How Does Harper Lee Show Character Development In To Kill A Mockingbird

There are many books that have been written by fantastic authors, that have touched many people deeply. Harper Lee has done just that. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the livesfe of people during the 1930’s. The novel displays some of the most recognized issues of its time. Atticus, Jem, Scout, and the whole Maycomb community are affected by what a black man did not do. Tom Robinson, a married African American man, is accused of raping a white womaen, although he is clearly innocent. Atticus Finch is appointed to be Tom Robinson’s lawyer, and he accepts it. Atticus thinks that the justice system is racist and unfair, and he defends Tom as an innocent man, not a man of color. However, this has an impact on other people in Maycomb,

When Scout was visiting her family for Christmas, things did not go as planned. She and Francis had some exchange in words, mainly Francis. He kept on calling Scout’s dad a n***** lover and Scout takes things into her own hands, and punches him. After, Uncle Jack surprisingly gives Scout a chance to tell her side of the story. She pleaded for him not to say anything to Atticus. “‘Promise me you will not tell Atticus about this. He asked me not to let anything I heard about him make me mad. Please promise’” (Pg 114). Scout unusually takes the blame for this, even though it is clear that Francis started this. Normally, Scout would have pointed her fingers at Francis and tried to tell on him, however she does not. The reason for this is because if Atticus were to find out really why Scout punched Francis, their family would fall apart, because it obviously was not Francis who came up with n***** lover. This shows Scout is becoming more mature because she is taking the blame for something for the sake of her

One time when Scout and Atticus were walking, Scout overheard someone talking about rape, which then reminded her that night to ask Atticus something. “‘What is rape’” (Pg 180)? After Scout has already asked Uncle Jack a similar question and he tried to avoid the answer, Atticus directly tells Scout what it is. As a father, one would not want one’s seven or eight year-old child to know what rape is, but Atticus is forced to tell Scout. This shows that Scout is learning that the case is becoming a big part of her life and she is getting ambitious about it. Also, after the Jury determined that Tom Robinson was guilty, Atticus, Jem, and Scout were talking and wondering how they could do such thing just because he was black. “‘How could they do it, how could they?’” (Pg 285). This shows that Scout is becoming more curious and developing thoughts and feelings about the case. She is starting to understand why her dad thinks that the justice system is racist and unfair, and what life is going to be like when she gets