Perspective In To Kill A Mockingbird

Since the beginning of time, people have been judging and stereotyping others based on their appearance and actions. Harper Lee speaks out about this problem in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, where she thematically discusses how to understand others and their perspective. Scout, the protagonist and nostalgic adult looking back on her childhood, recalls events that led up to her brother’s broken elbow. Throughout the novel, she looks back and “discuss[es] the events” that led up to the “accident.” As Scout matures, Harper Lee’s lesson of understanding perspective develops. As a young child, Scout could not understand why some people did what they did; however, as the novel progresses and Scout matures, she begins to look at people from a different …show more content…
Lucky for them, a man saved them and carried Jem home. Mr. Tate arrives at the Finch’s house and asks Scout to point out who saved them. She notices a man in the corner and realizes that it was Arthur Radley (or Boo). Scout is surprised to see Arthur as he is not the person he was rumored to be. Atticus invites everyone to the porch to discuss what happened during the attack. Mr. Tate reveals that Mr. Ewell is dead and states that Bob accidently “fell on his knife” and “killed himself” (ch 30; pg 366). Atticus disagrees with Mr. Tate believes that it was Arthur Radley who killed Bob in order to save the children. He does not want Mr. Tate to lie about Mr. Ewell’s death since the children had recently experienced lying in the court case, but Mr. Tate insists. When asked, Scout agrees that they should spare Arthur the publicity. Scout states that exposing him would be like “killing a mockingbird” (ch. 30; pg 370). At this point, Scout begins to understand Arthur and why exposing him would be wrong. She realizes that Arthur has been locked up for over fifteen years and he would not be happy with people knocking at his door and interacting with