How Does Scout Mature In To Kill A Mockingbird

“I do believe in the old saying, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' Our experiences, good and bad, make us who we are. By overcoming difficulties, we gain strength and maturity” (Angelina Jolie). That is exactly what happened to Scout, the protagonist, in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. The author, Harper Lee, tells readers about the growth of Scout Finch using Scout’s childhood experiences in the town of Maycomb. The innocent Scout matures because of her adventures in the southern town of Alabama. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is an innocent child who doesn’t have much knowledge regarding the world, but as the novel progresses, she slowly becomes a mature young adult. It is through Scout’s willingness to stand up to her teacher,

First of all, Harper Lee portrays the protagonist, Scout as an innocent six-year-old tomboy who thinks she is an adult at the beginning of the novel. However, as Scout tries to show that she can read, Miss Caroline blames Atticus and demanding that Atticus no longer teach her to read as, “it’s best to begin reading with a fresh mind. You tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage. . . Your father does not know how to teach” (Lee 17). Even though Scout has learned to read by herself, Miss Caroline does not believe her education to be “correct” or appropriate for a six-year-old forcing Scout to be more realistic about her being a child and develop further maturity. Moreover, Miss Caroline is a young teacher who is just starting her career and does not know much about the town of Maycomb. For instance, when Walter Cunningham forgets his lunch, Miss Caroline tries to give him money, but when Scout interrupts, Miss Caroline calls Scout in front of the class and says, “Jean Louise, I’ve had enough of you this morning, she said, You’re starting on the wrong foot every way, my dear. Hold out your hand” (Lee 21). Miss Caroline is threatened by Scout’s knowledge about the town for which she punishes Scout and teaches her not to interrupt people. After the incident, Scout had been terrified by the idea of school, but Atticus helps Scout to realize that Scout also has to think about what Miss Caroline is going through as well and to show empathy toward Miss Caroline. Atticus tells Scout that Miss Caroline is new to Maycomb, and he says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 30). Scout finally learns the lesson that she needs to consider another person’s perspective in order to understand them. Therefore,