To Kill a Mockingbird As Scout and Jem begin to face life's bigger questions, they realize that all is not as it seems. First published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lees is about a girl's childhood in the small Southern town of Maycomb and how her life is changed forever. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird illustrates the cowardice of the county's adults, their ingrained prejudices, and the courage of their kind-hearted children. Everyone has an innate fear within them, and if not careful, the fear will come out acting as cowardice. Scout finds a tire in a tree knot outside the Radley house; taking someone's personal property out of greed is theft and it is wrong "one afternoon, while I was running, something caught my attention and I was caught in such a way that I took a deep breath, looked around for a long time and ran back" ( Lee33) . Mr. Ewell was also one who committed mean acts. "This morning Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the corner of the post office, spat in his face, then told him he would get him with the rest of his life." (Lee290) This is evidence of the cowardice of Bob Ewell, who threatened Atticus because he was defending a black man. These connect to Françoise's quailing acts “François broke free and rushed into the kitchen 'nigger lover!' yelled (lee83).” He insulted Scout and then attempted to hide behind someone who would protect him. These are some moments of cowardice, but there are also moments of courage. There are many important traits in a good person: honesty, integrity, compassion, courage. Atticus shows courage in not wanting to kill a rabid dog that threatens the city “I haven't shot a gun in 30 years”(Lee33). He thinks he has an unfair advantage in life because of his wonderful… middle of paper… and the lake that is the cold, hard truth. Scout followed Dill to that lake when she was asked "what will happen when you grow up, Jean Louise?" (Lee229) this question got rid of the last shred of the scouts childhood, forever, and his life will never be the same again because it makes us focus on the future instead of the present and they say "you can hold on to the future with the chest that leaves the arms too full to embrace the present” (Jan Glidewell) illustrates the cowardice of the adults of the county, the ingrained prejudices and the courage of their kind-hearted children of adults towards others and their ability to condemn blacks to a submissive lifestyle; the consequential qualities of children that allow them to forgive, to be honest and to have an unfailing sense of equality.