Have you ever been told not to judge a book by it’s cover? Have you ever believed gossip about another person? Have you ever met a person who is the opposite of who you thought they were? How can we learn the difference between a rumor and reality from reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee? This novel is set in a small town in Alabama during the 1930s where everybody knows everybody, or so they think. Through the eyes of the main character, Scout, we see how her views mature as she ages and discovers the real truth about the people of Maycomb. Harper Lee is effective in presenting the preconceived ideas and the realities of the characters, Ms. Dubose, Dolphus Raymond, and Boo Radley.
First and foremost, Ms. Dubose, a grumpy, cantankerous woman who lives down the street from the Finches, teaches them very valuable lessons and is a great example of stereotyping in Maycomb. Judging from her first appearance, Mrs. Dubose is not a pleasant lady to be around. Jem and Scout do their best to
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As they get older they begin to understand things from Boo’s point of view. For example, when Scout and Dill are talking, they have a realization: “ ‘Why do you reckon Boo Radley’s never run off?’ Dill sighed a long sigh and turned away from me. ‘Maybe he doesn’t have anywhere to run off to…’ ” (146). As soon as they start to view Arthur as a person they start to sympathize and relate to him. Furthermore, they develop a friendship with him and learn to discard their previous fears about him, this friendship even saves their lives. When Bob Ewell was going after Jem and Scout, it was Arthur who stepped in and saved them: “ ‘I never heard tell that it’s against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did’ ” (280). In conclusion, Arthur Radley is one of the most extreme cases of the speculation that occurs in the town of