False Judgments In To Kill Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Unknown Identities and Assumed Profiles

People tend to judge a lot, and worse, judge based on what others say. In the book, To Kill Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, three characters illustrate being victims of others’ false judgments. These individuals reveal little about their past, and so most of the people in Maycomb knew next to nothing about them. As a result, some misinformed folks make up and spread stories and speculations about those individuals’ pasts. Though the gossipers mean no harm, the individuals’ reputations suffer as a result. Mrs. Dubose, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and Arthur Radley all demonstrate the life of someone who lives as an incognito individual. Throughout the story, the truth of their pasts is revealed, making Scout

Dubose and how terribly she acts, but they also learn first hand her awful behavior, having been victims of Mrs. Dubose’s insults. Rumors about a “...CSA pistol concealed among her numerous shawls and wraps” (114) caused Jem much fear of Mrs. Dubose, but that did not prevent him from destroying Mrs. Dubose’s flowers when she criticized Atticus about defending an African-American. And as punishment, Atticus required Jem to go and read to Mrs. Dubose. During their reading trips to her house, Jem and Scout find out that Mrs. Dubose is a sick old lady with nothing to do. After Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus explains that she had an addiction to morphine, and that Jem reading to her had helped her break that addiction. Jem finally learned the truth about Mrs. Dubose, and though he still thought of her as a cantankerous old woman, he also learns of self-control and how valuable it can be. Many folks of Maycomb judged Mrs. Dubose by what they saw: a cranky old lady, but they did not see the full picture and did not see things from her point of

The children hear from Mrs. Stephanie Crawford about her encounter with Boo Radley, claiming that she saw him look through the window at her one night, and stories like that cause Scout, Jem, and Dill to fear Boo. After listening to the Tom Robinson case and hearing about his unfortunate death, Scout and Jem begin to comprehend why Boo never comes out of his house. Jem explains to Scout, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time . . . it’s because he wants to stay inside” (259). Since Maycomb had many different kinds of folks, it was hard for them all to get along, and Jem saw this in the Tom Robinson case, which helped him understand Boo. Mr. Ewell seeks revenge on Atticus because Atticus showing him up in court, so he tries to murder Scout and Jem. When Boo saves the children from Mr. Ewell, Scout and Jem realize then that Boo is a misunderstood, yet kind