Below are a few examples of lessons learned by Scout in Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
CHAPTER 12. Scout learns that Calpurnia speaks one way in the Finch house and a different way at church.
CHAPTER 16. Scout discovers that Atticus is beginning to take charge of his household again, "a quiet digging in" against Aunt Alexandra.
Scout also learns the definition of a "mixed child."
"Half white, half colored. You've seen 'em, Scout. You know that red-kinky-headed one that delivers for the drugstore? He's half white. They're real sad.
"Sad, how come?"
"They don't belong anywhere. Colored folks won't have 'em 'cause they're half white; white folks won't have 'em 'cause they're colored, so they're just in-betweens..."
CHAPTER 20. Scout finds out Dolphus Raymond's secret--that he doesn't really sip whiskey out of the paper bag.
She also learns just how much respect Atticus commands from Mr. Raymond.
"... you don't know your pa's not a run-of-the-mill man, it'll take a few years for that to sink in--you haven't seen enough of the world yet..."
CHAPTER 22. Scout sees for herself just how well respected Atticus is in the black Maycomb community. "The kitchen table was loaded with enough food to bury the family."
CHAPTER 23. Scout feels what it's like to step into Bob Ewell's shoes after he spits in Atticus' face. Atticus tells her that "I destroyed his last shred of credibility at the trial... the man had to have some kind of comeback..."
Scout learns that Tom Robinson may get the electric chair if Atticus doesn't win on appeal, even though the jury could have given him a sentence as light as 20 years.
Additionally, Scout is amazed to find that women cannot serve on juries in Alabama--even Miss Maudie.
CHAPTER 24. When Atticus interrupts Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle to give the news about Tom Robinson's death, Scout sees a new side of her aunt. Upset about Tom's death, Alexandra composes herself and returns to serving the ladies without a sign that anything has happened.
After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.
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