Coming of Age in to Kill a Mockingbird - 1015 Words

Unveiled Eyes In Maycomb County, Alabama during the Great Depression, Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, explains to Scout Finch, his daughter, that 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 (39). At first, Scout does not understand the meaning of his words, but as she matures through the novel, her eyes are unveiled, and she understands what Atticus is trying to tell her. Over time, Jem, too, starts to see the meaning and depth of the statement. Throughout the course of the book, Jem and Scout both learn that one must know and respect people for who they are as individuals, not for what they appear to be.†¦show more content†¦Most Maycomb citizens, including Scout in the beginning, think that Boo Radley is a lunatic that nobody wants to mess with. As the story progresses and Scout learns about Mr. Dolphus Raymond and Tom Robinson, she starts to see why Boo wants to be a recluse. He wants to escape from the evil and discrimination in Maycomb. Towards the climax of Boo’s story, Scout starts to see Boo as an actual human, not just as a rumor from Miss Stephanie Crawford, the neighborhood scold. She sees him as a living human being and cares for him, unlike most Maycomb inhabitants. In the end, Scout realizes that â€Å"Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough† (374). One night, she drowsily remarks about the character in The Gray Ghost â€Å"Atticus, when they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things†¦Atticus, he was real nice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (376). This is symbolic of Boo Radley because he is rumored for things he had never done, but when Scout finally meets Boo as a person, she finally realizes that all those accusations are lies and one must respect others as i ndividuals. Over the course of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the main characters Scout and Jem learn to respect and treat others for who they are as individuals. By meeting three other characters of the novel, they learn this important lesson. Mr. Raymond and Tom Robinson both teach the childrenShow MoreRelatedTo Kill a Mockingbird-Coming of Age943 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird-Coming of Age Throughout the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout demonstrates maturity in a number of examples. There were two main experiences where Scout could see herself come of age. Not only that, but she reflects on those occurrences and ask the question, why? At the beginning of the novel, Boo Radley is addressed. Rumors have floated around, referring to Boo as a â€Å"malevolent phantom† while accusing him of being guilty of â€Å"any stealthy small crimes that were committedRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill: Similarities and Differences818 Words   |  4 PagesA Time to Kill and To Kill a Mockingbird both have a number of similarities to be compared and contrasted. Both stories can be compared in their themes about justice and racial prejudice. However, this is where the similarities end. The themes and ideas in both novels are vastly different in shape and scope. In A Time to Kill justice is the main theme and most of the ideas are focused on justice and the gray in between the lines of black and white set by the law, racial prejudice is also touchedRead MoreMaturity And Personal Growth Often Appear Through The Experience1628 Words   |  7 Pagessuccesses, failures, tragedies, and most importantly, the los s of childhood innocence. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird presents the ideas of coming of age and the loss of innocence while the Great Depression was occurring in the 1930s. Racism and gender inequality were widespread issues during this time period which gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement. To Kill a Mockingbird teaches its readers that the coexistence of tragedy and the loss of innocence affect personal growth through theRead MoreThe Setting Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1354 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis Name: Amy Lyons Title: To Kill a Mockingbird Author: Harper Lee Setting: The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is a small town in south Alabama called Maycomb County in the early 1930s. Point of View: Harper Lee s first, only novel is written in first person due to the fact we see the whole story through Scout s perspective. 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Articles have been written concerning changing perspectives for example, David Dobb’s writing ‘Beautiful Brains’, a study looking into the minds of teenagers and explaining their set apart behaviors. Both of these pieces tell about the transition from child to adult and the perspectives that come with this growth. Coming-of-age involves recognizing different perspectives. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a MockingbirdRead MoreFinally In To Kill A Mockingbird, The Issue Of Coming Of1161 Words   |  5 PagesFinally in To Kill a Mockingbird, the issue of coming of age has played a major role all throughout the story. In the beginning of the story, Jem starts out as an innocent, fun loving boy. He is interested in football, trying to get a glimpse of the mysterious Boo Radley who lived next door, and playing with his best friend Dill. As he gets older, he has to deal with the way the town is treating him as well as the teasing and name calling from kids at school because of his father an attorney defendedRead MoreAnalysis Of More Than One Way1317 Words   |  6 PagesOleynik Mrs. Coad Honors Sophomore English March 19, 2015 Reevaluating the Mockingbird When one embarks on reading Jennifer Murray’s article, â€Å"More Than One Way to (Mis)Read a Mockingbird†, it becomes known that she is taking her readers through a thorough reanalysis of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Murray proclaims that Harper Lee’s novel is somewhat misunderstood and over appreciated. She claims that â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird, despite its awards and popularity, is a less than great novel†, and insteadRead MoreHarper Lee862 Words   |  4 PagesAshley Ewing Dr. Cohoon Literary Heritage 18 February 2013 Essay One Southern Parallels: An Exploration of the Life of Harper Lee and the Lasting Impact of To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee is considered one of America’s most enigmatic and influential writers of the twentieth century. Lee’s popular novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, offers readers deep insight into the dynamics of an unconventional family and Southern lifestyle in the1930s. Harper Lee was born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926, inRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird : Character Analysis986 Words   |  4 PagesCommonly, everyone thinks that the age that kids start to show personality traits corresponding with their adulthood traits is between 14-20. The process of growing up and becoming an adult may be difficult, but it is also a very important part of life. Many authors use this concept as a main idea in their novels. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author expresses the responsibilities of maturing and becoming an adult by how the main characters develop throughout the story. Many