like it is. When Scout openly criticizes Walter’s poor table manners, Cal swiftly rebukes her for disgracing him. Social grace is also at stake concerning Burris Ewell. Because of the Ewell’s upscale status, his boorishness is often overlooked, which enrages Scout. No wonder Scout tries to contract head lice and uses foul words in an attempt to avoid school because she has learned that the truth hurts. Later in the book, Scout shows that she is learning social grace when she politely expresses enthusiasm about Francis’ holiday gifts, even though she couldn’t care less. Scout eventually tells the ugly truth about Francis to Uncle Jack, but asks Jack to conceal the truth from Atticus due to a promise she made. She is starting to understand that there are times when it is better not to volunteer information. At home, Atticus chastises Jack for not giving Scout an “honest” answer about a curse word; he believes that dishonesty only confuses kids. Scout also has common sense that both Jem and Dill lack. She agrees to keep quiet about their secret activities concerning Boo, but draws the line when Jem could be seriously hurt. On the other hand, Scout scoffs at Dill’s harmless lies about his travels and escapades. Distinguishing between truth and lies is a skill that takes time to develop, and Scout is making good progress.
The most important lesson that Scout learns is not to judge people, or characterize them by what they cannot control. For instance, Scout is constantly being referred to as a girl,by Jem, like it is a bad thing. Whenever Scout acts in a way that displeases him, or he feels is not right he mocks her both subtly and outright. When infact Scout could not choose her gender just as no one else can. Even though Scout tries as hard as she can, she never seems to be fully accepted by Jem, due to the fact that she is a girl. Also Scout learns not to judge people just by the families they are in. No one can choose what family they are born into. We must all play the hand that life deals to us, and hope for the best. Even though some of the descriptions of certain families describe those people, there are much more to people than meets the eye.
truth and lies is the most important because if you are not honest then its not good. you are labeled as a lier. if you are not honest then people will not appreciate you. this is why you should always tell the truth.
Scout has learned many lessons in the book “To Kill a Mocking Bird". The biggest lesson that Scout has learned are truth and lies (good vs. bad lies). Scout though out the book always knew what was right and wrong. She always had an intelligent mind. Scout has learned that lying cannot get you everything and sometimes you have to speak the truth to get places and to gain respect from his peers. Scout has always been pushed around by Jem but unlike Jem, Scout tells the truth and wants to be the best person she can be. Jem lies to his dad, while Scout feels that she should tell Atticus the truth. Therefore Scout learned thought out the story that honest is the best policy.
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