Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout Finch, the main character and narrator, has gone through many moral growths to help create her path. Throughout the novel, Scout and her brother Jem are both growing up with each other's mistakes. Scout has to deal with different obstacles, like witnessing first grade students, negros, and manslaughter, all of this right in front of her face. Atticus Scout’s father teaches Scout about blacks like Maggot Stern's Mother did with her. Scout’s intellectual growth expanded from pivotal moments in her life, to help shape her moral decisions throughout the novel. Scout is able to understand more about life from just a small snippet of experiencing school and her father, Atticus. …show more content…
On the first day of school Scout hated it and told “...
Atticus I didn’t feel very well and didn’t think I'd go to school anymore if it was all right with him.” (Lee.39) Scout and Atticus have many fights about Scout going to school, for example this is a fight they had one night after school. Atticus and Scouts fights usually consist of Scout not wanting to go to school anymore, Scout would use Atticus as an example. Atticus didn’t have to public school, the fights would also consist of her classmates and what they say or do. Scout was still hung up on how much she hates school, she starts yelling at Atticus “I don’t have to go to school! I was bursting with a sudden thought. Burris Ewell, remember? He just goes to school the first day.” (Lee.40) Scout is having a fight with Atticus about how the Ewells bend the rules to fit around their work and needs. The Ewells bend the rules in a way like the finches did when Atticus was a little boy, the Finches would homeschool their kids unlike the Ewells who will have many first days of first grade. When it comes to teaching Scout about the blacks Atticus is almost like the mother of Margot Stern “The mother who taught me what I know of tenderness and …show more content…
love and compassion taught me also the break rituals of keeping Negroes in their place.” (Stern.0.24-0.31) Atticus teaches Scout that it is not ok for her to use the n-word just like Margot Stern's mother.“Of course I do. Don’t say n[***]er, Scout. That’s common.” (Lee.99) Atticus is trying to explain to Scout that even though he is protecting a black man it is not ok for her to say the n-word. Scout tried to fight back by saying that everyone in her school says the n-word so it is ok that she says the word. As Scout learns more about how racist Maycomb actually is, she will finally see how the blacks feel about segregation. Scout sees how the negros really think of the whites and this helps her moral development as she sees how their church congregation reacts to seeing the Finch kids at church.
Calpernia was getting the kids ready for church on Sunday, Scout is confused as to what she is wearing. “It’s like we're going to mardi gras,” (Lee.157) Scout is experiencing first hand what the negros wear to religious gatherings. When Scout finds out that she is going to the negro church she then realizes why Cal is so stressed out; Cal wants to make sure that the kids are put together so that she won’t be made fun of for taking Atticus Finch's kids to the Negro church. When Cal and the kids arrived at the church the blacks talking we in complete shock until one lady decided she needed to stand up for her non-existent rights. “Standing in the path behind us was a tall woman.” (Lee.158) Seeing how the Lulu reacted helped Scout understand how the blacks feel about the whites. The blacks are accepting in some ways, but when it comes to religious gatherings, they are not very keen on the intrusion. “Brethren and sisters, we are particularly glad to have company with us this morning. Mister and Miss Finch.” (Lee.160) What the priest said shows Scout that even if the blacks aren’t particularly happy that they are in their church, they are still acknowledging that they are present. This also proves to Scout that blacks are more accepting than at first glance and first thought. After visiting Calpurnia's
church Scout’s morals have increased since learning how the blacks think of the whites giving Scout a new perspective. Seeing someone look after you is a blessing especially someone you least expect. Scout was always curious about Boo so every time she and Jem walk by “I still looked for him each time I went by. Maybe someday we would see him.” (Lee.325) This shows that Scout wondered about Boo. This is also a foreshadow to the end of the novel where Scout finally meets Boo. Scout was in a pickle seeing her brother about to be flat on the floor and freaking out but Jem too the matters into his own hands. “Anyway, Jem hollard and I didn’t hear him any more an’ the next thing- Mr. Ewell was tryin’ to squeeze me to death, I reckon… then somebody yanked Mr. Ewell down. (Lee.361) This proves to Scout that Boo is always watching out no matter what the circumstances are. This also can prove to the town that even though Boo did kill a man with a knife he is always willing to step in and help a townie in need. Boo has been watching Jem and Scout grow up through the seasons “It was fall, and his children fought on the sidewalk (,...) winter, and his children shivered at the front gate (,..) Summer, and he watched his children’s heartbreak.”(Lee.374) Boo’s observations show that he knows a lot more about the town than the town thinks he knows. This proves that he can know someone without really knowing who they are. Scout seeing Boo yank Bob Ewell down shows her that she will always have someone looking out for her. Scouts growth helped lead her to develop her childhood through events in her life. Scout learned a lot about how much school was important from Atticus even if she never liked school. Calpernia taking the Finch kids to the black church was a significant shock and turn of events for the novel but helped Scout realize that the blacks are not as bad as they are said to be. At the end of the story, Scout gained a small relationship with Boo, even if she had just met him for a little snippet of the end she knows that she can trust him to save her. Scout learned more from the experiences in her life to helping shape her in moral ways throughout the novel.
Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, was right when he said, ¨you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.¨ Scout realizes that Boo Radley is not who everyone rumors him out to be. Scout learns that you need to spend time with a person to find out who he truly is. She learns this after walking Boo Radley home after the disturbing experience the Finch kids had been in. Scout finally understood what life looked like from Boo Radley's perspective when she is standing with him on his front porch. Also, when Scout talks to Atticus at the end of the book he shows her how she has turned into a wonderful young lady. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the theme that believing rumors will lead you to false assumptions unless you have walked in that person's shoes through imagery, characterization, and point of view.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout Finch tries to please her father, but living with no mother it’s hard to know how to act. It’s natural to follow Jem, her brother, when that is her only friend through out the years. Imagine hearing gossip about your father from friends, neighbors, and even your own cousin. Scout had to push through all of the gossip and believe in her father. Throughout the novel Scout shows how social she can be. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great novel that keeps you reading. Scout has a positive effect on events such as at the jail, she was the reason that the mob left. She also always curious so she is more mature than most kids her age. Through the journey of the trial she shows how hot-tempered, tomboyish, and mature she can be.
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
When Scout goes to the courtroom to hear Atticus speak and fight for Tom’s freedom, she realizes that Atticus is trying his hardest to defend an innocent man. Finally, Scout grows through her interest in school by learning about Hitler and the horrible historical events that have happened in the world. Her maturity is expressed by what she has learned about the world around her and can apply those things to her everyday life. Moreover, Scout has matured greatly in the novel and she has learned many lessons about life, family, and womanhood.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is an ideal father, who sets a great example for his kids. A picture of Atticus is important to Scout because Atticus teaches Scout many important life lessons about life. Firstly, as Atticus talks to Scout about Miss. Stephanie, he states “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. 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,30). Scout realizes that one can never feel someone’s pain, happiness, or glory until she looks at their point of view of things; she learns to consider other people’s situation and feelings. She also understands that she will never know what goes in other people’s lives, and therefore she cannot judge anyone. Scout matures as she learns to apply Atticus’ wise advice to understand Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley, who are individuals that are misunderstood by the community. Furthermore, as Miss Maudie talks to Scout, she states “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (Lee, 46). Miss Maudie knows about Atticus’ personality quite well. Miss Maudie explains to Scout Atticus is a man with moral principles, he does what he believes is right even if others are not there to praise him. Through Atticus’ exemplary role, Scout understands the importance of integrity, and strong moral values. Finally, when Scout questions her father about the possible outcome of the trial, Atticus states “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee, 76). Atticus teaches Scout toleration, determination and moral courage. He already knows he is going to los...
Calpurnia had thought Scout some lessons in life to, Scout once had invited one of her classmate she got in a fight with to eat at her house. Scout had insult the boy because of the way he ate and Calpurnia told her “Theres some folks who don’t eat like us, but you aint called to contradiet ‘em at the table when they don’t. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear” (24). Calpurnia was trying to tell Scout not to judge the boy because they all had different lives. Scout also had Aunt Alexandra to teach her about life because she was also like a mother to Scout. Aunt Alexandra acts a little more like a high rich standard she talks about how to act and pick her friends.
She narrates the whole novel over the course of many years of her young life and we can see her grow throughout, thus becoming a very dynamic character. We can see even more of her descriptions and perceptions of her father, the man many have looked up to throughout the years. These depictions grow and shift and end up as dynamic as Scout herself is. This new level of maturation directly corresponds with Atticus’ shift in characterization.
No matter where or who a person is, they are always learning something, either about themselves or about the environment around them. In Harper Lee's heartwarming novel titled To Kill A Mockingbird, the main characters Jem and Scout grow and mature throughout the story as they learn both more about themselves and the world around them. As the story progresses, they learn many life lessons including those about prejudice, people and how they have been categorized and judged, and, last but not least, gender issues.
...heme of maturation in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is conveyed through the characters of Scout and Jem, in conjunction with the assistance of their virtuous father Atticus Finch. Early in the novel, Atticus ascertains himself as a major facilitator in the maturation process of Scout and Jem by incessantly providing mature solutions to his children’s predicaments. Moreover, Scout, a major benefactor of the Boo Radley incident and Atticus’ wisdom, has helped her develop into a very tolerant and mature individual. Undeniably, Jem’s remarkable development into a broadminded and compassionate character can be directly attributed to Atticus’ kindness and Jem’s exposure to the Tom Robinson trial. In synopsis, it is evident that the individuals and social circumstances that surround an individual play a major role in defining the type of individual one will become.
Harper Lee’s classic novel,To Kill a Mockingbird, has warmed people’s hearts for over fifty years. Arguably the most touching part of the novel is the close relationship between Atticus, the father of the two main characters,and his children. Over the course of the novel Atticus is able to teach his children,Scout and Jem, many important life lessons. Atticus successfully teaches Scout and Jem empathy, courage and to be true to yourself. These three characteristics shaped Scout and Jem into admirable people.
When I was 5 years old I was an adventurous, outgoing little girl. Somehow this all changed when I reached my sixth year of age. It was as if my personality drifted far away from me, across the oceans, to somewhere I didn’t know. It all started on the first day of 1st grade. My teachers were not the type of people that I was used to having in my life. It was like a huge barrier had been put between the world I knew, and the world I was thrust into. As for my teachers, they shut me out. They put a huge clear wall between myself and them, and I ran smack into it, not knowing what was coming my way. As the years went by, the wall began to crumble. Slowly crumble, as if it would never fall. The unexpected came out of nothing, but let me tell you,
One lesson that Scout learns is empathy. Since the beginning of the novel Atticus tells Scout to “climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 30). Scout was taught the lesson when she was telling Atticus about Mrs.Caroline. Atticus’s first talk with Scout in the novel was about how she should really know someone until she jumps to conclusions. Scout was introduced as naive in the beginning of the novel. At the end of the novel Scout thinks “ Atticus was right. One time he said you never
One of the life lessons that Atticus taught his children was that you can’t understand a person and their choices until you have walked through the same situation as they have. By Atticus telling his children this he is teaching them not to judge. He is telling his children that you shouldn’t judge choices because you don’t know what circumstances they were under. In part of the book Scout was having a lot of confrontations with her teacher, Miss Caroline, and complaining to her dad, Atticus, why she should not be teaching them. Atticus replied with “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” By tellings his daughter this, he acknowledged the fact that you never know what is happening in another
The younger the kids are, the more they learn. Harper Lee shows Scout and Jem learning lessons from their father, Atticus, all throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird . In this novel of Harper Lee's it shows what someone teaches their children carries on, and that society should not judge others because of their name. Friends of Scout and Jem tell them that they need to stand up for what they believe in, and that no one really understands someone until you see things from their point of view.
Scout is a very intelligent young girl, and understands a lot about adult situations and the confusing world around her. As Atticus talks with Uncle Jack after the family party about the Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell court case, about how it is a black man’s word against a white man’s word. Atticus hopes that Jem and Scout will be able to get through all the awful things that are coming their family’s way while still keeping their pride. Scout starts to listen to their conversation and doesn’t think anyone knows she is there, but at the end of the conversation, Atticus tells Scout to go to bed which indicates that he