Tien Nguyen ( Christan)

Mrs D
3/27/2020
English class

Atticus’s Little Instruction Book

COURAGE

“I
“I wanted
wanted youyou to
to see
see what
what real
real courage
courage is,
is, instead
instead
of
of getting the idea that courage is a man with a
getting the idea that courage is a man with a
gun
gun in
in his
his hand.
hand. It's
It's when
when you
you know
know you're
you're licked
licked
before
before you begin, but you begin anyway and see
you begin, but you begin anyway and see it
it
through no matter what.”
through no matter what.” pg.128pg.128

This is another one of Atticus' most important quotes in the whole

novel. He says this to Jem after Mrs. Dubose dies. He means that
courage is never giving up even when you feel beaten.
This quote explains that a courage person isn’t the one that look
aggressive. A courage person is a person who is willing to do thing
without having any concern of what going to happen

This quote teaches people that not all manly looking people are
courage. There are those who don’t look like one but acts like one
because they’re willing to take a risk.
COURAGE

 “It
 “It was
was times
times like
like these
these when
when II thought
thought my
my father,
father, who
who hated
hated
guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest
guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man man
who
who ever
ever lived.”
lived.” pg.
pg. 115-116
115-116

Scout recalls meeting Atticus by the post box. They would pass
Mrs. Dubose house and he would give her a friendly greeting.
Scout now realizes, after all that has happened, that her father
is the bravest man she knows. The quote explains that you
don’t have to be manly to be courage. It said that you can’t
assume someone have no courage because they’re weak. A
person can’t look manly, but he/ she can be a very courage
person

It teaches people that you can’t assume someone is not brave

just because of how they look. There are the brave looking one
that are not brave, and there are one that doesn’t look brave but
look brave
THE MOCKINGBIRD

 “Mockingbirds
 “Mockingbirds don’t
don’t do
do one
one thing
thing but
but make
make
music
music for
for us
us to
to enjoy.
enjoy. They
They don’t
don’t eat
eat up
up
people’s
people’s gardens,
gardens, don’t
don’t nest
nest inin corncribs.
corncribs.
They
They don’t
don’t do
do one
one thing
thing but
but sing
sing their
their hearts
hearts
out
out for
for us.
us. That’s
That’s why
why it’s
it’s aa sin
sin to
to kill
kill aa
mockingbird.”
mockingbird.” pg pg 103
103

When Atticus says it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, Scout goes to ask Miss Maudie

about this because it is so seldom that Atticus uses the word sin. Miss Maudie, who
thinks very much like Atticus, explains that mockingbirds do no harm to anyone. In
addition, they do good by singing beautiful songs. It is a sin to kill one because they are
harmless, innocent creatures whose voices add to the beauty of the world.
The quote is significant because both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley behave like
mockingbirds. They don't harm anyone, and they do kindnesses for others. Robinson,
for example, senses Mayella's...The quote explains that you being innocent and why
they should not be killed.This quote teaches people that don’t kill a mockingbird
because it not destructive garden and make people to enjoy in music and help people
differentiate between good and evil
 GOOD AND EVIL

 “Shoot
 “Shoot all
all the
the bluejays
bluejays you
you want,
want, if
if you
you can
can hit
hit
‘em,
‘em, but
but remember
remember it’s
it’s a
a sin
sin to
to kill
kill aa
mockingbird.”
mockingbird.” pg
pg 103
103

The best examples of mockingbirds in this novel are Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.
Both men only try to help people, expecting nothing in return. The message is that it
would be a sin to kill (or harm) such people. One could therefore conclude that the jury
(and the town) sinned by convicting Tom.This quote explain that you can shoot all the
bluejays, which resemble a bad person, but it would be bad to kill a mockingbird, which
resemble a good person.Even though it’s because to kill a person no matter they’re good
or not, but a bad person always deserves some punishment while punishing a good
person would be a sin
GOOD AND EVIL

* She
She was
was the
the bravest
bravest person
person II
ever
ever knew
knew

This is what Mrs. Dubose did.  She had the kids reading to her every day because she needed a
distraction.  Her sickness caused her great pain, and she had become addicted to morphine.  She didn't
want to be dependent on anything - she didn't want to be an addict.  Even though she knew she was
about to die, Mrs. Dubose was determined that she would die free, not controlled by some substance.

Sickness are the represent to evil. With Mrs. Dubose suffer from the sickness. She always stand strong
trying to fight it was the best as she can-
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/help-needed-quote-by-atticus-finch-explained-3
7291
.
MORAL EDUCATION

“"There's
“"There's some
some folks
folks who
who don't
don't eat
eat like
like us,"
us," she
she
whispered
whispered fiercely,
fiercely, "but
"but you
you ain't
ain't called
called on
on to
to contradict
contradict
'em
'em at the table wen they don't. That boy's yo' comp'ny
at the table wen they don't. That boy's yo' comp'ny
and
and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him,
if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you
you
hear?"
hear?" –– Calpurnia
Calpurnia pgpg 27
27

Cal's moral lesson here is to respect people's differences, even if you think
you're better than them. And acting like you're better than other people is the
surest way to show that you're not. This interaction is an early blow against the
stereotype that white people have morals but African-Americans don't—and
Cal follows it up with a loving "blow" of her own

The quote explains that sense of justice

This quote teaches people that moral education can come from a young person,
just as well as an older one and that situations are often more complicated than
they appear ; However , teach everyone to know right or wrong
 MORAL EDUCATION

'First
'First of
of all,'
all,' he
he said,
said, 'If
'If you
you can
can learn
learn aa
simple
simple trick,
trick, Scout,
Scout, you'll
you'll get
get along
along aa lot
lot
better
better with
with all
all kinds
kinds of
of folks
folks pg
pg 33
33

Scout tells Atticus that she did not get along with Miss Caroline and had a terrible day at
school. Atticus then tells Scout that he knows a "simple trick" that will help her get along with
people better. He tells his daughter that she will never understand people until she considers things
from their point of view. Atticus encourages Scout to climb into other people's skin and walk
around in it. He is essentially teaching Scout a lesson in perspective. If Scout learns to perceive
situations from other people's point of view, she will be more tolerant and sympathetic to their
needs. If you now how to get along. Life would be much easier to adapt as you understand the
basics.This quotes teaches people that to be able to easily adapt. You must know to to adapt first
than everything would be so much easier especially with it comes to communicating since not
everyone communicates the same. - https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-trick-did-
atticus-teach-scout-about-getting-78483
THE LAW
“The
“The one
one place
place where
where a a man
man ought
ought to
to
get a square deal is in a courtroom,
get a square deal is in a courtroom,
be
be he
he any
any color
color of
of the
the rainbow,
rainbow, but
but
people
people have
have aa way
way of
of carrying
carrying their
their
resentments
resentments right
right into
into aa jury
jury box.”
box.”
pg
pg 252
252

An ongoing theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the complicated relationship between the
abstract justice system and the individuals who participate in it. Although institutions may
appear fair on paper, each trial is in some way biased by the judge, jury, lawyers, and
other individuals in the courtroom.  Although the verdict was wrong and unjust, Atticus
still says the news wasn't all bad because at least the jury took its time rather than
returning a verdict immediately, and that for him was proof that at least one person on the
jury was doing some thinking--that being Mr. Cunningham. Thus, for Atticus, it's almost
a game of numbers--if the jury had just one more person like Cunningham, the verdict
might have gone the other way.  Finally, Atticus seems to think it's a good thing that
women were not permitted to sit on juries. He smiles when he says this, but it does
indicate some of the issues concerning "southern ladies" in the novel. -
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/quotes/theme/law/
THE LAW
Our
Our courts
courts have
have their
their faults,
faults, as
as
does
does any
any human
human institution,
institution, but
but
in
in this
this country
country our
our courts
courts are
are the
the
great
great levelers,
levelers, and
and in
in our
our courts
courts
all
all men
men are
are created
created equal.”
equal.” pg
pg
233
233

This line comes from Atticus’s closing argument to the jury at Tom Robinson’s trial. He
appeals to the jury’s patriotism by suggesting that American courts ensure equality, which is
one of the country’s foundational principles. However, after this closing argument, Tom
Robinson is wrongly convicted, which shows the deep bias in the court system and disproves
Atticus’s point. This line reveals the instance between the ideal of American courts and the
reality. We all know that the court have power over us, but the law state that they have no
right to abuse the power against us but to instead treat us like we have equal power. Atticus
hopes that by pointing this out, the jury will feel the personal conviction to consider the
evidence in Tom's case without bias..  Some of the evidence shows Tom's physical inability to
commit the actions he is accused of doing, such as hitting Mayella with his crippled hand.
 Atticus wants the jury to not look at the case as a white woman's word against that of a black
man, but as two people telling two different stories.
THE PREJUDICE

You
You never
never really
really understand
understand a a person
person
until
until you
you consider
consider things
things from
from his
his point
point of
of
view—” “Sir?” “—until you climb
view—” “Sir?” “—until you climb into into
his
his skin
skin and
and walk
walk around
around in
in it.”
it.” pg
pg 33
33

You don’t know that person unless you know about them. Knowing a person is
understanding his/ her feelings and emotional. Knowing a person is understanding
his background and knowing why he is who he is now. Being a friend consider
you knowing that person because a friend is pretty close to each other, but being a
friend doesn’t always mean you know him/ her a lot.

This teaches people that even though they’re close to a person, doesn’t mean they
understand them. Maybe that people have something he/ she don’t know. To
actually say you’re close to them. You must first of all, understand them.
THE PREJUDICE
** ““Cry
Cry about
about the
the simple
simple hell
hell people
people
give
give other
other people—without
people—without eveneven
thinking.
thinking. Cry
Cry about
about the
the hell
hell white
white
people
people give
give colored
colored folks,
folks, without
without
even
even stopping
stopping toto think
think that
that they’re
they’re
people,
people, too.”
too.” pg
pg 239
239

No matter what race you are. There shall be no judgment according to who you are
because no matter how or what you look like. You are still a human. In this world,
racism is very uncommon and there are still people who judge by how other look
especially their race. Asian, Black, African, or White. We are all humans. We should
treat one another equally.This quote teaches people that they should treat others
unequally due to their race. They should treat each other equally because they the
same species: human.
  Racism

.. There's
There's something
something inin our
our world
world that
that makes
makes
men
men lose
lose their
their heads—they
heads—they couldn't
couldn't bebe fair
fair if
if
they
they tried.
tried. In
In our
our courts,
courts, when
when it's
it's aa white
white
man's
man's word
word against
against aa black
black man's,
man's, the
the white
white
man
man always
always wins.
wins. They're
They're ugly,
ugly, but
but those
those are
are
the
the facts
facts of
of life.
life.

Having power doesn’t make you special. No matter who you are, weak and powerful,
being racism is a bad desire since it will lead to nothing but consequences. Atticus is
trying to prove to his kids that the reason there is so much hate and bias towards black
people is because of the white people. He feels no difference towards another race and
is trying to make his own children content on non-racial viewing and entering an adult
way of discrimination. Atticus knows most of the people that show up in the mob
outside the courthouse, but their fear has taken over; rational, logical thought isn't
possible in the face of such racist mass hysteria.  That fear was what led the jury to
decide as it did.  Atticus tries to be optmistic though; he feels that the jury taking so
long was a good sign, a turn for the better.  At least he was able to make the men think
for a bit before they turned their minds over to the fear.
 Racism

“Your
“Your father
father no
no better
better than
than the
the
niggers
niggers and
and trash
trash he
he works
works for”pg
for”pg
117
117

Jem gets so upset with this that he takes Scout's baton and cuts all the
tops off of Mrs. Dubose's camelia bushes.  For this he was punished,
He cleaned up the front yard and promised to work every Saturday on
her yard to try to grow the camelias back to their original condition,
and he had to read each day to Mrs. Dubose every afternoon
and Saturdays for two hours.  Later the reader finds out that Mrs.
Dubose was a morphine addict
Social Inequality

* “During
“During his
his five
five years
years in
in Maycomb,
Maycomb, Atticus
Atticus
practiced
practiced economy
economy more
more than
than anything;
anything; for
for
several
several years
years thereafter
thereafter he
he invested
invested his
his
earnings
earnings in
in his
his brother’s
brother’s education.”
education.” pg
pg 55

No matter if he/ she is poor or not. You still. Have no right to tell them that
they’re poor since it would lead to nothing but shame on their face. You
wouldn’t want to hurt their feeling. This is showing us that Atticus and his
family are smart well of people because of education. Because the Ewells
didn’t stay in school and they obviously weren't well off people. This shows
us that people’s life are going to be different depending on the amount or
accessibility to education they have.
Social Inequality

“When
“When they
they finally
finally saw
saw him,
him, why why hehe hadn’t
hadn’t
doneany
doneany of of those
those things
things .. .. .. Atticus,
Atticus, he
he was
was
real
real nice. . . .” His hands were under my chin,
nice. . . .” His hands were under my chin,
pulling
pulling up
up the
the cover,
cover, tucking
tucking it it around
around me.
me.
“Most
“Most people
people are,are, Scout,
Scout, when
when you you finally
finally see
see
them.”
them.” He
He turned
turned outout the
the light
light and
and went
went into
into
Jem’s
Jem’s room.
room. He He would
would bebe there
there allall night,
night, and
and
he
he would be there when Jem waked up in the
would be there when Jem waked up in the
morning.”
morning.” pg pg 322-323
322-323

* As Scout falls asleep, she is telling Atticus about the events of The Gray Ghost, a book in which
one of the characters is wrongly accused of committing a crime and is pursued. When he is
finally caught, however, his innocence is revealed. As Scout sleepily explains the story to
Atticus, saying that the character was “real nice” when “they finally saw him,” Atticus gently
notes the truth of that observation. In this way, Lee closes the book with a subtle reminder of the
themes of innocence, accusation, and threat that have run throughout it, putting them to rest by
again illustrating the wise moral outlook of Atticus: if one lives with sympathy and
understanding, then it is possible to retain faith in humanity despite its capacity for evil—to
believe that most people are “real nice.” Additionally, this passage emphasizes Atticus’s strong,
loving role as a parent to Scout and Jem—he tucks Scout in, then goes to sit by Jem’s bedside all
night long
 Works cited
• “Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird.” Prezi.com,
prezi.com/exh2qd9mle6g/racism-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird/.

• “TKAM Social Inequality.” Prezi.com, prezi.com/ukjnyrrzhdg4/tkam-social-

inequality/.

• Aziz. “5 Lines Showing the Theme ‘The Importance of Moral Education’ (Pg
Number Please): To Kill a Mockingbird Questions: Q & A.” GradeSaver,
www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/q-and-a/5-lines-showing-the-the
me-the-importance-of-moral-education-pg-number-please-170979
.

• “To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com,

www.enotes.com/homework-help/show-some-evidence-support-this-quote-th
at-atticus-644645
.

• “To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com,

www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-significance-harper-lees-kill-
mockingbird-185047.