Scout Finch, the narrator, and protagonist of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is a complex and dynamic character who undergoes significant growth and development throughout the story. From her initial innocence and naivety to her eventual understanding of the harsh realities of the world, Scout's journey is marked by a series of transformative experiences that shape her into a more empathetic and mature individual. Scout's character development is one of the most critical aspects of the novel, and it is shown through her experiences and interactions with other characters. In this essay, we will explore Scout's character development and how her worldview changes as she grows older. The novel opens with Scout's innocent observations …show more content…
She is described as a tomboy who prefers playing with her brother Jem and their friend Dill rather than engaging in traditionally feminine activities. One of the most memorable quotes that highlight Scout's early character development is when she says, "I was not so sure, but Jem told me I was being a girl, as girls always imagined things, that's why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with" (Lee 56). This quote illustrates Scout's initial reluctance to conform to gender norms and her desire to be accepted for who she is rather than conforming to societal …show more content…
This is best exemplified in her relationship with Boo Radley, the reclusive neighbor whom she initially feared and misunderstood. Through her interactions with Boo, Scout learns to see beyond his appearance and reputation and to recognize his humanity. This is reflected in her statement, "Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough" (Lee 279). This quote highlights Scout's ability to empathize with others and understand their perspectives, even if they are vastly different from her own. As Scout's character matures, she also begins to question the norms and values of her community. She recognizes the hypocrisy and contradictions inherent in the behavior of the adults around her, particularly in their attitudes toward race and gender. This is reflected in her statement, "I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks" (Lee 227). This quote highlights Scout's rejection of the artificial divisions that exist in society and her belief in the inherent equality of all
Scout’s narration as an adult and having an adult perspective on a year of her childhood shows the reader how her character was changed and grew from these experiences. Her self-reflection tells the reader that Scout has come to see her father as a great man who works for justice and how she is a better person for it despite being raised in a small, racist, southern
She is thrown into its racist and prejudiced nature. The events she experiences begin to take a toll on her character. In To Kill A Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee changes Scout’s character from an innocent child with little experience to a maturing young girl who can understand parts of the world and her life that she previously ignored, which Lee uses to reveal the larger idea of how children
(Made up word). In this book it showed a lot of racism and gender role. For scout she always tried to push through all the negativity around her. “But around here once you have a drop of negro blood that makes you all black”. With this quote Scout and jem was trying to figure out how to divide society and racism.
People have their reasons for how they act, and towards the end of the novel Scout is able to recognize this. At the end of the novel, Scout sleepily recalls the events of The Gray Ghost and Atticus explains to her that most people really are good if you think about it. “Atticus, he was real nice….”… “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.” (376).
Throughout the novel, “ To Kill a Mockingbird”, written by Harper Lee, the character Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout, undergoes significant changes that involve her personal growth and loss of innocence. As Scout grows, she learns about life through the many experiences and events that shape her coming of age. Through conflicts with others, understanding her father's beliefs, exposure to racism, and learning valuable life lessons, Scout transforms from an innocent, naive child to a mature, understanding young woman. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is just an innocent child who is unaware of the prejudice and discrimination that exists in her hometown of Maycomb, Alabama. However, through her experiences with her family, friends, and community,Scout's innocent views begin to change.
Scout is able to get insight into the fakeness of maycomb’s people when they don’t hold back their criticism or rudeness. She is critical of it because it is different than what she is used to with her father, Jem, and Dill but then realizes that she will have to become one of them. A last example of Scout’s newfound maturity is after the attack when Boo asks her to walk him home, when she returns him home she lingers on the porch and thinks about how “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough”(321).
This connects to the recurring theme of prejudice, as Scout is the minority in this situation, being the only one who can read well, and she is targeted for something that is not bad. This defines Scout by portraying how she can accurately understand the discrimination and its effects on her feelings. Furthermore, she has the sudden mental development that if you have fear of losing something, that something is more important now. This is yet another example of Scout as a character growing and learning from her lessons. Even though Scout’s discrimination can feel childish and insignificant, they link the broader theme of prejudice ideas ruining innocent values in a child’s world to that of a more serious situation like racial
The book “To Kill a Mockingbird” is set in the first point of view of Scout Finch and her view of the people and world around her. Harper Lee confines the reader to her outlook and thoughts throughout the story. In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” she characterizes the main character Scout Finch as a stubborn and curious child. We are introduced to the other characters and setting from her perspective, such as Atticus, who she describes as a wise and truthful father who she looks up to, and the town of Maycomb, which she thinks is a tired old town that never changes.
She grew up never understanding what was going on around her, but as she grew older she understood the bad things that were happening around her. Scout grew up in a very racist town, surrounded by racists every day she had to know what was right and what was wrong. “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life”(Lee 330).
Scout's growing understanding and acceptance of the people in her community, flaws and all, is one of the most significant ways she demonstrates tolerance. Scout, for example, is terrified of Arthur "Boo" Radley at first and believes the rumors that he is a "monster”. However, as she learns more about him and his situation, she starts to see him as a human being and develops empathy for him. This is demonstrated when Scout says "I was too old and too big for such childish things, but I knew that Jem's ideas about Arthur Radley were, to him, as real as the things he could see" (Chapter 6). This shows that Scout is growing in her understanding of people and her ability to empathize with them.
This quote illustrates the beginning of Scout’s loss of innocence, which essentially results in her gaining the knowledge of the racist society that she is living in. Scout begins to persecut by kids
Scout Finch is the young protagonist of the story, known for her inquisitive nature and genuine innocence. As the story unfolds, Scout becomes more aware of the injustices and prejudices in her community, challenging her own beliefs and those of others. "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?" (Lee, 370) This quote not only shows her innocence but also reveals her profound understanding of the symbolism associated with harming a mockingbird.
In Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," the young protagonist, Scout Finch, demonstrates a remarkable level of maturity and understanding of the world around her. Through her experiences in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout learns the importance of seeing things from other people's perspectives, developing empathy, and embracing a multitude of viewpoints. This essay will explore how Scout's values, such as justice, equality, and acceptance of differences, contribute to her growth and shape her outlook on life in Maycomb. Consequently, Scouts' outlook on life shows us how she sees life in Maycomb. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view."
Think back to when you were little kid around 7 or so and you had no worries about life or anything. All you would think about is candy and toys and nothing about the world of adults. No worries of the weather or what the grown ups would talk about. Scout’s childhood innocence takes a turn from her care free days to the real world of racism and bad people. In To Kill a Mockingbird Scout witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson and how racism is taught to her unknowingly from it.
The name of the novel being explored is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1950's in Alabama Maycomb during the racist times towards the blacks. Throughout this topic the focus is on the main character/narrator Scout (Jan Louise Finch). This essay will explore Scout's character and the negative and or positive influence she has on other characters at the start, throughout and at the end of the text. At the beginning of the novel 'To kill a Mockingbird' Scout is a naïve, has a very tomboy like personality, is a judgmental five year-old girl who was oblivious to the cruelty's of the outside world.