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Parenting Styles In To Kill A Mockingbird

Decent Essays

To Kill a Mockingbird
Whether good or bad, parents are the most important people in a child's life. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the parent-child relationships the author shows is the effect of different parenting. The book takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. This little town comprises many tight knit families, each looking out for one another. To Kill a Mockingbird exploits the relationships between Scout and Atticus, Mayella and Bob Ewell, and Dill and his father. There is a considerable different shown between each family and there parenting style.
Atticus is dedicated to his children. His parenting style is of good moral guidance, strong sense of morality and justice. Atticus knows right from wrong and tries to teach scout the same. Scout looks to her father for advice when Jem hits puberty and acts stern towards her. He tells her "consider things from his point of view" (39). Atticus realises that Scout is young. But he teaches her that people should not judge. Be compassionate towards others by stepping in their shoes. Scout calls her father …show more content…

Unlike the relationship between Atticus and Scout, Mayella and her father's relationship took a turn for the worst. Throughout Maycomb the Ewells are one of the least appreciated family. The Ewells comprised of around 10 children, and live behind a dump. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Atticus questions him. Mr Robinson tells Atticus "she never kissed a grown man before an' what her papa do to her don't count" (260). After this is said the Ewells’ family is revealed to the whole town. Bob and Mayellas relationship is abusive and sexual. Because Tom says “what her papa do to her” reveals that Bob is still abusing Mayella. Mayella cannot trust her father as he is constantly getting drunk and wandering around town. Since the trail, the Ewells social status falls even further and Mayella’s future is ruined because of her father’s actions towards

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