To Kill a Mockingbird is a fantastic read for many reasons, but a major reason this story has had and will continue to have an impact on societies is because of the characters and the way you can relate to them. To Kill a Mockingbird not only kept you guessing what was going to happen next it made you truly think about yourself and how you would react in certain situations that you would not always encounter in your daily routine. A major theme in the story that was important when the book was written and continues to be a thought provoking question when you ask yourself, “What would I do if I had to walk around in their shoes/ skin?” The narrator of the story was a major part of everything that went on because of her characteristics and how they were portrayed such as her compassion, curiosity, and coming of age. …show more content…
Everything Scout does may not be out of love or hate, but what stays a constant is her compassion for everything and everyone. In the story Walter Cunningham “ruins” Scouts day at school so she tackles him to the ground, after consulting with Jem she feels bad and wants to show that she didn’t mean to lose her temper by offering a gesture of good faith, “Come on home to dinner with us, Walter.”(Lee 30). Scout means well but she lets her feelings get the best of her and she makes quick decisions without considering the consequences of her actions, but it is also true that she has been raised to be respectful and honest so when she makes a mistake she recognizes it and fixes what’s wrong. Scout’s compassion throughout the story is very important to her character and what she represents in
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Show MoreAt the beginning of the book, Scout was not a nice child. She had hard times controlling herself, and usually she was not able to. She knew Atticus wouldn't like it if he heard of her fighting, but still she fought a lot, like the time she got angry to Cecil Jacobs and fought him (pg. 99). She was also mean and rude, which can easily be seen as she got angry and protested it when Walter poured syrup all over his dinner (pg. 32). As she was young, she also was not able to look at things from other people's perspective. This could easily be seen in her first day of school, as she only saw things from her point of view, never caring about her teacher's perspective (pg. 26). Her youth also ...
Scout is courageous throughout the book, she was a tomboy from the beginning and is willing to fight against any boy or adult who questions her . While much conflict and absurdity was occurring around the trail, Scout had to be courageous and brave.Some of her bravery comes from having the negativity of being a child during a time of segregation amongst different races. People in the town of Maycomb would give the whole Finch family a hard time, just because Atticus was defending a black man. Scout would get hurtful comments said to her about her father, and was even attacked by Mr. Ewell, who tried to kill her, and her brother Jem. “ Your shaman him Miss. Caroline, Walter hasn't got a quarter at home to bring you, and you can't use any stovewood….Miss Caroline stood shock still, then grabbed me by the collar…” (Lee 28.) This quote demonstrates how Scout showed bravery and spoke out to Miss. Caroline to help out Walter, on behalf of the students. She is aware that Miss. Caroline yells at her for all most anything she says, but speaks out anyway because she is brave and wants to help Walter, knowing that their family does not have much. Scout is making Walter feel less embarrassed for the fact that he is poor. Scout shows bravery throughout the whole novel, and courage and bravery are what get her through all the conflict and dispute that is occurring in
However, Scout acknowledges her mistakes and uses them as learning experiences that helps her grow and mature. An example that shows this very well in the novel, “I remember the distant disastrous occasion when I rushed to young Walter Cunningham's defense. Now, I was glad I done it. “Soon’s school starts I’m gonna ask Walter Cunningham to dinner,” I planned have forgotten my private resolve to beat him up.” (Lee, Ch.23). This significant taught her a big lesson. That you shouldn’t judge others based on their differences. In the beginning of the book, Scout picks on Walter Cunningham, a classmate, for getting her in trouble with Miss. Caroline. She doesn’t stop to think about her words or Cunningham’s perspective of the situation. In short, she was being insensitive. Walter is from a poor family of farmers their eating habits aren’t like Scout’s. So naturally, Scout, being a child, picks on him for that. Now, later in the novel, Scout understands her mistake and tries invite him for dinner again as a way of apologizing. This quote shows that her innocence views is the bridge that lead her realize her
The mockingbird is one of the most important symbolizes in the book because it symbolizes all the innocent people in the book that have been hurt
Harper Lee’s only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the stereotypical tale of childhood and innocence, yet it successfully incorporates mature themes, like the racism in the South at the time, to create a masterpiece of a work that has enraptured people’s minds and hearts for generations. According to esteemed novelist Wally Lamb, “It was the first time in my life that a book had sort of captured me. That was exciting; I didn’t realize that literature could do that” (111). Scout’s witty narration and brash actions make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and the events that take place in Maycomb County are small-scale versions of the dilemmas that face our world today. Mockingbird is a fantastically written novel that belongs on the shelves for classic literature that everyone should take the time to read and appreciate for their execution of style and the importance of their content.
Ultimately, the minor characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are crucial in rendering the novel a masterpiece. Their individuality is refreshing yet meaningful, as they break the stereotypes that attempt to limit a prejudiced society. Scout herself is deeply influenced by the characters she meets, and the experience only increases her wisdom. Also, the symbols portrayed through minor characters speak volumes about humankind- not only of our flaws but of the promise of change and redemption. In truth, minor characters are of utmost importance in any story, because the world an author creates is only as good as the characters that populate it.
Narration is a critical part of literature, and the perspective from which stories are told has an impact on how the reader processes and interprets the meaning of the story. In order for an author to successfully communicate with readers, a strong and memorable narrative must be present. In the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the story is told from the point of view of a young girl, providing a fresh look at the world. This appeals to readers because it is unique and eye-opening. Lee utilizes Scout’s young, naive view of the world to more effectively communicate her message about racism, justice, and social constructs in the South.
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout starts off childish, then transforms into a more mature person. In the beginning of the book, Scout is very childish and insulting to the people around her, she doesn’t think about the things that she claims about others. While the teacher wanted to give Walter a quarter for lunch, Scout said “He had probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life...”(Lee 26). Scout is referring to Walter Cunningham when the teacher offered to loan him a quarter for lunch. Scout claims that the Walter’s family is poor and will stay poor, instead of just explaining the situation to the teacher, Scout insulted and was judgemental towards Walter family. Scout just jumped to conclusions about
To KIll A Mockingbird is a compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving story by Harper Lee, full of love and hatred. This story is back in the 1990s where the world was full of racism and hatred,but one family stands out of this book, the Finch family who changes the outlook of this story. The name of the book, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize is called To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus a compassionate man, also a lawyer in the book, has done something that has not been done before. Atticus has this courageous heart to help a black man Tom Robinson, who was accused of rapping a white women. Atticus should take a stand for Tom Robinson because he is brave and he has Integrity.
In her first school year, Scout has no respect for anyone different from her. An example of this is her treatment of Walter Cunningham, which is heedless at best and merciless at worst: after an explanation of Walter’s habits lands her in trouble with Miss Caroline, she finds him in the schoolyard later and attacks him. After Jem invites Walter to dinner, Scout shows scorn for Walter’s revived dignity, commenting, “By the time we reached our front steps Walter had forgotten he was a Cunningham.” (Lee, 23) She shows marked disapproval for the way he eats, and she decides to eat in the kitchen rather than join Walter and the others at the dinner table. However, as Scout gains experience and maturity, she begins to put aside her differences from others. She becomes friends with Walter, and she asks Aunt Alexandra if she can play with him. Aunt Alexandra appalls Scout with the same prejudice towards the Cunninghams that Scout held two years before: “Jean Louise will not invite Walter Cunningham to this house…Because--he--is--trash, that’s why you can’t play with him. I’ll not have you around him, picking up his habits an...
Throughout the novel, Lee shows that children can be heroes too. Scout, though she was young, showed the courage that no one thought a child could possess. During this time especially, more people spent time judging others, rather than trying to help them. It would take a truly selfless person to help others even if it resulted in breaking the norm, which Lee portrays through Scout. If she had not been brave enough to do what was right, she could have lost both her father and Tom Robinson’s life during the incident at the county jail. “Hey Mr. Cunningham. How's your entailment gettin' along?” . . . He seemed uncomfortable; he cleared his throat and looked away. . . “What's wrong?” I asked. Atticus said nothing. I looked around and up at Mr. Cunningham,
Early on in the book, Scout is introduced as a tomboy with little disrespect. A good example of the amount of disrespect she has for people is when Walter Cunningham is invited over for dinner. She says that “[Walter] ain’t [sic]
To Kill a Mockingbird overall explores the racial and social prejudices in the small town of Maycomb and shows that not everyone can be equal in a town where the white community gave themselves the title of being superior and explores how this is challenged by only very few people who decide that it is not up to them to decide who is
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is an excellent story that gives a profound meaning to many essences in life. The story showcases many cases of great qualities such as fear and courage. Also this book contains characters with impressive personalities, but in contrast there are many characters with poor qualities and personalities. Back in the 30s, when a negro faced a white man in a courtroom, the white man will win whether he is lying or not. This would give many negros tons of fear. In addition to this book, there is a lot of mystery within the story. For example, there is a very mysterious character in the story. In the form of courage, there are many situations where characters defy odds and take huge chances for little reward. There will be 3 subjects about qualities or feelings of fear and courage. They are about the Radley family, Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson.
In the beginning of the book Scout viewed the world in a very childish way. She thought that everything is fair and perfect and that nothing can go wrong. Scout played very childish games and didn't understand what things meant. For example she tried to get Boo Radley to come out because she thought that he was a monster. She didn't know that he just wanted to be alone. She also didn't explain her way of thinking and thought that everyone knew what she was talking about. For example she told Miss. Caroline that Walter was a Cunningham and she thought by just saying that, Miss. Caroline should have known what she meant. Scout saw the world as a play place so she took nothing serious.