Children are bound to grow up and mature at one point in their lives, and as they begin to do so, their innocence is shed and they start to understand society more. Their views on the world begin to alter as they move into adolescence and leave their childhood behind. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, Scout has many experiences with various characters and due to this she develops an understanding of Maycomb’s true nature. As Scout begins to mature, she learns more about her own town and soon comes to the realization that evil exists in the world, things are not always as they seem and she must develop compassion for those less fortunate.
Throughout the novel, Scout is able to see different …show more content…
When Tim Johnson runs rampage in the town, Atticus proves to be more than what he looks like on the outside. Ms. Maudie asks Scout “‘Well now, Ms.Jean Louise she said. ‘Still think your father can’t do anything? Still ashamed of him? ‘Nome’ I said meekly” (129). After Atticus shoots Tim Johnson, Scouts view on him changes. To her, he is no longer a dull and tedious person, but a man who has more to him than meets the eye. Similarly, Scout also discovers that Dolphus Raymond is not the person she initially thought he was. As the trial proceeds, Scout gets called over by Dolphus Raymond and “As Dolphus Raymond was an evil man [Scout] accepted his invitation reluctantly…” (267). At one glance, Scout feels that Dolphus Raymond is a delirious man, but she soon discovers that looking at someone does not necessarily mean you know that person. It takes more than one look to be able to actually understand a person. She realizes this better when she meets Boo Radley for the first time. Her thoughts and actions completely change; “…but I gazed at him in wonder, the tension slowly drained from his face…and our neighbour’s image blurred with my sudden tears” (362). Scout is growing up and is slowly realizing that Boo is not at all what she thought he was. Before, she only wanted to see him because of the rumors and the excitement but now seeing him, her tears are genuine and she sees her …show more content…
She discovers the evil and cruelty present in Maycomb, that a person’s appearance is not always who they truly are and learns to develop sympathy for others. By learning this, Scout is now able to perceive the world in a different manner and is able to see beyond Maycomb’s barriers. She is transitioning from her childhood into adulthood. This transition is something that every child has to face. This transition comes with experiences and hardship, but when children do enter the adolescent world, society begins to make sense and they are able to open their eyes to a whole new point of view. Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird has effectively shown that life will always come with many obstacles and growing up is just one of