To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Theme

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Austin Gasparini Period 2 Theme Essay Life is one of the most difficult games one can possibly play. Everything in life is a mystery and just like any game, life is not always fair. This belief is exemplified in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee on many occasions. Three of these occasions are Scout’s encounters with Miss Caroline, Scout’s discussion of the Cunninghams with Jem, and Tom Robinson’s trial and his eventual sentencing. Atticus once told Scout to look from another person’s perspective in order to rationalize their decisions. Had Scout heard this piece of advice before she first encountered her teacher Miss Caroline, their initial exchanges might have gone much better. “Miss Caroline told me to tell my father…show more content…
“No, everybody’s gotta learn, nobody’s born knowin’. That Walter’s as smart as he can be, he just gets held back sometimes because he has to stay out and help his daddy. Nothin’s wrong with him. Naw, Jem, I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (Lee 304). The Cunninghams are one of the most poverty sticken families in the town. Their financial situation has also indirectly led to Scout’s unfair treatment at the hands of one of her teachers. In this quote, Scout is explaining to Jem that she does not believe that Walter is naturally unintelligent because his father is. Scout’s view is in this is that Walter is held back from his education and future because of his family’s poverty. He does not have the same opportunity as Jem and she do, because he is stuck aiding his father. The popular clichè that your team is only as strong as its weakest player fits in nicely here. As long as Walter is being unfairly dragged down by his father’s incompetence, he will never be able to achieve his full

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