Moral Education

“Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop” (page 30).

           In this quotation, Jem helps Scout develop her moral education. Walter Cunningham, although quite a bit older than Scout, is about her size (due to malnutrition). Jem understands this, but Scout does not; she only sees someone to pick on. Further down the page, when Jem invites Walter to their house for dinner, he is demonstrating compassion towards Walter. 

         Harper Lee has taught me 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. This quotation is also related to the quote used for Innocence and Experience, because if Scout put herself in Walter Cunningham's skin and walked around in it, she would understand what he is going through and maybe be a little more compassionate towards him. 

       

“ ‘Atticus says cheatin’ a colored man is ten times worse than cheatin’ a white man,’ I muttered. ‘Says its the worst thing you can do’ “ (Page 269).

              Raymond goes on to explain that Atticus is not an average Southern man, which means he is not a racist. Black people at this time in history were much more disadvantaged than white people, which makes taking advantage of them even worse. This quotation taught me that, although to scam someone in general is wrong, it it worse to cheat someone who is clearly underprivileged. I realize that this can also fall under the Existence of Social Inequality, as it is part of a moral education that everyone should know.