Harper Lee created the illusion of living, breathing beings in To Kill a Mockingbird. Of course these characters aren’t real, but Lee breathes life into the pages and tricks the audience into believing they are. Of the many characters in the novel, including Atticus, Calpurnia, Tom Robinson, Bob Ewell, and Jem, the character that many people would agree sticks out the most is Scout. She’s the narrator and the main character in the story, but also is a rendition of the author herself. Out of this wide cast of characters, Scout easily grows the most during the novel.
Scout is just six years old at the start of To Kill a MockingBird. Three years pass during the story and Scout is nine when the final page arrives. Three years, ripe with virtue
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Deceiving looks are a common theme among the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird. For example, Boo Radley is seen as a mysterious ghostly figure during the early chapters. By the end of the book though, Scout realizes he’s a misunderstood fellow who has been looking for a friend in her and Jem. Another example is the old lady who lived next to the Finches. Old Mrs. Dubose, a frail woman who heckles Jem and Scout with insults like “Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for n*ggers!” or, “Your father is no better than the n*gger trash he works for.” (Chapter 11) Jem’s character hiccups when he rips up the senior citizen’s flowers, but Scout lets the vulgar display of condescendence flow over her like a stone in a creek. At this point, Scout seeks enlightenment from Atticus about racism. In a way, Mrs. Dubose’s extreme racism helped Scout grow up. Especially when Scout and Jem had to read to the old woman. Softer, quieter, and somber tones came from Mrs. Dubose’s mouth as she let the kids ease away her pain. Realizing Mrs. Dubose was a “Brave and smart” person, helped Scout develop a habit of looking deeper than ugly things people may