Examples Of Generosity In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee portrays acts of kindness and generosity given to many characters throughout the book in selfless ways. For example, as Jem and Scout are walking down the sidewalk, they continuously find small gifts such as gum, soap, pennies, and a watch in the knothole of the Radley’s tree. Miss Maudie gives Jem and Scout cakes and advice. Calpernia provides a mother figure, discipline, and life lessons for the children. As the town of Maycomb is falling apart from segregation and racism, Atticus steps up to open the eyes of the city. When Jem and Scout find no kindness in their community, they receive gifts and realize kindness and generosity come from essential figures in their lives.
Boo Radley’s gifts are a symbol of childhood and friendship. Later in the book, Scout reflects on the gifts Boo gave them, “Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between.

Scout reflects on her encounter with Walter Cunningham at school, “I remembered the distant disastrous occasion where I rushed to toung Walter Cunningham’s defense. Now I was glad I’d done it. ‘“Soon’s school starts I’m gonna ask Walter home to dinner,’” I planned, having forgotten my private resolve to beat him up the next time I saw him” (Lee 299). In the beginning of the book, Scout is very cruel and childish. As the story unfolds, Scout matures and learns kindness. In her old, immature mind, scout would’ve fought everyone who made ignorant statements about her family, or pushed her buttons. As she grows up this is not an issue anymore, and instead of fighting she controls herself and begins to act more like her father. Scout receives many different forms of advice and life lessons from influential people in her life. This encourages her to grow up to be a kind and generous person. It also contributes to helping her think about people as a whole and not just what they portray on the