In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a major theme that is evident in the book is the idea of maturity and a loss of innocence, especially in the younger characters. As one of the main characters, Atticus, was a lawyer who dealt with major issues in Maycomb, his children, a young girl named Scout and her brother Jem, were forced to mature at a very young age. They were the most affected by growth in the book, and showed their maturity by becoming more empathetic, controlling their actions, and changing their views on society.
Also, during the missionary meeting, instead of going to Helen Robinson when her husband died, Scout decided to stay at the meeting (317). This shows maturity on Scout's part, because she put aside her curiosity in order to comfort and not worry the other ladies of the circle. By putting others' needs in front of her own, she showed growth past her childish ignorance. The summer after the big trial, Scout
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"Do all lawyers defend n-Negroes, Atticus?" she had said, trying hard to follow her father's words. She had never used the word in bad context again, and showed her maturity by showing respect to the black people, instead of acting like her fellow schoolmates. Her brother Jem also changed his views on Maycomb as he grew up. When Scout opposed his theory of "family background", Jem replied, "That's what I thought too, when I was your age. If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they's all alike, why do the go out of their way to despise each other (304)?" As Jem witnessed the trial and Atticus's feuds with the other familes in Maycomb, he realized that there was a lot of hate in the world. In conclusion, maturity and loss of innocence were big themes in the book To Kill A Mockingbird. Scout and Jem became more empathetic, controlled their actions, and changed their views on the world. As
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout’s transformation from naive to mature as the novel progresses is evidenced
Aside from learning about her fellow citizens of Maycomb, Scout also had to start to protect herself, and her father from their neighbors and classmates. The atmosphere of discrimination towards the black defendant, and hatred towards their father, caused many uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous situations for the Finch Family. When Scout is confronted by her uncle Jack about a fight between Herself and her classmate, Scout responds “-tell you one thing right now, Uncle Jack, I’ll be-- I swear before God if I’ll sit there and let him say something about Atticus.” (114) This quote explains how she had to protect her father, and she could not just stand around and let him say malicious things about Atticus. Those actions were very brave of Scout, but she did not stop there.
The development of characters throughout the book, and what children learn puts it in perspective how children lack a complete comprehension of the world surrounding them. In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout learns about respecting other’s views and that everybody else does not understand how she mentally puts her learnings into context. The characters of Atticus as well Miss Maudie reveals to the reader a theme that is being shown by Harper Lee; maturation; Scout as well Jem mature throughout the short time that’s elapsed in the book, helped by the models listed previously. Atticus’ character is evident in this chapter. We see him teaching Jem and Scout about respect and other’s views.
Harper Lee uses the main characters Jem and Scout coming of age to help understand their perspective in how others are treated. “I was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learned to hold in, the better off everybody would be.”(Lee 74) , explained Scout. The quote
He heard gossip about his father from the whole town and he sees firsthand the evil in the people of Maycomb. “I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like” (Lee 288). Jem recognizes that there are that there are different types of people in his community. He watches his community send an innocent to death due to the color of his skin. “I don’t know, but they did it.
Frolicking around with an impish eye, short bangs, and old overalls little Jean Louise Finch could cause quite a tumult in the solitary town of Maycomb County. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird Scout portrays many precocious character qualities. She became literate at the young age of six and fluently read stock market data and daily newspapers. Little Scout also has meddling ways and a fascination with her mysterious neighbors, the Radleys. Additionally, she defended those closest to her in all circumstances.
For example the person that Scout look up most to was Atticus because he has the biggest influence on Scout. At the beginning, Scout wishes Atticus was younger and more active, like other fathers. As the book progresses, Scout begins to respect Atticus for his courage and his ways of parenting. By the end of the book, Scout is on her way to becoming a young woman whom Atticus can be proud of Scout’s development into a person capable of assuming that outlook marks the culmination of the novel and indicates that, whatever evil she encounters, she will retain her conscience without becoming cynical or tired. Though she is still a child at the end of the book, Scout’s perspective on life develops from that of an innocent child into that of a near grown-up.
To Kill a Mockingbird In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the two main characters are two children named Jem and Scout. These two children go through many journeys together as they become more wise and mature. There lives are shaken when their dad, a lawyer in the town of Maycomb, gets a case involving a persecuted black man who is charged with rape. The children become more mature and wise as they go through the hard time. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, contrary to what most believe, Jem developed the most wisdom/maturity of all the characters.
Atticus has molded his children by exposing them to people in the town of Maycomb who have questionable morals in order to teach his children acceptance. Jem and Scout live in a primarily racist society and learn quickly that the children's
The children are exposed to reality by inquiring Atticus about the defense. Once again, their relationship is the key to discovering the truth. Atticus relates to Jem on a level that he can handle, and then Jem will tell Scout. Another factor that develops the plot is Jem’s transition into his teen years. He is growing throughout the whole novel, and with this he becomes more independent of Scout.
Theme: Maturity Leading the reader to the realisation that maturity is one theme the author wants to express, is the presentation of maturity in various shapes and forms. The way Scout describes Jem as “[someone who] had acquired a set of values” (Lee 153) implies the evolution which Jem was subjected to. As it is deductible by Jem’s reaction to the news of Mrs Dubose’s death, how “[he] buried his face in Atticus’s shirt” (Lee 148) and cried, the event impacted Jem enormously, which consequently is the reason of his sudden growth. Additionally, it is possible to see Jem maturing by him breaking “the remaining code of [Scout, Dill and Jem’s] childhood” (Lee 187) and telling Atticus about Dill running from his house. Also how he separates himself from Dill and Scout and doesn’t play with them anymore.
Scout is still young and doesn’t get what the people around her perspective’s are. Atticus who is older and wise helps her understand what is going on. Then get’s to understand the point of view of Arthur Radley and Jem. she got to see who Arthur Radley was and understand his point of view, as well as to understand why jem was acting
Children are very impressionable people. Almost everything around them changes them in some way. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main characters, Scout and Jem, start out as little kids who spend their days making up stories and playing sill games. Then their dad, who is a lawyer, takes on a case defending a black man who has been charged with rape. Since they live in Alabama, The whole family has to absorb some pretty ugly things, which forces Scout and Jem to grow up quickly, and it gives them a different and more mature view of the world.
To Kill A Mockingbird has several themes, but to me the one that stands out the most is growing up and how your perspective on things change as you age. I feel that young readers today can still align with this theme because as you get older your opinions, actions and thoughts do and should change based on your experiences. Throughout this essay I will be citing some specific examples to support my thesis. One of the main characters in the story is Scout. Scout is the narrator of the whole book.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the reader follows Scout Finch through her childhood for several years. In this time, we see her grow, change and mature. There are also many examples of other characters who are immature and childlike, and those who are grownup. These characters are grownup in how they try to be understanding of people, don’t take part in gossip, and take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others.