Rumors Problems in to Kill a Mockingbird

School can become a little overrated when it comes to real life issues and real-life lessons. In To A Mockingbird, it really shows that you learn more important life lessons outside of school. In this story, she learned that you shouldn't let rumors control you, that sometimes you have to suck it up and just deal with a problem and to look in others perspective.

Rumors are a big problem in everyday life but specifically, in this story, it is a big part.

On page 163 Jem says“That’s just his way,” “They say he never got over his weddin‘. He was supposed to marry one of the—the Spencer ladies, I think. They were gonna have a huge weddin’, but they didn’t—after the rehearsal, the bride went upstairs and blew her head off. Shotgun. She pulled the trigger with her toes.”. This is important because it puts a negative image on Mr. Raymond and tries to make him look either depressed, crazy, or both. The second example is on page 204 when Mr. Raymond talks about how its just soda, “Yes ma’am,” Mr. Raymond nodded. I liked his smell: it was of leather, horses, cottonseed. He wore the only English riding boots I had ever seen. “That’s all I drink, most of the time.” “Then you just pretend you’re half—? I beg your pardon, sir,” I caught myself. “I didn’t mean to be—”. This is important because it shows how everyone negative perception makes him have to look like he is drinking so they won't bother him. Finally on page 8 through 12 scout talks about what she heard about Boo Radley and how everyone is afraid of him. At the end of the story, it basically shows that it was all a hoax and that actually he is a really good person that doesn't deserve any of that. Rumors are what this story starts with and what it will eventually end with.

The next reason is a lesson she mainly learned from her father which is sometimes you have to suck it up and things that others won't. The first example of this is when Mrs. Maudie tells Jem on page 219 “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them”. In this quote, it shows how Atticus had to take on a job that he knew he wasn't going to win. On page 219 Mrs. Maudie tells Jem and Scout “His colored friends for one thing and people like us. People like Judge Taylor. People like Mr. Heck Tate. Stop eating and start thinking Jem. Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor might have had his reasons for naming him?”. That shows how Atticus was given this job because he was the fittest for the job and that he has support to back him up even though everyone knew he was going to lose. The last example is on page 216 when Atticus talks about the case “I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it—seems that only children weep. Goodnight”. This shows how even Atticus knew what was destined to happen and what will happen after that for time to come.

The main thing Scout learns in this is to have a better perspective on things. On page 159 Atticus talks about how they made Walter go into there shoes “your children last night made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough”. This was important because gave her a glimpse of how someone could be in her shoes for a problem. Another example of time was on page 222 when Atticus told Jem about Bob Ewell spitting in his face, “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial if he had any, to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take”. This example not only teaches her about being in someone else's shoes but also shows how to be selfless. The final example which actually shows that she learned the lesson on page 283 and she said “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough”. This shows how Atticus taught her a lesson that is brought up a bunch in the story.

You learn a lot in school but most of the time you learn the most valuable things outside of school and this story is no exception. She learned that you shouldn't let rumors control you, that sometimes you have to suck it up and just deal with a problem and to look in others perspective. You can be really book smart but the most important kind of smart is street smart because of your only school for so long.

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