In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents a life of Jean Louis Finch, also known as Scout, growing up in a small town. The setting of the story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1960’s. Life for Scout growing up appears difficult because of the Great Depression, racial inequality, white supremacy, and peoples’ prejudiced mindset. In the beginning of the book, Scout’s character shows her innocence, her tomboyish side, her adventurous personality, and her ability to question and observe the goodness and evilness of society. By the end of the novel, Scout learns fighting does not fix everything, possessing lady-like characteristics obtain value and holding prejudiced thoughts reflects in every person’s life. Atticus Finch and Calpurnia instill fundamental advice into Scout that she needs for development and success in life.
When one grows up, it is inevitable they will lose their innocence. Seeing the world through rose colored glasses can only take one so far, and eventually they will have to open their eyes to real issues in their lives. While this happens at different ages for everyone, Atticus in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee believes that his kids should not be sheltered from the real world. As Scout and Jem, Atticus’ children, grow up, especially in a time where Maycomb is so segregated, Atticus teaches his kids real life lessons and to not become like the rest of their town; racist and judgemental. This comes with a cost, however, as the kids “grow up” at an expedited rate. Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout learn valuable life lessons
Scout matured quickly through her experiences of the real world. She realized many harsh realities at a very young age. Through her journey she learned the terrible effects of people's racism and hate. Many of the things she learned were not for someone of her age but because of the situations in To Kill a Mockingbird. The story was told by an adult Scout,
All of us grow, develop, and adapt to our surroundings according to what we see and learn. However, we don’t always only the just induce the positive values, but also adapt to the disadvantageous values, as well. To Kill a Mockingbird is a unique novel written by Harper Lee, which tells about a sophisticated family living in a small town. The focus of the book is Scout, the main character and an innocent child, and the story is presented from her perspective. The structure of the book shows the shaping of the Scout’s character of innocent behavior to maturity. Scout develops her empathy and maturity throughout the book by the reflection of other characters and occurring events.
When Atticus shoots the mad dog, Scout sees it as a tremendous act of bravery and applauds him, although he doesn’t see it the same way she does. Atticus displays a sense of courage elsewhere, and his judgment helped him put down the gun and accomplish acts of true bravery. Scout is hurt by the comments her community makes at Atticus because of his decisions, and doesn’t understand why Atticus doesn’t just drop the case. Her thinking shows that she doesn’t have a concept of the prejudice and racism in her town just yet. This displays that racism is a learned habit, taught by parents and teachers throughout their childhood. Soon, Scout notices that something is up with Atticus and sees that a mob has cornered him in the county jail. While she watches, she sees the “flash of plain fear” () in Atticus’ eyes and leaps into the crowd. She can sense the violence in the crowds heads and takes matters into her own hands when she sees her father being threatened. She attempts to cool the tense situation by talking to Mr. Cunningham about his son. As she is talking the mob sees that she is purely innocent and good and it made them think of themselves and how they were acting so harshly. The humanity in the mob shows how even the most aggressive and hurtful people can be changed with only a few words and some realization. Through her actions, Scout appears to become more mature and understanding towards people. Showing courage even when you know you’re scared is a step towards
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel set during the 1930s in a small town in Southern Alabama called Maycomb. The story is told through the narrator, Scout, a young girl who lives with her father, a lawyer, and her older brother Jem. As a child, Scout is portrayed as a stubborn and obnoxious little girl who loves to read, play with her brother Jem, and fantasize about her mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley. However, her life gets turned upside down when Scout’s father agrees to do something that is deemed unacceptable in the south; he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping a white girl. Instantly, Atticus and his family go from being respected and beloved by their town, to being
Throughout the book Scout is a character of great change. In the beginning she was a tomboy who liked to beat up weaker people, like when she beat up walter early on. The summers when Dill came by had great influence on Scout because those summers also had Aunt Alexandra come by and stay with the Scout. When Aunt Alexandra and Atticus start arguing it allows Scout to see a different part of Atticus. Towards the end of the book Scout’s empathy arises and she uses it see what things could be like from Boo’s perspective. Harper Lee tells us to be hopeful for the future because when our children can understand other people’s emotions just as we can it only can shine a bright light. Children understanding others emotions before they can understand theirs properly is great sign because it can put some of
As Nelson Mandela wisely said “ I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” The story centers around the Finch family and the lessons that both Jem and Scout Finch learn as their father defends a black man accused of rape. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, we see the idea of true courage reflected in Jem Finch’s journey. With her words, Harper Lee paints a picture of what true courage as it is, and Jem Finch takes this lesson to heart as he sees examples of true courage in his life.
Jean Louise “Scout” Finch is a very bright young girl who lives in the county of Maycomb, Alabama, where people have very in-the-box thoughts and views about life and people they don’t know. Maycomb a dirt poor county where many life lessons can be learned about racism, culture, and certain people. For Scout Finch that is what life is all about, learning. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout Finch learns very important lessons about life through the people of Maycomb which has changed her perspectives on life.
With the increase in people 's life, they mature and change. The protagonist grows up like a novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, continues. Scout frivolous and disrespectful at the beginning of the novel.
To Kill a Mockingbird is full of heart wrenching and painful moments that shaped and defined each and every inhabitant of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, the father of the main protagonist, once 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 51). This was a lesson he taught to Scout, the narrator and main protagonist of the story. Scout never fully grasps the idea of this concept until the very end of the story, but throughout the story she exhibits this lesson and is empathetic without even knowing it. No character felt others emotions quite like Scout, even if it was right away, a little while after, or even the whole book. With the many twists and emotional turns of this novel by Harper Lee, there is no way that even as a child Scout would not be empathetic of others.
Harper Lee foretells the story of a young, precocious tomboy named Scout Finch who is being pressured by society into conforming to the typical “southern lady” in To Kill A Mockingbird. Lee establishes and promotes Scout’s masculinity through the use of nicknames, fighting, and boyish clothing, while comparing her with women that fit the stereotypical female idea. Scout is faced with discrimination throughout the novel by other characters, Aunt Alexandra, her circle of friends, and Jem being the main sources of prejudice. They thought that acting like a “lady” was what was most proper due to their small town mentality.These strict gender roles were popular in small southern towns because they were isolated from the more progressive attitudes in other areas of the United States.
“Look like a girl, act like a lady.” (Unknown). The book, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. 8-year-old, Jean Louise Finch, who’s nickname is Scout, her brother Jem Finch, and their friend Dill Harrison try and see their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley in person. During this time, Atticus, Jem and Scouts dad, defends a black man accused of raping a white girl. Throughout the book, Scout changes into a lady. There are several reasons why Scout changes into a lady.
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee is narrated by a very riveting character named Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout. Being a small girl with a big mind, Scout’s perspective of the world is shaped by her own experiences and inner thoughts, helping the reader get a clear view on who she is and how she deals with her problems in her life. There are so many miscellaneous ways to describe Scout, who is a resilient character, facing more than a regular girl her age can handle. Scout has good qualities and bad, from her impulsive behavior to her naive ways, she thoroughly sticks to her beliefs, such as being a tomboy. The reader can’t mistake Scout’s character, but can truly embrace her through the dialogue, setting, and narration
Through To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us the righteousness of empathy. Harper Lee 's technique of writing and coinciding Christian beliefs weaved through emphasizes the importance of the story 's moral and themes. It is through Scout, the young dynamic and protagonist, that Lee opens the reader 's eyes to a realistic world of prejudice and inequality during the 1930s. Though introducing many characters throughout the novel, it is through Lee 's wise father character, Atticus Finch, that she further helps teach her readers life lessons, one being empathy. While narrating in first person, Lee further details her novel with the setting and use of style and diction.