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Character Analysis Of Scout In Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

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Scout lives in a cruel world yet she is unaware of that. Throughout the novel Scout learns more and more about how people aren’t always considerate and will harm others for their own benefit. As the plot progresses, we join Scout as she learns what it’s like in the grown-up world, under the wing of her older brother. Scout gives us her honest opinion regardless of what others might tell her. Having Scout as a narrator accomplishes Lee’s goal in portraying innocence since Scout is too young to know about all the negativity that surrounds her. As the novel proceeds, Scout continues struggling with being “ladylike”. She grew up without a female presence in her life which lead to her picking up on her dad and brothers actions therefor …show more content…

Although her point of view isn't necessarily incorrect it does have some errors. Scout believes all people should be treated equally, as everyone should, and she expresses that belief, yet she doesn't necessarily know that some people deserve to be treated badly due to something they have done. When discussing the social hierarchy with Jem and he states his thought, Scout responds by saying “Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks” p. 304. Scout hasn't yet been brainwashed by everyone's negative opinions therefor her thoughts on a new set of circumstances is truly genuine, or, innocent. Scout doesn't yet understand the “good” or “bad” according to the society she lives in, an example of this is when Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout with her to the colored people church. If someone like Ms.Dubose were to go to this church her reaction would be negative and ill- mannered. Scout barely even had a reaction in this circumstance since it didn't bother her that she was surrounded by colored …show more content…

Scout was annoyed that her brother wasn't talking to her but she reminded herself of something Atticus had told her “As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it” p.77. This is a lesson that is brought up multiple times throughout the story line, when Scout was younger she didn't quite understand this lesson since she was taking it too literally and not theoretically. Scout not understanding this lesson is an example of how innocent she is since she wasn't sure how to view a situation as simple as this

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