How Does Atticus Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird occurs in the 1930’s when discrimination was at its high points. The novel follows Atticus Finch as he defends a black man who has been accused of a certain crime. Atticus strives to be a good role-model for Jem and Scout by proving one should not judge others. The acts of prejudice towards the society influence the behavior of the main characters in the novel and show how society is conformed.
Atticus sees how the town of Maycomb is segregated based on race, class, and gender. He ignores this uniformity by accepting everyone and knowing that there is good in the world. To help out the Maycomb community, Atticus stands up to racial segregation in hopes of equalizing the city. Atticus explained, “‘Remember

it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it” (Lee 119). This quote proves that the good and innocent are easily destroyed and that, like humans, are very deceptive of changing views; a town can be just as easily changed.

The town of Maycomb is also separated based on class and family ancestry. As a loving and passionate man, Atticus treats everyone with reasonable respect and makes certain that people realize that before making judgmental comments, consider life from the other person’s perspective. Atticus stated that “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 42). The major significance of this is to put Atticus’s advice into gear and to live with an open-mind and sympathetic heart. Within Atticus is a truly developed and sympathetic human being who is trying to maintain hope in himself and his town. Not only is Maycomb racially discriminated, but it is also discriminated based off of gender. Jem says, "‘Scout, I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home—I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day!’ With that, I had no option but to join

them” (Lee 132). Males felt that they were superior to the women because they were allowed to have more modern jobs and were better off in life. Females felt that they were being discriminated against and did not like this label. Atticus feels that he owes every person respect and the ability to be able to view everyone’s perspectives. Atticus is always willing to engage in his current society and strengthen the power of its people.
The perspective that Atticus seeks in life has changed the views of life through his children’s eyes. Being so used to their father’s ways, Jem and Scout are always concerned about Boo Radley and his way of life. Unlike Atticus whom always expresses his thoughts, Boo maintains innocence by keeping out of the world. The children find him to be very suspicious and quite dangerous since they can never face him up close. Ever since the acts of kindness Boo has expressed such as the Knothole and the blanket, the children have become puzzled and truly don’t know how to feel about him. For a period of time, Jem and Scout keep trying to figure Boo out, until their father finally takes them to trial. After experiencing the trail of Tom Robinson, the children have become aware of a completely new world. They have started to see the effects that segregation has put on the world, and the truth that it can completely ruin somebody’s life. Scout talks to Atticus about Boo Radley: “When they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things . . . ‘Atticus, he was real nice. . . . His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me.’ ‘Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.’ He turned out the light and went into Jem’s room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning” (Lee 112). This quote is a representation of how the trail truly opens the eyes of Jem and Scout. It provides evidence that Boo is always a sympathetic person whom just wants to stay out of the world. He would rather be waiting for the world to change before him without him having to change the world himself.
The reason Jem and Scout are able to see the world like an adult does is due to the trial of Tom Robinson.

The whole trial is completely set up to be racially discriminated. Although the judge is given many correct pieces of evidence as to why Tom didn’t commit the crime, they still considered him guilty. Many realize this is only due to his race and has nothing to do with anything else. Since this whole scene occurs, Jem and Scout start to get furious with the world because it can bring such despite to many. “To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw” (Lee 72). This states that even if a black has the best evidence, and is not guilty, if he is put against a white man, the white man will always win. The lesson that Jem and Scout learn throughout this experience is how much courage it takes for a man like their dad to be a lawyer. He is their

hero.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, prejudice occurs throughout many of the major characters. Atticus is the leader. He is the one who led Jem and Scout into seeking the real world and understanding what it is truly like to live in. From Atticus’ lesson, Jem and Scout are able to see the effect prejudice has on Boo Radley. Unlike their dad, Boo Radley would rather wait for the world to solve itself rather than being the solution to the problem. The acts of prejudice are shown by the discrimination of race, gender, and class. When reflecting on the book, one can realize the significance of social inequality on the world and how it has even impacted his or her personal life. Today, people are still being judged by others and have been influenced by others actions towards them. After reading this novel, one can become aware of ways that he or she can step up and become the solution in the world. He or she should be willing to take charge and make the major difference in the world.