The Misunderstood Citizens of Maycomb County

Has there ever been a time when it felt like nobody understood or either it was hard to understand another person’s situation? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, these instances are a prominent part of the storyline that Harper Lee shows through the misunderstood characters. Harper Lee proves, “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39), through the characters Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley.

Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in the novel. Atticus is an example of being misunderstood through One-Shot Finch, the court case, and his personality. Atticus’ children even misunderstand him. Scout and Jem have a hard time understanding their dad, Atticus, throughout the novel. At one point Scout and Jem develop doubts about how great their dad is because of his age. The children view him as old and unable to do anything. Scout even says, “Our father didn’t do anything. He worked in an office, not in a drugstore. Atticus did not drive a dump-truck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone”(118). They do not think that he can do the same things that other dads can do. Atticus is a good bit older that most of the fathers of kids their age. Atticus shows them a great example of how not to judge someone by their outside appearance, though, in one action. Harper Lee describes, “With movements so swift they seemed simultaneous, Atticus’s hand yanked a ball tipped lever as he brought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped flopped over and crumpled on the side walk”(127). S...

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...ith the children from the beginning and he shows this interest and involvement when he leaves them gifts in the tree. He also has a very caring and protective side for the children which is shown when he risks his life to save Scout and Jem. He had such a connection with these kids that he killed a man to save them. No one could understand why he would do such a thing except the children, who are very close to Boo and actually “climb in his skin and walk around in it.”

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel full of instances where the people of a town do not understand anything about someone and yet they judge them. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are just a few of the characters that are misunderstood throughout the novel. These characters know how it feels to not have anyone actually “climb in their skin” and understand them for who they really are.