To Kill a Mockingbird - Positive Parental Influences on Jem and Scout

Positive Parental Influences on Jem and Scout

How are children influenced by their parents? The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee and is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The main characters in the book are Jem and Scout Finch, whose only parent is their father, Atticus Finch. Their father Atticus defends a black man of a rape charge in a racist southern town, and they both learn many lessons before and after the trial. Their house maid is a black woman by the name of Calpurnia. She takes on a motherly role in the novel, cooking and scolding the children whenever necessary. In addition to Calpurnia, the Finch's neighbor who lives directly across the street is a widowed lady named Miss Maudie. This lady is vibrant and bright, and Scout adores her. Jem and Scout have many positive influences in the novel such as Atticus, Calpurnia, and Miss Maudie.

Atticus teaches Scout the art of a compromise at the beginning of the novel. Scout is entering the first grade and is new to the educational environment. Miss Caroline is her teacher, and it is also Miss Caroline's first encounter with school as a teacher. Miss Caroline is very displeased when she finds out that Atticus has taught Scout to read, they both take an immediate disliking to one another. On top of that, when Scout tries to explain to Miss Caroline that Walter Cunningham is not able to borrow money because he is so poor, Miss Caroline slaps her on the wrist with a ruler and makes her sit in the corner. Miss Caroline states, "Jean Louise, I've had enough of you this morning. Your starting off on the wrong foot in every way, my dear. Hold out your hand" (28). What Scout is trying to explain is how deprived Walter Cunningham's family is of money and that Walter will not be able to pay her back in currency if Miss Caroline lends him a quarter. But Miss Caroline does not understand, and Scout gets in trouble for it.

Since Scout has a problem with Miss Caroline for explaining Walter Cunningham's situation to her, she feels it is her duty to rub his nose in the dirt. Jem took Scout off of Walter, and invites him home for dinner (in their society, dinner is what you call lunch). While eating at the table, Scout abruptly questions Walter Cunningham about what he is doing with the molasses: "He would probably have poured it into his milk glass had I not asked what the sam hill he was doing" (32). Calpurnia proceeds to drag Scout into the kitchen and reprimand her. Calpurnia says, "There's some folks who don't eat like us, but you ain't called on to contradict 'em at the table when they don't. That boy's yo' comp'ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, hear?" (32). Scout replies, "He ain't company, Cal, he's just a Cunningham-" (33), which infuriates Calpurnia who proceeds to scold her, saying "Hush your mouth! Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house's yo' comp'ny, and don't let me catch you remarkin' on their ways like you was so high and mighty!" (33). Calpurnia teaches Scout that no matter how low on society she thinks someone is, and even if he or she has peculiar habits, you respect them all the same if they are her company. Calpurnia proves to be a mother-like figure, teaching Scout invaluable lessons for a young person to know.

Later that evening, Atticus notices that something is bothering Scout. He asks her what it is and she replies that she cannot go to school anymore. Scout tells Atticus of the day's mishaps. Miss Caroline says that Scout could no longer read and that Atticus has taught her all wrong. Scout begs Atticus not to send her back, but Atticus is adamant. He also tells Scout "...if you can learn a simple trick, scout, you'll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb in his skin and walk around in it" (39). Atticus is teaching Scout that she should look at situations through other people's perspectives, not just her own. Atticus is a fantastic positive influence on Jem and Scout, and he teaches them invaluable lessons on numerous occasions.

Miss Maudie is a positive influence on Jem and Scout. She has a very optimistic outlook on life and that rubs off on Jem and Scout. For example, when her house is burnt down, Jem and Scout told Miss Maudie that they are awfully sorry for her. But she just replies "Always wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard. Just think, I'll have more room for my azaleas now!" (97). Miss Maudie teaches Jem and Scout to be optimistic and to look for the best in situations. She makes sure they know that it is better to look at the glass half full, not half empty.

As the novel progresses, Scout and Jem begin to think that Atticus is not very useful and is incapable of the daily activities of other fathers in Maycomb. Scout recollects that "..He did not do things our schoolmates' fathers did: he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke. He sat in the livingroom and read" (118). Also, Jem is very ashamed of Atticus when he asks Atticus

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