In to kill a mocking bird Atticus said “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” Scout and Jem throughout this novel figures out what Atticus meant when he said that as they try to understand Boo Radley and the people of Maycomb. Throughout the book Jem and scout try to understand boo Radley as they become curious because of the various rumors about him and how he was not seen for thirty years. After certain events Jem thinks that boo is not forced to stay in the house but doesn’t want to come out as Jem learns the world is not fair as he tries to understand boo. In chapter 31 (pg.236-237) when scout is walking boo home and turns around and looks at her street from boo’s porch she starts to see Maycomb from boos point of view and how he viewed things. She also saw how he watched Jem and scout grow up and how they were his children metaphorically. She never saw boo again but she learned how boo thought by standing in his shoes and walking around in them. In chapter 11 Atticus forced Jem to read for Mrs. Dubose as punishment for cutting the tops of her camellia bushes with Scouts baton then he broke it in two. He was to read to her for two hours a day for a month I which Scout usually joined him. When scout is walking boo to his home she turns around and looks at her street from boo’s porch. She starts to look at Maycomb from boo’s point of view and, how he viewed things and, how he watched Jem and scout grow up. Jem learns what bravery is and how Mrs. Dubose wanted to live her life in her last moments “beholden to nothing and nobody” which changes Jem’s view of her also why Mrs. Dubose did what she did. Scout and Jem throughout the book try to understand Boo Radley and the people of Maycomb by walking in their shoes and about their way of thinking about things as they grow up in
When Atticus discovered what Jem had done, he was furious and punished him by making him go read to Mrs. Dubose everyday. He knew, though, in his heart that she had it coming. Atticus had told Scout that "when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things it's not fair for you and Jem, but
After learning more about Boo and getting to know him they realize he is opposite of what they thought. Because Jem and Scout are influenced by other people’s opinions they are able to learn from their mistakes and develop a new perspective on people. In the beginning of the novel Jem and Scout believe Boo is a ghost until they get to see the real him. Everyone in Maycomb has a negative judgment of Boo, in the beginning Jem and Scout go along with it.
On several occasions, Scout gets into a fight with people who make unpleasant comments about her father. Atticus continuously tells her that this is wrong and that she needs to learn to control her anger, “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change” (Lee 101). The day after this discussion with Atticus, Scout is approached by a fellow student who had previously made a mean comment about her father. “I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away...it was the first time I ever walked away from a fight” (Lee 102). Although she struggles at first, Scout develops a higher level of maturity which allows her to control her temper and simply defend her father with her words, without being rude. Jem is also faced with these type of situations and struggles with his anger, for instance when he attacks Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. Atticus goes to great lengths to teach his children that in life, they must learn to stay calm and be kind to everyone, despite how cruel those people may be. Scout and Jem face several situations in which their control is tested, which leads them to “come of age”
One of the first lessons taught in Mockingbird is the power of understanding other people’s perspectives. Initially, Scout has trouble empathizing with other people, especially her first Grade Teacher, Miss Caroline, whom Scout becomes frustrated at for not understanding Maycomb’s complex social structure. After hearing his daughter complain, Atticus tells Scout that she'll “get along a lot better with all kinds of folks [if she] considers things from [their] point of view” (39). After ‘standing in the shoes of another person’, it is much harder to be prejudiced towards that person. Indeed, this may be because a key tenet of prejudice is disregarding the views of whoever is being judged. Nevertheless, it proves difficult for Scout to grasp this relatively simple concept, who begins to hear rumors of Boo Radley, an enigma who has not been seen outside his home for over 30 years. Thus begins Jem and Scout’s quest to make Boo Radley come outs...
They want to get to know him as he leaves them surprises in the tree, and even saves Jem’s life (Best). Finally, Scout decided to put herself in Boo Radley’s shoes. She began to see the view from his side. Kasper says, “Scout at last begins to see Boo Radley as a human being.” (Kasper).
Scout and Jem are very close. They are very protective of each other and worry about each other often. When Jem, Scout , and Dill went to the Radley house at night Jem’s pants became stuck on the fence. Jem went to retrieve his pants and Scout wanted to come with to help and protect him, but Jem did not let her because he was protecting her making sure that she would not hurt herself. When Jem was gone Scout waiting for him to return because she was worried he would hurt himself. Another example is when Jem and Scout were attacked by Bob Ewell. Before they were attacked Jem thought he heard someone following them so Jem walked with his hand on Scout’s head worried about her and trying to protect her. When Mr. Ewell attacked them, they were trying to help each other and protect each other. After the attack while Jem was unconscious Scout was even more worried about Jem then she was before. Scout learns from Jem as well. An example is that Jem taught Scout and Dill the history of the Radleys and the superstitions that the town has of Boo Radley. The actions of Jem and Scout reveal the close relationship that they have with each
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout matures greatly throughout the novel, and her innocent nature is lost as she realizes how brutal and malicious people can be.
One thing Scout and Jem learn are people and events aren't always the same as we believe. At the beginning of the book both Scout and Jem are afraid of Boo Radley. In the town Boo is referred to as a malevolent phantom and is feared by most children. The children make many quick judgments about Boo from the rumors they have heard. Dill who doesn’t even live in Maycomb has heard the rumors and has made a snap judgment about him. “I hope you've got it threw your head that he’ll kill us each and every one” (Lee 14). Dill doesn’t know or understand what happens Boo’s life. This is just the imagination of a seven year old running wild after hearing so many rumors. Because of all the rumors they have heard and believed the kids are afraid of Boo
Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout, was right when he said, ¨you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.¨ Scout realizes that Boo Radley is not who everyone rumors him out to be. Scout learns that you need to spend time with a person to find out who he truly is. She learns this after walking Boo Radley home after the disturbing experience the Finch kids had been in. Scout finally understood what life looked like from Boo Radley's perspective when she is standing with him on his front porch. Also, when Scout talks to Atticus at the end of the book he shows her how she has turned into a wonderful young lady. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the theme that believing rumors will lead you to false assumptions unless you have walked in that person's shoes through imagery, characterization, and point of view.
Among many things, Miss Maudie teaches Scout that she should not judge people based solely on rumors she might hear about them. Scout, being only six years old at the time of the story, believes everything that reaches her hears and takes most things literally. Rumors she hears about a man named Boo Radley, who many consider the town freak because of his different lifestyle and because nobody ever sees him, create in her the belief that he is a crazy maniac. The activities she takes part in with her older brother Jem and their friend Dill only fuel her theories about Boo. When Jem and Dill begin shunning Scout aside, she spends her time with Miss Maudie instead, and they develop a kind of friendship. Miss Maudie, a Baptist who loves nature, has high morals, and treats everyone as equals, aids in Scout discontinuing her belief about Boo Radley’s state of mind. At one point, they have a conversation regarding Boo. They discuss the rumors Scout has heard thus far about him, and Miss Maudie shoots down her beliefs. When Scout asks Mi...
This was the start of Jem starting to become fearless. Moreover, Jem find a way to deal with Atticus facing a mad dog, Mrs. Dubose fighting addiction, and Scout’s confrontation with the mob at the jail, all at the same time! Instead of backing down, he accepted this, and moved on. In addition to this, Jem must devote some of his time and efforts to being Scout’s counselor. At the beginning of the story, Jem didn’t want to have anything to do with Scout; often ignoring her at school, and telling her to stay away from him. But later on in the story, he changed. Whenever Scout was feeling depressed, or in trouble, Jem would be there to suppress the situation, and make it better. He would occasionally offer Scout emotional guidance, telling her to do things such as be less defiant and follow orders, or to relax and listen. Also, being that he is her older brother, he must set the model that she must follow. Besides sacrificing his time and efforts to Scout, he also sacrifices himself to Atticus, as he’d rather be personally injured, than to disappoint him and/or see him get
...l along Boo just wanted to have someone to call a friend because of suffering from lonesome. Even though he may have been involved in the fires and other acts he did in Maycomb he was not like what anyone said a bout being a nocturnal monster or a heartless person. Boo was a normal human being living in his own world for the longest time till he broke out of his shell when Scout and him met on Halloween night. The Change that happens in the Radley house is dramatic Boo goes for being the towns "night phantom" to being a Hero in the end. Lastly how did Scout have the courage to walk up to the Radley's porch was because Scout believed Boo to be a big hero for what he had done. Another reason Scout had walked with Boo home was to go see Jem who was there from when Boo carried him from the fight that night back home. Scout saw Boo as a positive at the end of the story.
As the book comes to a close, readers can see just how mature and empathetic Scout has become. After Scout and Jem, Scout’s brother, are saved by Arthur “Boo” Radley, the town shut-in, Scout walks Boo home and after he walks back into her house, she turns around and just stares out at the street from Boo’s point of view instead of from her own. Her father taught her that you should
Tom and Boo taught Scout several lessons that she will remember forever. Boo shows her that just because you act different and live a different life that you are not always scary and bad. After Scout meets Boo at the end of the book she realizes that he could not really be the person that the makes him out to be. Tom’s trial shows her that racism is completely wrong but was happening all around her all of the time. She sees how Tom is not guilty but since he is black he is considered bad. She knows that this is wrong and she won’t do it herself. Before the trial she did not even know what racism was.
Even Though Scouts hears about Boo only through rumors, Scout started to see Boo isn’t the monster everyone have described his as. Every time Scout and Jem pass through the Radley’s house, they find some present for them left in a knot hole of the Radley’s tree. Scout started to notice that Boo just wanted to be friendly. Also when Boo covers Scout with the blanket without her noticing.