What Is Scout's Moral Development In To Kill A Mockingbird

The Moral Development of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the greatest works of literature which displays how the morals of a human being can be influenced and change over time. The narrator, Scout Finch, recounts her childhood from an older perspective, and tells the reader about her experiences starting from age six. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is a rebellious, hot-tempered girl who will listen to her father, but will also get provoked and start fighting very easily. She goes along with society and treats everyone based on how society judges them, causing her to treat poor people with disrespect and call black people by another common name besides Negro. By the end, she has changed more than any character,

Atticus says, “‘No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning.’” When Atticus tells her this, she understands that it is important to not get affected easily if someone tries to provoke her. Then, on page 102, she backs away from the fight, “It was the first time I walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him.” This quote indicates to the reader that Scout has taken what Atticus has said to her heart, and has now become less hot-tempered. This experience also shows Scout’s development of what is right or wrong because she understands that going in a fight and disobeying authority or causing harm to others is not the right thing to do. This means that Scout has already progressed to Stage 4, since she follows the law, obeys authority, and avoids challenging the social order. However, Jem has not really progressed yet at this point because he still disobeys his father, who counts as authority. Overall, by the end of the first part of the book, Scout has progressed two stages and is now at Stage 4, while Jem and Atticus have not progressed to a higher

At this point in the book, the narrator recalls, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” When Scout thinks this, it reveals to the reader that Scout has advanced to Stage 6. She is now looking at the world through her own perspective, and is remembering her memories according to her new conscience, which is that all people are equal and that things can really change if you look at them through a different perspective. However, Jem is still at Stage 5 because there is no indication in the book that he is striving to live according to his own conscience, which is also not made clear. Atticus is still at Stage 6, and is trying, as always, to live by his own standards and beliefs about how humans should treat each