ediate demand for money, but not
             a permanent drain on his scant resources. He had no longer believed what
             Zeena had told him of the supposed seriousness of her state: he saw in her
             expedition to Bettsbridge only a plot hatched between herself and her
             Pierce relations to foist on him the cost of a servant; and for the moment
             wrath predominated. (Wharton) Furthermore, he was in love with Maggie.
             Ethan's weakness can be seen when Mattie excitedly suggests, "Ethan! Ethan!
             I want you to take me down again! †So t we'll never come up anymore"
             (Wharton). This scene not only illustrates Ethan's weakness and
             insecurity, for he was not the one to suggest that the two of them do
             anything, it shows us how unstable he can be. Mattie has just confessed
             her love for him and the best he can do is aim the sled at the tree. The
             truly sad thing is that he messed that up, too. After the unsuccessful
             suicide, he and Mattie are left at the mercy of heartless Zeena. This
             depiction of human weakness is timeless because the character of Ethan
             could be anyone anywhere at anytime. We are compelled to feel sympathy for
             him as well as be angry with him for not trying harder to make things
             Harper Lee expounds on a theme that encourages understanding of self and
             others in To Kill A Mockingbird. Through issues of prejudice and good
             versus evil, the children can come to understand why some people behave the
             way that they do. Atticus stresses the importance of education, as well as
             a sense of morality in his children. Perhaps the greatest lesson to be
             learned from To Kill a Mockingbird is that of sympathy and understanding.
             We learn these lessons with the children through the characters o
             ...