Education is emphasized throughout the novel. Atticus Finch, father of Scout, the novel's protagonist, and Jem, attempts to instill this value in his children. Atticus teaches his two children the basics by reading to them as if they were adults. He also teaches them morality by encouraging his children to try to see events through other people's perspectives.
The existence of prejudice is the most obvious theme of the novel. This theme centers around Atticus Finch's legal defense of Tom Robinson, a local African-American man accused of raping a young white girl. Despite the overwhelmingly convincing arguments Atticus makes to prove Tom's innocence, Tom is still condemned, revealing the town's blatant prejudice and ignorance.
It is important to look at gender inequality and to examine how women are treated. Scout often finds herself limited and stereotyped because of her gender, and consequently attempts to become as much a tomboy as she can. Social inequality can also be seen in the positions women hold in the novel.
Over the course of the novel, Jem and Scout move from a state of childhood innocence to a more mature and experienced perspective. This is most acutely seen over the course of Tom Robinson's trial. During the trial, the Finch children realize that racism and social inequality exist. While watching the trial, the children learn to accept these facts while maintaining a basic faith in human goodness.