Department of English

Spring 2007 High School Edition

Taking the Higher Road

Tawnya Yardley
Formal Essay (11th-12th)
First Place (tie)
Beaver High School
Teacher: Merrilee Eyre

Harper Lee presented a variety of themes; one of the strongest themes was that of taking the higher road. Taking the higher road entails standing for what is right, being true to ourselves, and, even in the face of criticism and adversity from those around us, following our inner moral compass. It is a challenge that we are faced with from day to day. It is an ongoing process. Atticus displayed this quality with unwavering strength, and Lee showed how that, although young, Scout was also able to discern the consistency in Atticus’ life and gain this skill herself with so many people lack today.

Atticus was constantly setting the example of taking the higher road. He was always true to his moral compass, knowing that the world’s opinion was of little matter. As hard as it was, Atticus never compromised what was right. It certainly wasn’t easy to defend Tom Robinson, a Negro in the community. Atticus was ridiculed by lifelong friends, neighbors, and family. When Scout asked why he did it, he told her, “If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you and Jem not to do something again” (Lee, 75). In order to stay true to himself, Atticus didn’t let others’ faults justify his own. Instead, he learned from their faults. Mrs. Dubose accused him of being an awful father and called him names. Of course, he didn’t like this, but he didn’t get offended by it, and still he treated her with courtesy. Mrs. Dubose was not the only one. Atticus treated each person with the same respect, no matter their age, color, or economical position. This service to others caused him many problems, but he didn’t mind. Atticus realized that others like him had faults they too were inwardly struggling with; he didn’t justify those imperfections but instead loved them in spite. For example, in order to save the houseful of Ewell children from an extra beating, Atticus didn’t mind having Bob spit tobacco juice in his face. People recognized Atticus for his dedication to be the bigger person, and some even followed his example, one of which was his own daughter Scout.

Like everyone, Scout began life knowing nothing and was led by the ways of the world. Although she didn’t want to play the game of Boo Radley, she did anyway since both Jem and Dill were. She didn’t stick up for what she knew was right, because she was afraid of being excluded. The world would have us think that life depends upon following the crowd, and at first, Scout did. On her first day of school, she beat up Walter Cunningham for starting her off on the wrong foot with her teacher Miss Caroline, when really it wasn’t Walter’s fault. However, this was done out of innocence. Never had Scout considered the advice that Atticus gave her when he said, “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” (Lee, 30).

Scout took Atticus’s advice and applied it to her life. She was able to be around Jem and not get offended when he wouldn’t talk to her. However, this change was not immediate. As all else it takes practice to make perfect. There were times that she still lost her patience, such as the time she beat up her cousin Cecil. However, Scout continued trying. By learning from the example set by her father, Scout became her own person. She was willing to stand up for herself and no longer let Jem be her boss, even though this meant being excluded from many of the boys’ secrets and games. While the whole neighborhood saw blacks as “Niggers,” Scout saw them as people. She was able to talk to Reverend Sykes and the other Negros like civilized people. Scout recognized people for who they were, not just what they did. She fell in love with mischievous, fun-loving Dill, who was always getting into trouble and lying. She came to see that Boo Radley was actually a nice person. Like Atticus said, “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them” (Lee, 281). Indeed, Scout had learned to take the higher road by finding good in those who seemed to lack good.

Lee gave us direction, just as Atticus gave Scout, in order that we may better ourselves to take the road less travelled—the Higher Road. If we too follow the simple guidelines by staying true to ourselves and by applying knowledge in our lives, each of us can learn to walk to path that few in the world today travel: the Higher Road, straight and narrow, where our moral compass guides us down the journey of life.

Works Cited:

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Warner Books: New York, 1982.