Characterization Essay

     "If you learn a simple trick Scout, you'll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you see things from his point of view; until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."(30) I believe that several characters serve as a moral compass in this story. One of those characters is Atticus, from whom the children learn many specific examples of right and wrong from his wisdom.
     Atticus serves as a voice of reason for the children and for everyone throughout the story. One fine example is mentioned above where in he tells Scout not to judge somebody until she walks around in their skin and see's how it would feel. This gives Scout the knowledge to not judge people without haste through the rest of our story, If not for Atticus's words she could have very well thought less of the fine people at First Purchase Church or even Tom Robinson in his trial. With those words Atticus taught Scout a life lesson; You cannot understand someone if you do not know what it is like to be that someone. It is an important lesson and Scout should be thankful that she had someone to teach it to her early in life.
     "They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for they're opinions. . . But I can't afford to live with other folks, I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a persons conscience."(105) Through this example Atticus teaches his children that you can go on trying to please other people but you can never be content with your own life if you can't live with yourself. The children learn this through Atticus and his defense for Tom Robinson. People think that he is shaming himself and his family by defending a black man. But Atticus knows that he could not live with himself if he did not grant everyone a fair trail. The children see what Atticus is trying to exemplify and learn from his actions and the quote stated above.
     "The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right to the jury box. As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it - whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash."(220) This quotes explain to the children that In Atticus' eyes all men are equal and you are trash if you choose prejudice. This is a strong value for the children to keep if they are to live in the South where racism is very prevalent. This is just one more example of Atticus's moral compass and the right direction that he points Scout and Jem towards.
     Though wise words and a thorough thought process Atticus serves as a moral compass for Scout and Jem throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, and serves as possibly one of the most important characters in the book itself.