Examples Of Coming Of Age In To Kill A Mockingbird

Coming of age is a process that many people learn from, as they grow older. Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” gives many examples of how coming of age can change one person completely. Especially when a young boy leaves his home in Meridian to go to Maycomb. Lee uses the character Dill, to introduce a subplot, to show an external conflict, and to create imagery about running away; allowing him to come of age. Dill running away added an extra story to the novel, which allowed him to become independent, and learn how to survive on his own. When Dill finally crawls out from underneath the bed, and is feed “[he] recited [his] narrative” of how he escaped (186). Before he ran away it seemed like he had a perfect life, nothing could possibly go wrong. But here he is coming from underneath Scout’s bed, a visit that was very unexpected, since he only comes during the summer. He lived in miserable conditions “bond in chains and left to die in the basement” without anyone to care for him (186). Although Jem and Scout had Atticus who cared deeply for them, all Dill had was a new father who was

After Dill’s summary of events, he thinks people are searching for him since “all the picture shows [he is] in Meridian” (187). However the people who are searching for him think he is still in Meridian, actually he is in Maycomb. By going to the Finch house, it allows him to be in an safe, comfortable, and open environment to tell his tale. But Jem believes that he should “let [his] mother know where [he is]”, but Dill does not want anyone to know (187). The purpose of them telling someone would be so they know where he is, but in this case he does not want to be found. Thus creating one of his coming of age moments where he starts to push himself away from his loved ones. Overall, Dill’s conflict with Jem is just Dill learning how actions have consequences, that we do not want to deal