Scout Finch Character Development

To Kill A Mockingbird: Character Development
Major characters exponentially develop mentally and morally by interacting with minor characters, society, and applying the themes of the story to their lives. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird the reader can see the protagonist of the story, Scout Finch, mature from her child like mentality and thoughts to become a strong feminine character with high morals. This is achieved through the characters and situations in her life that influence her to see reality, past her childhood mirage, for what it really is. The roles of people such as Atticus Finch, and other minor characters, greatly influences how she views the topics of racism, prejudice, and stereotypes. Atticus’ character embodies
the word humanity for his actions towards changing the stereotypes and prejudice of the Maycomb Community are inspiring and motivational. Maycomb is evidently a community that cannot tolerate differences and discriminate people based on their appearances. Their hostility towards the “Negroes” shows the reader and the protagonist how racism can affect and change ones life. As the story progresses one can see the struggles and obstacles the protagonist faces when dealing with racism, from trying to protect her family name and reputation, to protecting loved ones from judgmental people. Such situations and incidents cause the protagonist to be forced to see how one has to recognize the validity and value of lives unlike hers.

To begin with, Scouts father Atticus Finch plays a major role in her moral development as a person due to his paternal relationship and influence on her. This can be seen through his parenting skills and techniques that help Scout be more open-minded unlike the other residents of Maycomb County. For instance, when Scout says “ Our battles were epic and always one sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side” (Lee 6). This quote not only proves that Atticus’s apathy towards Calpurnia’s race reinforces their relationship, but it additionally fortifies the fact that Scout learns that white and coloured people are equals and no different from each other. In addition, Atticus’ exemplary actions towards different circumstances in his life greatly impact how Scout views her own life and societies false preaching’s on equality. Referring to the Tom Robinson case Scout questions Atticus on why he is defending a “Negro” in court and he responds by saying “ If I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 75). Although he acknowledges the fact that his family and him will be judged and ridiculed by his community for taking the case, he moves forward with the case because it’s consciously the moral thing to do. Atticus’ optimistic mind-set and ability to see the good qualities of the situation encourages Scout to be more forgiving and understanding of the negative atmosphere in the Maycomb society. This also educates Scout to be a more courageous and strong-willed person, to pursue what she believes in no matter what the consequences are. Atticus later on tells Scout to “never kill a mockingbird” (Lee 273); the term is used as a metaphor to symbolize how you should never taint or kill the innocence of a person. The mockingbird refers to characters such as Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley, mockingbirds whose purity and innocence are polluted by racism, stereotypes, and rumors and are progressively “killed”. Scout learns that her perspective of life as being black and white are erroneous and that in certain situations, some things are best left unsaid, referring to one’s opinions on people based on their appearance.
Furthermore, minor characters found throughout the novel teach and help develop Scout’s knowledge on good versus evil. Mrs.Dubose’s commentary towards the children shows Scout how ignorance breeds ignorance. This is shown when Mrs. Dubose holds up Jem and Scout and says “ Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers” (Lee 101). This quote characterizes Mrs.Dubose as someone who strongly believes that coloured people are not equal individuals and don’t deserve to have the same rights and privileges such as lawyers like white people. Her age and how she was raised and taught to believe that white and coloured people were two very different and separate races can explain her beliefs. Scout acknowledges the fact that even though characters such as Mrs. Dubose and Mr.Ewell are considered to be adults, they behave like ignorant children who have not been scolded, corrected, or taught better by their parents. For instance at the court Scout observes the fact that “ the Negroes having waited for the white people to go upstairs to the balcony first, started to go up” (Lee 173). This shows the reader the small gestures that the white people do, such as allowing the “Negroes” to sit down after them causes tension and distress in the society. Such gestures can be translated as downgrading the coloured people and treating them as though they were insignificant and a burden to the community. Despite the example set by the white people, Scout and Jem go up and sit down with the black people instead, indirectly challenging the Maycomb society and setting their own examples. The actions of one person can start a chain reaction of change, a lesson that helps shape Scout’s independence and confidence in herself. She uses this newfound confidence in herself to express what she thinks and feels about stereotypes and racism, to advertise her beliefs and promote them to others around her.
Similarly, the Maycomb County’s community is filled with hate, racism, stereotypes, and prejudice, factors that help Scout see how this shouldn’t blind ones perception on people.
Scout sees how stereotypes can be altered and obscured from the truth. This is seen when she goes with Jem and Calpurnia to the coloured church where she sees that “ Negroes worshipped on Sunday while white men gambled” (Lee 118). The assumption in the novel is that white people are more religious then coloured people but Scout see’s how this statement is false. She also sees that even though the Negroes don’t have as much as the white churches or have the same materials such as songbooks, etc. they pray the same if not more then the white churches. Scout learns how stereotypes are fabricated and misleading, generalizations groups held in a manner that renders them largely, though not entirely, immune to counterevidence and how you shouldn’t assume things about people. Then there is the prejudicial judgment caused by the judge, who automatically assumes that Tom Robinson raped the girl because of his ethnicity. This is proven when Scout says, “ Judge Taylor, who had been concentrating on his fingernails, looked up” (Lee 167). This not only shows that the judge has already come to the conclusion that Tom Robinson did in fact rape the girl but it also shows that he doesn’t care or find it necessary for Atticus to defend him since his verdict has already been made. She learns to never judge by appearances because they really can be far from the truth. Due to this incident Tom also teaches Scout how she should keep a clear mind and never doubt oneself when others doubt you during ones darkest points in life because as long as you believe in oneself you will be able to overcome all obstacles
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