Scout's Maturity In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch is the main character in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and is the narrator of the story. She starts the novel at the age of six, and over the course of the novel, grows to be nine. Racism affects Scout throughout the story mainly because of her father, Atticus Finch, being involved with defending a black man in court that was accused of raping a white woman. Scout also resides in a small Alabama town called Maycomb. This also leads to much prejudice throughout the book.

Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a novel set in the United States during the 1930's. This novel deals with the hardships of growing up, among other important themes. Scout, the main character in the book, underwent many challenges during her early life that resulted in her maturing at a young age. Scout learned the meaning of racism, courage, and tolerance (comprehension).

<br>Later in the book, however, Scout changes. She now tries to control her temper, and is somewhat successful. One example of this is when Cecil Jacobs, another of Scout's classmates, insults Atticus by saying that Atticus defended Niggers. Scout remembers that she shouldn't fight, and walks away. "Cecil Jacobs made me forget. He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch's daddy defended niggers… ‘You gonna take that back boy?' ‘You gotta make me first!' he yelled… ‘I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away, ‘Scout's a cow-ward!' ringing in my ears" (80-81). Scout also learns to respect and value

“We're paying the highest tribute you can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It's that simple.” quote from Harper Lee . To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee portrays the characters in the story in such a way that the reader almost feels as if they are best friends with the character themselves. Three of the main characters stand out to the reader: Jean Louise Finch, otherwise known as Scout, Jeremy Finch, known as Jem, and Atticus, plain old Atticus. These three characters show a great amount of loyalty deep loyalty to all their friends and family. The characters not only show loyalty to all around them, but fight for their loyalty. Out of many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout, Jem, and Atticus, display loyalty to all around them.

Scout empathizes with Walter Cunningham during school at the beginning of the novel. Her teacher Miss Caroline offers Walter a quarter because he has no lunch. Walter’s family can’t afford lunch so he says he has forgotten his lunch money. He declines her offer, Miss Caroline can’t see why so she continues

Since Jem enjoys doing "manly" things, Scout does them as well for she does not know any better and she wants to gain Jem's respect for her. As time goes by, Jem starts to mature himself, from an irresponsible boy to a sensitive, gentlemen, Mister Jem; he is always Scout's adored older brother. As Scout gets older, her Aunt Alexandra decides to try and get Scout to act more like the Jean Louise that she wants her be. The only time that Aunt Alexandra was around for a long period of time was during the trial when she came to live with the Finches when Atticus was the lawyer for Tom. Even though she disagrees with her brother, Atticus, with his way of raising his children, especially Scout, who should be taught to be a lady believes that in time, she will "come around"

Atticus Finch is widely regarded as one of the most influential characters in modern literature. His pivotal role in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee exemplifies this influence and demonstrates his positive effect on his children, Jem and Scout. Throughout the novel, Atticus leads by example and provides lessons and teachings for his children to follow. His wisdom proves to be an instrumental part in the maturation and development of his children, and helps them to grow, learn, and adapt to the changing world around them. Atticus Finch teaches his children important lessons by forcing Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, remaining pacifistic, and defending Tom Robinson; therefore, he is a beneficial father and role model for his children.

Jean Louis Finch, or as readers know her, Scout. Throughout the book Scout shows her courage by standing up for her father, Atticus. Francis calls Atticus a “N” lover after he heard Aunt Alexandra say it (110). Another way she shows courage, in chapter one when Dill and Jem try to get Boo to come out. She goes right along with them to

As the story begins and we start to analyze the characters, Scout comes off as an being unable to grasp the realities of life due to her childlike innocence. We see this through her thoughts and actions. Walter Cunningham has a misfit with Scout in the beginning of the novel that can be an example of both her innocence and intolerance. It starts when Scout's teacher, Miss Caroline, tells Walter to take her money for lunch and suggests paying her back later. Walter refuses and Miss Caroline gets irritated. In attempt to explain why Walter doesn't take the money, Scout tells Miss Caroline the stigma of the Cunninghams. Scout says that Walter can't pay her back because he doesn't have the money; No Cunningham would ever take anything they couldn't pay back. When Scout gets in trouble for talking back, she blames it on Walter and reacted as follows, "Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt..." (Lee 30). This quote

There were two main “lower class” families in To Kill A Mockingbird. The Ewell’s and the Cunningham’s. Both families were very poor. The Ewell’s being the lowest of the two. The readers learn about the Cunninghams after Scout gets in trouble at school with Miss Caroline. Scout notices that the Cunninghams do not have lunch and that they cannot even borrow a quarter. Scout argues with Miss Caroline when Miss Caroline tells Walter, “‘Here’s a quarter” she said to Walter. “‘Go and eat downtown today. You can pay me back tomorrow.”’ (page 19). Walter did not accept her money. Someone in the classroom told Scout, “‘Go on and tell her, Scout.”’ (page 19). Scout seemed to not want to tell Miss Caroline. Especially because Scout already had got into some trouble that day. However Miss Caroline addressed Scout in front of the whole classroom saying, “‘What is it, Jean Louise?”’ Scout replied to her by saying, “‘Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham.”’ (page 20) Scout was attempting to say that he was lying to her. It was confirmed that they were one of the poorest families in

Jean Louise Finch responds to her own acts of courage by finding her righteous moral ground. The young Finch girl stepped between a potentially violent conflict, between Atticus and a group of male residents of Maycomb. Scout approached the conflict frightened, and

Atticus Finch is a model father created by Harper Lee in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird. He is an important figure in the Maycomb, Alabama Community. He raises his children, Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) with wide sets of morals, disciplines them, and is a true role model. Atticus allows his children to be individuals and does not try to change who they are. He teaches them fairness and equality among many different types of people in Maycomb. He is always teaching his children about how their actions may affect others, then, as a result, devices punishments to teach Scout and Jem valued life lessons. In many situations, Atticus can chastise his children, but he allows them mature and notice their own mistakes

First of all, Lee’s critical tone of prejudice is demonstrated by Scout’s innocent curiosity and perception of her surrounding society. Specifically, Lee’s critical tone is illustrated by Scout’s curiosity and the numerous questions she asks her family members throughout the duration of the novel. For example, when Scout raises questions to her Aunt Alexandra concerning her prejudice towards the Cunningham family, her innocence is exhibited by her desire to understand the world, but also to question it. A specific example of Scout’s curiosity is when Aunt Alexandra informs Scout not to invite Walter over for dinner, which leads Scout to ask “Why not, Aunty? They’re good folks” (223). Aunt Alexandra responds with: “The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem” (224). Aunt Alexandra’s response exemplifies her prejudice towards the structure of the social classes in Maycomb County. However, Scout’s innocent nature enables her to remain uncorrupted by prejudice and to question the unquestionable. Lee’s use of a child as a narrator allows her to ask the tough questions regarding Maycomb County’s way of life and question why it is prejudiced towards a certain individual or group of individuals. Moreover, Harper Lee’s choice of narration

She becomes very angry until Calpurnia, the Finch’s black maid, tells her to respect little Walter and control her upset emotions. Atticus also intervenes after this event, and teaches both Jem and Scout to not judge anyone until they have “lived in their skin” for a while. Regardless, many of their neighbors continue to look down on the Cunninghams, such Aunt Alexandra, who considers herself to be higher up the social ladder than many others. She tells Scout to stop talking to Walter Cunningham simply because “he is trash”. This is one of the many situations in which prejudice stands out in the book and is questioned indirectly by the author.

One’s childhood innocence is never lost, it simply plants the seed for the flower of maturity to bloom. It seems that almost every adult chooses to either forget or ignore this childhood vulnerability. But ironically, it was this quality that pushed them into adulthood in the first place. At the peak of their childhood, their post climactic innocence allows room for the foundation of maturity to begin to grow. In the sleepy southern town of Maycomb this is exactly what happens to eight years old Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. In To Kill a Mockingbird the character Scout is forced to surround herself with a very adult situation, when a trial comes to the small town of Maycomb. The trial raises the question that shakes the entire town up, what