To Kill A Mockingbird Characterization Essay

Characterization of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Jean Louise (Scout) Finch as the narrator. Scout is now an adult and reflects on three very crucial summers during her childhood days. When Scout is first described in the novel, she is prone to violence, labels people based on class, denigrates people, uses racist language, and is prejudice (Seidel 1). All of these things show that she is childish at the beginning of the novel. A mature character would not pick a fight or label people based on their money; however, by the end of the novel, Scout sees that these things are wrong. She begins to see that all people are equal and should be treated the same. The reader sees Scout growing up through her change in actions, speech, and morals. First,

Also, one day Scout, Jem, and Dill travel into town against their father’s commands, and behind Calpurnia’s back, to watch Tom Robinson’s trial. They thought that going to watch the trial would be interesting and fun. Disobeying her father is an act of immaturity. A mature child would have listened to their father because he knows what is best for his children. In addition, Scout thinks it is okay to be mean to others. Kellman states, “It is all right to run up to the porch of a recluse, as a game; it is all right to rub a poor boy’s nose in the schoolyard dirt; it is all right to make a snowman in the image of a neighbor; and it is all right to make fun of crabby old ladies” (1472). All of these actions are just every day, normal things in Scout’s eyes. Believing that there is nothing wrong with treating others this way, she continues to do these things. One day, she finally realizes that she cannot treat others that way. Realizing this begins to show that she is maturing. After fighting on the playground at school Scout says, “I was far too old and too big for such childish things” (Lee 99). After this, Scout did not fight anymore. If other characters