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Adults In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In society, adults are viewed as the only people that truly understand the world. This idea has been embedded in society and the majority of people would agree with this statement. However, as presented in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, this notion is false. Through the views of the two main characters Jem and Scout Finch, it is proven that adults are not the only ones that have the capability of understanding the world. The protagonists Jem and Scout Finch understand the world in the way that they treat lower class people in this society with respect. During the trial, Atticus is wondering where Jem and Scout are and Mr. Underwood tells him, “’They’re right up yonder, in the colored balcony’” (Lee 206). This demonstrates …show more content…

For example, most adults in Maycomb believe that Boo is a heinous criminal, that is too afraid to be seen. But, when Heck Tate decides to cover up Boo’s murder in self defense of Ewell, she realizes that, “’It’d be like shootin a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (Lee 276). Many adults in Maycomb do not have the thought process to figure out that Boo Radley is a similar to mockingbird. Scout can understand that Boo ultimately helped the common good by killing Bob Ewell, and it is justifiable to not report him for murder because he has never done anything wrong. Unlike Atticus, one of the most respected adults in Maycomb wanted a full trial and would put Boo in the limelight, against his wishes. Many adults would not understand the concept of Boo representing a mockingbird, but Scout, a 12-year-old, understands that Boo did the right thing in killing the loathsome Bob Ewell after he attacked Jem and Scout. Another way in which Scout understands the world more than most adults is how she understands Boo. She agrees and fully understands what her father means when “He said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (Lee 279) and she relates this to Boo. Scout understands people.Unlike many of the adults Scout put herself in the place of Boo and now fully understands his

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