Wednesday, May 27, 2015

What are five quotes that are examples of honor in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout and her father have many important conversations,
but one very important one happens in chapter three:


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He tells Scout, 'You never really understand a
person until you walk around in their skin,' indicating to Scout to consider things from
the other person's point of
view.



Again, Scout and her
father are having an important conversation as to why Atticus is defending Tom Robinson.
Atticus states that he would not respect himself if he did not do what he thinks is
right by defending Tom:


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'If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are
you doin' it?'

'For a number of reasons,' said Atticus. 'The main one
is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in
the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.'
[…] 

'Atticus, are we going to win it?'

'No,
honey.' 

'Then why-' 

'Simply because we were licked
a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,' Atticus said.
(Chapter 9)



Atticus is being
realistic. He thinks they are going to lose, but the truth has to begin somewhere.
Perhaps, people will begin changing knowing that Atticus is defending
Tom.



When Scout is speaking with her father, she
states what other folks are thinking:


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'Atticus, you must be
wrong....'


'How's
that?'


'Well, most folks seem to think they're right and
you're wrong....'



'They're certainly entitled to
think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions,' said Atticus, 'but
before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that
doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.' (Chapter
11)



This conversation is
quite important in that Scout is really questioning whether or not Atticus is wrong in
defending Tom Robinson. Based on what others think, Atticus is wrong. But even in their
own thoughts, Atticus states that they are entitled to full respect for their
opinions.


Another instance when Atticus is teaching his
children respect occurs in chapter eleven. Even when Mrs. Dubose is rude, Atticus says
she has to be shown respect:


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'Son, I have no doubt that you've been annoyed
by your contemporaries about me lawing for niggers, as you say, but to do something like
this to a sick old lady is inexcusable. I strongly advise you to go down and have a talk
with Mrs. Dubose,' said Atticus. 'Come straight home afterward.' (Chapter
11)



Atticus insists that his
children treat everyone with respect, even when others are
rude.


Atticus realizes he is fighting a losing battle, but
he is determined to tell the truth:


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'Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he's
not going till the truth's told.' Atticus's voice was even. 'And you know what the truth
is.' (Chapter 15)



Atticus did
his best to defend Tom Robinson. Even though he lost the trial, he won a war in that he
did the right thing, no matter how many people were offended by
it.

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