To Kill A Mockingbird Growing Up Essay

Growing Up in Maycomb Growing up is part of life. Whether you realize it or not with age comes knowledge and with knowledge comes maturity. For Scout losing her innocence is inevitable. From dealing with bad teachers, going to an old lady's house everyday for month, to seeing a man be wrongfully accused of rape, to realizing you’re childhood villain is your guardian angle. Growing up for Scout means learning courage, racism and empathy. The first way Atticus teaches his kids courage was when he took the Tom Robinson case. Taking this case was a risky move for him, his family and his career. After he tells Scout that he is taking the case, she asks why. To this he responds, “For a number of reasons," said Atticus. "The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” (Lee, 100). I think this exposure to courage at a young age prepares Scout for the future and makes her a stronger person. Her dad is a big influence in her life and I think that he is a positive role model that she learns a lot from. The next way Atticus teaches Scout courage was

After watching her father fight hard for a case he was bound to loose, hearing all the mean names her family and Tom was called and hearing the news of Tom’s death she began to understand the reality of racism. “Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.” (Lee, 110) This was said by Scout’s family member. I think the fact that even their own family will turn on them and act like this says a lot about racism in the story. I think that because of all the racism and having to keep her head high even when people are saying bad things helps Scout prepare for the trial and