In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Jean Louise (Scout) Finch as the narrator. Scout is now an adult and reflects on three very crucial summers during her childhood days. When Scout is first described in the novel, she is prone to violence, labels people based on class, denigrates people, uses racist language, and is prejudice (Seidel 1). All of these things show that she is childish at the beginning of the novel. A mature character would not pick a fight or label people based on their money; however, by the end of the novel, Scout sees that these things are wrong. She begins to see that all people are equal and should be treated the same. The reader sees Scout growing up through her change in actions, speech, and morals. First, Scout
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In the beginning of the novel, Scout says things that shows her immaturity. On the first day of school, Miss Caroline was trying to give Walter Cunningham a quarter to buy something for lunch. Walter refused to take the quarter. Scout speaks up and says, “Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham” (Lee 26). This shows that Scout did not take into consideration how this statement would make Walter feel. Children do not realize that these types of statements hurt others feelings. This disrespect shows that Scout is childish and immature when she makes this statement about Walter. A few days later, Scout was fighting Walter Cunningham when Jem came by and told Scout to stop. After Scout stopped, Jem apologized for her and invited Walter to come eat with them. Walter decides to come home and eat with them but Scout continued to be rude. Scout told Calpurnia, “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham” (Lee 33). Scout is still being disrespectful and not thinking about Walter’s feelings or situation. She does not realize that Walter cannot help the economic situation he was born into like a mature person would. Instead she just makes fun of him and treats him badly. Later in the book, Scout tells Jem, “There’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (Lee 304). This realization that all people are the same shows that Scout is maturing. Before this realization, she would have agreed with Jem that there were different classes of people (Moss and Wilson 393). Then, we see Scout maturing and wanting to protect Boo Radley. Harding LeMay states, “When Atticus and the sheriff decide not to expose Boo’s deed to the town, Scout agrees, reasoning that it would be ‘like shootin’ a mockingbird’” (LeMay 240). What she means is that all Boo did is save her and Jem just like all mockingbirds do is sing. Boo expects nothing in return for what he did like a mockingbird. Scout sees that if the town
In the beginning of the novel, Scout says things that shows her immaturity. On the first day of school, Miss Caroline was trying to give Walter Cunningham a quarter to buy something for lunch. Walter refused to take the quarter. Scout speaks up and says, “Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham” (Lee 26). This shows that Scout did not take into consideration how this statement would make Walter feel. Children do not realize that these types of statements hurt others feelings. This disrespect shows that Scout is childish and immature when she makes this statement about Walter. A few days later, Scout was fighting Walter Cunningham when Jem came by and told Scout to stop. After Scout stopped, Jem apologized for her and invited Walter to come eat with them. Walter decides to come home and eat with them but Scout continued to be rude. Scout told Calpurnia, “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham” (Lee 33). Scout is still being disrespectful and not thinking about Walter’s feelings or situation. She does not realize that Walter cannot help the economic situation he was born into like a mature person would. Instead she just makes fun of him and treats him badly. Later in the book, Scout tells Jem, “There’s just one kind of folks. Folks” (Lee 304). This realization that all people are the same shows that Scout is maturing. Before this realization, she would have agreed with Jem that there were different classes of people (Moss and Wilson 393). Then, we see Scout maturing and wanting to protect Boo Radley. Harding LeMay states, “When Atticus and the sheriff decide not to expose Boo’s deed to the town, Scout agrees, reasoning that it would be ‘like shootin’ a mockingbird’” (LeMay 240). What she means is that all Boo did is save her and Jem just like all mockingbirds do is sing. Boo expects nothing in return for what he did like a mockingbird. Scout sees that if the town