To Kill A Mockingbird Character Analysis

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”

As children grow up, they open their eyes to the harsh truths in the world around them that they once did not understand or question. This is experienced by the main characters of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is of a girl called Scout and her older brother, Jem, who go through the trials of growing up in the fictional small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is rampant in the mindset of the townspeople, shown when the children’s lawyer father, Atticus, takes the case of an obviously innocent African-American man and they convict him in their hearts before the trial even starts. Through this all, we can see the theme of loss of innocence in the children. Lee uses characterization to portray

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is an exceedingly powerful novel. It includes many significant minor themes such as racism and hatred which leave the reader to have grown more attentive to the past once they complete the book. The book takes place in Maycomb County Alabama during the great depression. During this period there was a great deal of hate and prejudice towards people of color, in addition to a great regard to social class. The novels protagonists, Atticus Finch a well-respected lawyer and his children Jeremy “Jem” Finch and Jean Louise “Scout” Finch are a few of the towns occupants who respect others regardless of social class or race. For this reason, Atticus has no objections

To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses unhypocritical, more experienced characters like Atticus to expose Jem and Scout to adult knowledge. Their adult influence is what brings about the empathetic growth and maturity of Jem and Scout.

The fondest memories one tends to have of one’s childhood are the fun, happy, and enjoyable times shared with others. As young children, one simply tries to block out what one does not understand, or one avoids confronting problems. However, in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper E. Lee, Scout defies this convention by maturing into a strong and brave character throughout the course of the story. She expands her mind to view racism and prejudice from different perspectives, partner with unlikely allies, and embrace change. When it comes to surmounting obstacles, Scout is constantly determined and undertakes challenges that not many girls her age would. For a nine-year-old, Scout possesses the strength and

“She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man” (page 272). It is easy to interpret this character as a villian in To Kill a Mockingbird, but is she honestly a victim? This girl has grown up in poverty, has been beaten, and has had to take care of an entire household. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to change that. She lives a painful lifestyle, and that lifestyle has transformed her into the person she will always be. Mayella Violet Ewell’s important character attributes, mistreated, skeptical, and melodramatic, have forged her into the villain that most people see.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee follows protagonist Scout Finch, who throughout the course of the story is forced to grow and mature as she learns more about both herself and her surroundings. Scout is a curious and courageous 6 year old, still learning about life through the happenings of her 1930’s hometown, Maycomb, Alabama. Over the course of the novel Harper Lee explores a number of themes to progress the plot and Scout’s development as a character, this causes the reader to gain an appreciation for these themes. Three of the most important lessons that Scout learns that help the reader gain this appreciation are; how innocence can change how someone’s surroundings are viewed, the dangers of prejudice a long with

In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee, uses many examples to demonstrate how growing up and maturity are major themes of the story, and are not only an important part of the plot but also (inferred to be) an important part of human nature. To Kill a Mockingbird centers around the life of a young girl named Scout in Maycomb, Alabama, and takes place during the 1930’s, when racism is still a hot controversy in the US. However, Scout is young and naïve enough to have a pure heart and believe that all people are equal; she cannot comprehend the atrocity of the discrimination circulating around her town. Because of events that happen throughout the book, from simple childhood milestones to big steps like the Tom Robinson case (symbolizing the Scottsboro Trial), Scout starts to see everything clearly that is happening around her and understands that not all humans are good people (i.e. “Bob Ewell”) and that there is more out there than she thinks. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses the character “Scout” as a symbol to show that innocence is only something you can hold onto for so long.

As we enter the world, we are born with a “blank slate”, a mind consisting of zero experiences, no history, and no lessons learned. As the years go by, our judgments and experiences broaden, and we learn how to go through life and deal with society. This is something that occurs in every single individual, and the most important lessons occur in childhood and adolescence—where these monumental lessons will therefore pave the way for one’s perspective of life. These life lessons were a significant part of this novel, where the reader was able to grow and mature with Jam and Scout from the experiences that occurred in their lives. Therefore, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee traces Scout and Jem growing up by having them lose

In her coming-of-age novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, portrays the main character Jean Louise “Scout” Finch to reveal to the causes and effects of lies in the small southern town, Maycomb County. In Maycomb County, Alabama, the civilians of the town make “telling lies” a helpful thing to do. Most of the people who live in the town come up with lies to protect themselves and other, affecting the lives of innocents. This harmful and selfish act harms the town and its citizens in many ways. Through the use of characterization, rising actions, and falling actions, Lee portrays gossip spreading and telling lies have a big impact on the town, Maycomb.

The sun still rose in the east and set in the west. Birds still flew and fish still swam. The citizens of Maycomb proceeded with their lives as normal, but Scout felt as though everything was different. Scout developed and matured enormously throughout Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Prolonged summers, during The Great Depression, consisted of acting out characters, spying on the mysterious Arthur (Boo) Radley, and running around wild and free. These jaunty summers frequently overshadowed the realities of Scout’s world. As her life continued, experiences and encounters provided her the opportunity to step out of the picture frame and see the entire picture. Scout’s perspective is continually altered and progressed through challenging situations with Miss Caroline, experiences of goodness and solidarity in the black community with Calpurnia, and situations when her once fictional neighbor, Boo Radley, became a reality.

Courage is an essential human quality. Facing fears against all odds is a feature in many novels. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is no exception. Many characters depicts the quality. Some in normal situations others, take on terrifying tasks in a unique and original way. Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Ms. Dubose show bravery in many areas of their lives, one character risks their careers, others have a situation that lacks massive consequences.

Was Atticus Finch was the true hero of To Kill A Mockingbird? Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird narrates the journey of Scout Finch from an immature, feisty, close minded young girl, to a strong, brave and courageous girl that now knows the truth about Boo Radley the towns ‘freak’. Boo Radley is middle aged man who is known as a creep but by the end of the novel they realise that he is a nice man. Scout is the daughter of Maycomb's brave and courageous lawyer, Atticus Finch who defends Tom Robinson in a situation where he is being wrongly accused of rape. Through the eyes and experiences of Scout, Lee explores the themes of racism and justice but most notably to consider what it means to be a hero. Heroism is when you demonstrate great

"'Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'" (119) Reading the beginning of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, one would assume there is no connection with the title to the storyline. After delving deeper into the novel the connection becomes evident. The concept of the mockingbird is introduced when Scout is given a gun for Christmas, she is then told by her father that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Scout dismisses this fact until it becomes relevant again, when someone in her life is compared to mockingbird after a life altering experience.

One may remember things they got scolded for when they were younger and how these lessons still affect their lifestyle today. Scout and Jem learn many lessons from Atticus when they are younger and Scout tells us her perspective of her older self. Harper Lee wrote in To Kill a Mockingbird in a way that shows the development of maturity throughout the book as the kids grew up. They learned many things such as sensitivity, courage, morality, equality, and empathy.