Scout Finch's Development In To Kill A Mockingbird

Saahir Beotra 4/28/23

Mr. McDonough English 10R

In "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Scout Finch, who is the protagonist, undergoes significant growth as a character as she learns many valuable life lessons from the struggles she faces in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, her father, helps Scout navigate these struggles as he teaches her to do what she believes is right and not let anyone tell her differently. In part one of the novel, Scout is able to understand and learn the importance of courage and perspective as she develops as a person.

An important lesson that Scout learns is when Atticus teaches him the importance of understanding people's perspectives. Scout has a disagreement with her new teacher, Mrs. Caroline.

Atticus then teaches Scout how it's important to look at other people's perspectives and, in this case, to think about how Mrs. Caroline feels. In the novel, it states, “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 33). This helps Scout develop as a character as he develops a greater sense of understanding and empathy toward people. She is able to learn the importance of putting herself in others' shoes and considering other people's perspectives on things. Another example of Scout's development is when she tries to understand that Mrs. Dubose is an elderly woman and a neighbor of the Finch family. In the novel, it states, “In the corner of the room was a brass bed, and in the bed was Mrs. Dubose. I wondered if Jem’s activities had put her there, and for a moment I felt

Scout is also able to learn the true definition of courage and how it's completely different from what she thought it was. When Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson, who is a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Scout faces backlash from her peers as her father chooses to defend a black man. However, Atticus encourages Scout to stay strong and not let anyone alter how she thinks. In the novel, it states, “Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" (Lee 128). This helps Scout grow as a character, as she is learning the importance of courage and standing up for what you believe. She learns how to overcome adversity and not let any backlash affect her. Another example of Scout showing and learning the importance of courage is when she refuses to fight Cecil Jacobs and doesn't resort to violence. In the novel, it states, “Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks” (Lee 88). This highlights Scout's development, as she recognizes that to be a better person, she can't always resort to violence. This also relates to Atticus' definition of courage,