To Kill A Mockingbird Feminist Analysis

Scout Finch is a girl with spunk and ambition, not only does she face difficulties headstrong but, also embodies this feminist quote from Gina Carey; “A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.” Her coming of age story is a prominent factor in To Kill a Mockingbird and makes the book so much better. The way that she adapts to the changes life throws at her is a testament to how fierce she is. Since To Kill a Mockingbird was published, Scout has become a character for young girls to relate to; her journey from blind naivete to awareness of the world around her inspires girls to want to be heard Scout sticks up for herself and her blood no matter what. Near the beginning of the book, we see a young scout starting school

The reader can clearly see that “This novel is indeed a bildungsroman in which Scout must grow from innocence to maturity” (Seidel 78) Scout proves herself to be mature by asking questions to further understand the topic at hand. Consider how Scout evolves her knowledge on racism. She goes from using insensitive language while talking to Atticus by asking “Do you defend niggers, Atticus” (99) to sticking up for the Black folk around her. Atticus helps Scout make herself morally right by always correcting her and Scout always tries her best to follow his correcting. As all children do, Scout starts off her younger years ignorant of heavy topics. Scouts character development throughout To Kill a Mockingbird is inspirational in itself. Scout goes from a curious little girl to an informed young woman. For example, in chapter 9 Cecil Jacobs grills her about Atticus defending Tom yet, Scout simply walks away from the fight thinking “I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away... It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight.” (102) Scout learns a bountiful of things from Atticus that helps her develop her character; the most important being how to put herself in other people’s shoes. In the last chapter, she realizes that “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes

Scout Finch is a powerful young female character that shouldn't be silenced yet, multiple times she is simply because she is a female. Although “Scout is a tough little tomboy who spends her days playing with her older brother Jem and her evenings reading with her father, Atticus Finch” (Ware 63) she is well aware of her female disadvantages but, she wasn't at first. For example, when she played with Jem and Dill they treated her like she was a girl, Scout says “Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that's why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with.” Which shows the reader that there was clear animosity towards girls in their friend group. All of the prominent female characters in her life influence her greatly, mostly for the good. For example, Miss Maudie helps Scout with the basics of just being a respectful human. Maudie teaches her how to maintain respect for all people. She is one of the biggest female role models because she understands Scout and she doesn't try and push toxic femininity on her. For example, when Maudie corrects Scout by saying “His name’s Arthur and he's alive,” (57) she is teaching Scout to have respect for other people and not to give into rumors. Another Major female role model for Scout is Calpurnia, “She acts as both a