To Kill A Mockingbird: Responding

Harper Lee’s novel is full of interesting and richly painted characters. Which character was your favourite and why?

My favourite character was Scout. We are able to see how Scout matured over the few years through interaction with other interesting characters and experiencing incidents that made a huge impact on her. Later on, Scout learned many things and acted against prejudice in Maycomb County as well, just like her father.

In the beginning of the story, we learn of the childhood of Scout. She plays with her brother Jem, as well as Dill who visits her in summer. We also learn that she is exceptionally advanced in the skills of reading and writing through the nurturing of her father as Atticus reads to her every night. She is not as mature yet due to her lack of experiences. In the later few chapters of one to eleven, Scout meets many new characters like Miss Caroline Fisher, Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose and Dill. Most notably Boo Radley, who acts mystical to Jem and Scout. Social and racial prejudice can be seen from these chapters with people saying that Atticus was defending a nigger. Scout fought with Cecil Jacobs to defend her father, which demonstrated her trust and love for him. In Chapter 10, Scout also learned that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. In Part One, we are able to see how the different problems in the adult world of Maycomb started to affect Scout.

In Part 2 of the story, Calpurnia brought the children to a "black" church where only Negroes went to. Scout saw a glimpse of the black community of Maycomb and saw the lifestyle of some of these people. At the same time, Aunt Alexandra took over the household and taught Scout her correct notions of social class and feminism, which contradicted Calpurnia's way of education and discipline. Later on during the trial of Tom Robinson, Scout learns about the ugliness of Maycomb's society and sympathised with Mayella who was a Negro. Scout is shocked and taken aback by the final verdict of the trial despite the compelling evidence against Mayella and Bob Ewell. Scout also talked to Mr Dolphus Raymond where she learned that he pretended to drink alcohol from a paper sack as he preferred to mingle with the blacks instead of the whites.

The outcome of the trial affected many characters in different ways. Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle criticised the plight of the poor Mrunas while they condemned the Negroes in Maycomb. Scout learned that these people were not as simple as she though they were and learned about the complexities present in Maycomb County. Similarly, she also listened to Miss Gates criticising Hitler and his actions when she could be prejudiced against the Negroes in her own community. In the last few chapters, Boo Radley saved Scout from the clutches of Bob Ewell and the final mockingbird made its appearance.

Scout has many interactions with other characters and the society but she remains resilient and optimistic in the face of adversity. She understands and acts against the complexities of Maycomb County like racial prejudice and the class system present in the society. She sees the flaws and unfairness in many things in Maycomb but also sees the positive side of things and people. She also does not conform to the norms and remains independent in her shared views with her father.

Through the eyes of Scout, I am able to see how she matures from a children to an adult and how her perspective of things changes over the years. Scout faces conflicts with her father, brother, friends, teachers, neighbours and even strangers she has only met once but she never falters and always learns a lesson to become a better person.