Morality is central to To Kill a Mockingbird, so moral education occurs throughout the story. The character who tells this story is a child who is observing an adult world and seeing how morality is undercut in society. The narrator, Scout, is about eight years old, and her sense of right and wrong is abiding, but her observations of how right and wrong play out among adults reveal society's hypocrisy.
Two of the best quotes from Atticus (Scout's father) help indicate how moral values are taught in the book. Atticus says,
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
He also notes,
When a child asks a question, answer him for goodness sake, but don't make a production out of it. Children are children, but they can spot evasion quicker than adults.
Atticus and other adults in the book give advice and have specific attitudes that reveal their moral character.
Calplurnia, the family maid, is big on enforcing rules about how to act. Early in the book, when Scout brings home a backwoods classmate for supper (lunch) and he pours half the jar of syrup on his food, Scout comments. Calpurnia pulls her aside and tells her to be gracious to her guests and to keep her mouth shut.
Miss Maudie, the optimistic and non-conformist neighbor, is an example to Scout of an independent woman. Her morality is to keep her spirits up and to provide an example. She also tells Scout directly what is important in how to treat others.
Atticus is fond of making short speeches about right and wrong, but his actions back them up. He speaks of courage and acts courageously, for example when he shoots the rabid dog that threatens the neighborhood. His quotes reveal that he tells children what they need to know; his actions provide an example, and there are many instances of this throughout the book. His handling of the court proceedings, for example, shows his courage and his adherence to his convictions.
Tom Robinson provides moral education by standing upright, telling the truth, and representing the outsider who is unjustly accused. Boo Radley does the same by acting kindly even though he is an outcast. After the children have to evacuate their home and stand out in the cold during the fire at Miss Maudie's house, Boo—under cover of darkness—puts a blanket over Scout. This gentle act prompts Scout to fess up to Atticus about her and Jem's ongoing attempt to figure Boo Radley out, leading to another lesson of morality from Atticus about leaving people be.
Scout's mistakes, missteps, and experiences of adversity almost always lead to a morality lesson—one she learns internally, from a specific scolding, or from a piece of advice she receives from an adult.
As for the effects of the moral education, it can be seen clearly in both Jem and Scout as they mature over the course of the story. Scout learns to appreciate what she has, to understand the hypocrisy of a racist society, and to respect others who are different. Jem learns courage and compassion through taking care of their neighbor Mrs. Dubose, who demonstrated courage in the face of great pain.
The kids both learned their lessons through observation and having reliable, loving, and kind adults in their lives—not just Atticus but most of the adults they encountered.
Moral education is addressed through Jem and Scout's relationship with their father. Throughout the novel, Atticus teaches both of his children important life lessons on perspective, real courage, sympathy, and tolerance. Atticus not only has one-on-one conversations with his children, explaining to them the importance of self-control, integrity, and respect, he also acts as a role model and demonstrates how to behave morally in difficult situations. Jem and Scout watch as their father treats Mrs. Dubose with respect, forgives Walter Cunningham, sympathizes with Bob Ewell, and valiantly defends Tom Robinson in front of a racist jury. Jem and Scout listen to their father's advice and develop into well-behaved children with perspective on the world around them. The children learn the importance of protecting innocent beings, standing up for what they believe in, and being tolerant toward people with different ideologies.
Atticus also challenges his children to forgive others by purposefully putting them in difficult situations. For example, Atticus makes Jem read to their racist neighbor as punishment for destroying her camellias and also makes Scout apologize for getting an attitude with Aunt Alexandra. Overall, Jem and Scout are morally educated by listening to Atticus's life lessons and witnessing their father behave morally in difficult situations.
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