Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Some books are written to prove a point or some sort of idea. The novel,ToKill A mocker by Harper Lee, is an excellent example of proving a pointor a news report. Themes in the book include fortitude, bird, standing in another(prenominal)mans shoes, its not time to worry, education, and trash. All the pedestalsstand out, however, ternion in limited are exemplified in the book. The threemain themes in To Kill a Mockingbird are courage, lady, and standing in anothermans shoes.     The first theme is courage. Courage is apparent in the seeminglywickedMrs. Dubose. It is also courage for Jem to strive against Mrs Dubose.According to Atticus, the childrens father courage is, "...when you knowyoure licked in the first place you begin except you begin anyway and you see it throughno matter what."(p112) Mrs. Dubose had long courage trying to get over hermorphia addiction and, even though she would have trouble doing it, bumpedthe addiction for the suspi re of her life. In the beginning of the book, whenDill, pale, and Jem were still hyped up over Boo Radley Jem showed the supremecourage by venturing into the spooky dwelling place inhabited by Boo Radley.Jem went through the gate and touched the house. One time, all three wentinto the Radley yard to simply look inside Boos window. However, the childrenwere frightened near closing by a warning shot from Nathan Radley. The realcourage comes by and by that when Jem goes to reclaim his pants, facing a possibleconfrontation with Boo or Nathan. Another example of courage is Atticus defendingTom Robinson, a blackman who is innocent of rape but is tried because moveEwell said Tom did it. Atticus knew he would be defeated but he tried to winthe case anyway. Also, though the book doesnt very mention the way Scoutis not happy in school, it requires great courage for Scout to continue togo to school even though she has to deal with a bad first grade teacher. Leespoint in courage is a pers on is not defeated until the person loses reliance andgives up.      The second theme in the book is lady. One of the people of thistheme isScouts Aunt Alexandra, who is constantly scolding Atticus for allowingScout to do unrefined things. Miss Maudie, the towns resident botanist,is a lady who Scouts uncle is always after. Once when Scout is being askedwhat she thinks her occupation would be, she answers, "Just a lady."(p230)Being a lady also has to deal with the types of clothes worn by the lady.