Examples Of A Dynamic Character In To Kill A Mockingbird

In literature, static and dynamic characters are on opposite ends of the development spectrum. A static character does not undergo any significant character development, and the reader may know very little about them. Even if they are essential to the plot of a work, a static character rarely engages meaningfully in their surroundings and does not change as a result of the events happening around them. A good example of a static character in Part One of To Kill a Mockingbird would be Scout’s cousin, Francis. Francis is a mean and selfish minor character whom Scout succinctly sums up as “the most boring child (she’s) ever met” (page 89, lines 37-38). He does however serve several purposes in the novel: he reinforces the rampant racism of the times by saying his own …show more content…
On the other end of the spectrum, a dynamic character is one who has a prominent role in the story and develops as a person due to the events occurring around them. They influence other characters and the direction of the plot greatly. Scout’s brother Jem is a good example of a dynamic character. He is present throughout much of the first part of the story and is typically just as reckless and fiery as Scout, suggesting that he is probably one of her greatest influences. He does however have a caring side, as demonstrated when he comforts Scout after her uncle punishes her unfairly. His character begins to develop towards the end of Part One after an incident involving the elderly Mrs Dubose. At the beginning of chapter 11, Jem ruins Mrs Dubose’s garden in an impulsive fit of anger after she makes rude comments about Atticus defending a black man. As punishment for destroying her garden, Mrs Dubose demands that Jem read to her regularly for a month. Jem resents having to visit Mrs Dubose and is relieved when the time is