To Kill A Mockingbird - Themes, Motifs and Symbols

The Coexistence of Good and Evil

• Explores the moral nature of human beings
• Dramatizes Scout's and Jem's transition from a perspective of childhood innocence to a more adult perspective
• Threat hatred, prejudice and ignorance pose to the innocent
• Atticus Finch is the moral voice - recognises that people have good and bad qualities
• Tries to teach Scout and Jem to appreciate good qualities and understand the bad
• Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are not prepared for the evil that they encounter and are destroyed
• Jem is victimized by his discovery of the evil of racism during and after the trial
• Scout is able to maintain her basic faith in human nature despite Tom's conviction
• Atticus is able to admire Mrs. Dubose's courage even while deploring her racism

The Importance of Moral Education

• Exploration of moral questions takes place within the perspective of children - the plot charts Scout's moral education
• Atticus devotes himself to instilling a social conscience in Jem and Scout
• Most important lessons are those of sympathy and understanding, and a sympathetic, understanding approach is the best way to teach them
• Atticus's ability to put himself in his children's shoes makes him an excellent teacher, Miss Caroline's rigid commitment to educational techniques she learnt in college makes her ineffective and dangerous
• Scout says she has learnt practically everything except algebra
• scout is frequently confronted by teachers who are either unsympathetic to children's needs or…