“Sometimes the most important life lessons are the ones we end up learning the hard way. » This famous quote is displayed throughout Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, as Scout and Jem engage in difficult life lessons by rejecting societal beliefs and advocating for equality. Scout and Jem are exposed to moral courage, prejudice, justice, and injustice within early 1930s society through understanding Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, and witnessing the trial scene. The maturation of Scout and Jem's perspective amplifies the importance of the lessons learned, while gaining a more complex understanding of the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Scout and Jem explore moral courage through interaction with Mrs. Dubose. The Finch children are initially afraid of Mrs. Dubose due to the community's preconceived belief that her character is mean and bad-tempered. However, Jem and Scout's attitude develops through her character interaction, learning that Mrs. Dubose is a courageous fighter, overcoming her addiction to morphine while Atticus reinforces the lesson by stating, "I wanted you see what true courage is, instead of having the idea that Courage is a man with a gun in his hand. Juxtaposition is used in this quote, contrasting the childish point of view with the true nature of moral courage. By exposing Mrs. Dubose's courage to Jem and Scout, the children learn a new meaning of courage as they grow up understanding the lesson about the importance of moral courage. Additionally, Scout develops an understanding of unwarranted prejudice through Boo Radley. Boo Radley is initially portrayed as a recluse, described by some as a violent man or a malicious ghost. As Scout and Jem grow up, they discover an innocent and compassionate "Mockingbird", through his gifts, acts of kindness and ultimately saving their lives. Scout learns the importance of destroying prejudice when she says, “Atticus was right. He once said that you never really know a man until you step into his shoes and walk around in him. All it took was standing on Radley's porch. This metaphorical statement of considering another belief encapsulates the scouts' empathy toward Boo Radley, a good individual weakened by prejudice. Scouts' character grows by developing an understanding of the life lesson of rejecting prejudice. Additionally, Jem explores the difficult lesson of justice and injustice by observing the trial. Before his conviction, Jem had instilled great hope in his community for equality, due to his naivety. However, as the jury convicts Tom Robinson despite his innocence, Jem suddenly realizes the presence of an injustice within the trial as Scout states: "I glanced at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony railing, and his shoulders shook as if each of them were “guilty”. ' was a separate stab between them. The repetition of the phrase "guilty" reinforces the inequality within the justice system, while Jem feels stabbed, a symbol of his maturity while learning the devastating lesson of injustice. Jem was not aware of the darker side of human nature, as the trial scene is the catalyst to understand the lesson of justice and injustice. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, Scout and Jem..