To kill a mockingbird?

atticus is always saying for scout to "climb into his skin and walk around in it" in order to understand a person. why doesn't he say " walk a mile in his shoes?" why does he say "walk around in their skin" which is a more common saying?

To kill a mockingbird?
It is a matter of skin color. When this book was written, civil rights and Jim Crow laws we're still major social issues. To "Walk in ones skin" is more appropriate in this situation, because racism is the theme of the book, and by saying "a walk in their skin", Harper Lee makes clear the theme of the book
Reply:I read this book but at the beginning of the school year and I really don't remember the meaning of it but maybe he said "into his skin" so to emphasize the fact of the difference in skin color. Black and white ya know?


Hope it helps
Reply:walk a mile in his shoes is now a common saying but maybe when to kill a mockingbird was written it wasn't so common or maybe never heard of so he just may something up
Reply:no idea, but i think it's his custom, or his personality tells him to be different. he might relate better to walking in skin than in shoes.


hope this helps
Reply:hey !!


atticus says that to explain it more clearly to a child !! remeber scout is not a fully grown adult ........thought he never treated her liek a hcild he explained to her in a way she would understnd !!


all the best


tc
Reply:Because that is the line Harper Lee had him say, keep in mind that this book was written more than 40 years ago and the story takes place 70 years ago in the rural south, they may have used different sayings there and then.



CAT