How Does Lee Show Maturation In To Kill A Mockingbird

Voltaire once said, “prejudices are what fools use for reason”, and it remained true almost 200 years later in the town of Maycomb. A small southern town, filled with close-minded people Maycomb represents the south in the 1930’s. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates maturation, racial prejudice, and social ostracism through the use of characters and conflicts. Coming of age is exhibited as Jem matures from a foolish boy to a young man. In the beginning Jem spends his time with Dill and Scout, throwing “open the gate and spe[eding] to touch the Radley house on a dare (Lee 18). He harrases and ridicules Boo Radley for fun, revealing his youth and immaturity. However, as the novel progresses, Jem, eager to follow in his father’s

Jem’s displays his newfound maturity when he confesses to Atticus that Boo “ain’t ever hurt us” and has only shown kindness to Scout and him (Lee 96). Jem’s epiphany marks his transition to adulthood, as he begins to question things and not simply accept what he’s told or heard through others. On the other hand, Lee also uses conflicts to symbolize maturation. In the beginning of the novel Scout punches first and thinks later, but later learns to control her impulses. Such as when she “drop[s] her fists and walk[s] away” from Cecil instead of beating him up (Lee 102). Her altercation, or lack thereof, with Cecil exhibits her progress towards becoming a young lady. In addition to maturing herself, Scout also helps others develop. Scout confronts her Uncle Jack about how he does not “understand children”, and enlightens him on how

Mrs.Dubose hollers at Jem and Scout saying that Atticus is “no better than the niggers and trash he works for” (Lee 135). Mrs. Dubose represents the typical mindset of people in Maycomb. Her dehumanizing commentary demonstrates that she thinks of African-Americans as trash, whose lives have no value except to serve white folk. Her racist mindset is commonplace in Maycomb and why Tom is sentenced to the electric chair. Tom, falsely convicted of raping a white woman because of the color of his skin, exemplifies prejudice. His life comes to an abrupt and unnecessary end after Mayella “tempted a negro” and he is forced to pay the ultimate price, despite all evidence indicating his innocence (Lee 204). Tom adds to the long list of victims of racial prejudice in Maycomb because of others who share Mrs.Dubose beliefs. In a similar way, racial prejudice is also exemplified through Scout’s conflict with Francis and Atticus’ conflict with the mob. While Scout is visiting her family at Finch Landing she gets into a heated fight with her cousin Francis. Francis, who caught Maycomb’s usual disease, calls Scout a “nigger lover” causing Scout to punch him (Lee 112). Francis, who is not much older to Scout, is already displaying racism, revealing the problematic rhetoric going around Maycomb County. Later in the novel, the day before Tom Robinson’s trial a mob made of white men attempt to kidnap and lynch