Jayme Ragar
Mrs. Brown
English 10
24 February 2023
Necessary Change
Society holds many views, and those views are difficult to change. However, change can be a good thing, and it starts from one person to another. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, shows how views change through experiences people gain through life. Harper Lee Shows how the children of Maycomb, like Scout, always start with an innocent worldview because they have not had the chance to experience the world yet. Scout begins with an innocent and childish view, sometimes not understanding her own thoughts because she has not seen the unfairness in Maycomb. However, throughout the book, she begins to see these horrible rules of society and slowly begins to understand society and what it expects of her and others.
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One of these people is her neighbor, Arther Radley, or as she calls, Boo. From the very beginning, she describes him as a “malevolent phantom” (Lee 9) because he is never seen by them. All she has known about him are the rumors that surround him that people make. Then after the first day of school, Walter Cunningham is invited to their house for dinner, and she is confused by him.. She claims he is not company because he is a Cunningham, immediately judging him on his last name and poverty. Calpurnia takes her aside to tell her otherwise. Furthermore, when Atticus sees Scout following the rumors about Arthur Radley, he sits and talks with her, and from there she begins to change her views. So much so, that by the end she is curious about him and has longed to meet him. When she finally meets him, “ standing on Radley's porch was enough” (Lee 321) for her to see his view of the world. For the first time, she truly understands what he has seen and why he has hidden away. Scout’s sympathy and understanding changes wildly because of the things she has
Ain't he, sir” This quote shows that Scout just realized that she interrupted a mob that was on the way to kill her father and that her friendly neighbors that she sees everyday are easily persuaded to do a awful crime and that the world is not as a happy place as she thought and that there is evil in this world. Later in the story Scout Asks “What’s rape cal?” 127 And a very similar one that talk about the same thing is “well if that’s all it was why did calpurnia dry me up like that when I asked her”(135) Calpurnia does not really tell Scout exactly what rape is during this scene due to the fact that she views her as being too young to understand. When Atticus really does tell her later Scout clearly doesn't fully understand the seriousness of the conversation or topic.
In the beginning chapters Scout and Calpurnia’s relationship isn’t that great, they mostly just talk when need be. Scout refers to her as a “... tyrannical presence... Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side.” This quote shows that they didn’t have much of a relationship, but the little that they actually had they spent it arguing.
The children hear from Mrs. Stephanie Crawford about her encounter with Boo Radley, claiming that she saw him look through the window at her one night, and stories like that cause Scout, Jem, and Dill to fear Boo. After listening to the Tom Robinson case and hearing about his unfortunate death, Scout and Jem begin to comprehend why Boo never comes out of his house. Jem explains to Scout, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time . . . it’s because he wants to stay inside” (259).
For example, while Scout and Jem are walking to the school, they pass by the Radley house, and Scout tells Jem, "It is a scary place though, ain’t it?... Boo doesn’t mean anybody any harm, but I’m right glad you’re along" (292). Boo is no longer a monster. She reveals her newfound ability to see people's true intentions by looking past the town’s prejudice and implicit bias. She knows because of her interactions with Boo and looking beyond the face value that Boo is a very kind and caring person.
Scout experiences challenges that embody the culture of the time. Because Scout learns that the judgment of others are often incorrect and misguided, Scout is also the protagonist in the story “How to kill a mockingbird” she is a young girl growing up in Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s. Scout is intelligent, curious, and fiercely independent, with a strong sense of justice and a desire to understand the world around her. Despite the many challenges she faces as a young girl in a deeply divided and prejudiced society, Scout remains determined to stand up for what she believes is right, even when it means going against the norms of her community. Through her eyes, we see the struggles and triumphs of a young girl coming of age in a world that
Scout develops socially as she becomes aware of the prejudice around her and learns how to assess situations, make decisions, and
At the first of the novel Scout is a bit of a tomboy and is determined to show people her point of view. When Scout started school, she was having a difficult time, because her teacher did not understand the ways of their town, Maycomb County. However, this did not stop Scout from trying to explain to Miss Caroline the ways of the people in Maycomb. “ I thought I had made things
Just as it is today, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. the people of Maycomb have set opinions of others. They look down on people who aren’t “normal”. This novel follows Scout Finch as she creates her own ideas about the world around her, As she creates her own definitions about people based on what she learns herself and what people say around her. The novel follows her trying to learn that everyone is different and that you need to see things from their perspective sometimes.
Calpurnia is an ideal influence for Scout’s coming of age moments. She teaches Scout the importance of manners, and treating people with respect. When Walter Cunningham comes to eat lunch with Scout and Jem one day, Scout
At the start of the novel Scout begins a more naive and innocent, believes lies about Boo and Mrs. Dubose but as the novel proceeds, we see how the different lessons taught to her release her from her naivety and allow her to have an opinion
The characterization of Scout reveals that she is very sympathetic and worried about Jem risking his life. This further heated the argument, leaving Jem feeling moody and silent. While trying to comfort her older brother, Scout is reminded of Atticus' advice, “As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it” (77). The characterization of Scout highlights her mentality maturing. At the beginning of the novel, Scout has a difficult time understanding others until Atticus gives her important advice about sympathy.
Scout then began to realize that the town of Maycomb isn’t what she had it out to be. Evil things happen, moreover, people have numerous sides to themselves. Ultimately, Scout becomes a mature, young adult with
Change means to make or become different from a previous state. As an individual grows up, they go through many changes, especially in behavior, character, decisions, friends and body that can be internal or external. It pushes us out of our comfort zone and lets us experience and explore our world. Change is inevitable and many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee display their change through their actions and choices. Jean Louise Finch, known as Scout goes through a significant change in her character and behaviour throughout the novel.
Readers look to Scout as a test to character and innocence. As Scout is only six years old in the beginning of the novel, she is unaware of the surrounding bigotry in her town, Maycomb. Unlike many of the characters in the novel, she is able to look at the world in a unique perspective due to her innocence and influence from her activist father, Atticus
Every person on this planet has the ability to make choices. People have been created with minds to convince, control, and problem solve. Similarly, other people’s influence has great power to change, persuade, and spread rumors. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, portrays many examples of people who were persuaded and changed from his or her own mind and decisions, or the effect of someone else’s. Injustice is rampant throughout the book, in Tom Robinson’s verdict, Boo Radley’s precarious situation, and with Scout’s situation at school.