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Atticus Coming Of Age Essay

Decent Essays

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Scout is an example of a character whose coming-of-age process involves gaining a different perspective. In To Kill a Mockingbird Scout states to herself “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 374). At the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus teaches Jem and Scout about stepping in others shoes. Scout does not fully understand what Atticus had meant when he said that until the very end of To Kill a Mockingbird. When she stands on Boo Radley’s front porch and sees everything from the view of the window that Boo has been looking out of throughout the entire novel she finally realizes what Atticus had meant all of those years. She then finally fully understands what it means to truly stand in someone else's shoes. After she has this realization she feels much older and wiser because she has gained a new perspective that most of Maycomb County has not acquired. She has gained the perspective of understanding, and having the ability to see things through others perspectives. A large part of Scout’s coming-of-age process occurs when she sees things from Boo’s perspective. Another moment of that shows Scout coming-of-age happens …show more content…

When coming-of-age a person will be continually experiencing, and learning new things. As this happens that person will develop and gain new perspectives on life and the world around them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is found gaining new perspectives while she comes-of-age. In David Dobbs’ article “Beautiful Brains”, he shows and explains how gaining new perspectives is a part of coming-of-age. Developing different perspectives is really what coming-of-age is all about. It causes an individual to see the world in a new light, which widens their knowledge and helps them to fully come-of-age and grow

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