To Kill A Mockingbird

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Scout Finch

Throughout the book, scout has to cope with grown-up issues, forcing her to she'd her naively.
But she holds onto her morality and belief that people are essentially good.
Attributed to her parenting

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Atticus Finch

Guided by principles which he imparts on the children:

'Don't kill mocking birds' which essentially means, don't harm the innocent

'take a walk in another mans shoes' meaning, you cannot judge someone without understanding them,
and seeing things from their perspective.

He is the moral centre of the book and the mouthpiece for the authors message

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Jem finch

He isn't as clueless as scout, so is affected more acutely throughout the book.

He strays towards cynicism, becoming resolute in protecting mocking birds, even stopping scout from killing a ropy poly bug

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Symbolism

Mockingbirds: the weak and innocent

Fire: conflict/ a community's response to crisis

Snowman: racial differences are only superficial (jem turns a mud man into a snowman)

Mad dog: elements of society that have become dangerous and out of control

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Themes

Racism and prejudice
Social inequality
Gender roles
Southern life and cultures
Bravery and compassion
Law and justice
Good vs. evil
Loss of innocence

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Lessons taught

Empathy: 'put yourself in another's shoes'
Be kind to the meek and innocent: 'don't kill mockingbirds'
Perseverance and moral courage
Not everyone has the same values: 'life,despite your best efforts, can still be bad'

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