Kelly Dizon

December 15, 2016

Ms. Frederick - Period 6

Scouts Progression Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird

Envision yourself back when you were just an innocent, little adolescent. Yet visualize
yourself living in a town, brimming with the hardships of racial injustices, poverty, and the
conceived idea of each genders role to society, and lurking in the town is an unknown spirit who
looks through windows, but never comes out. One shall mature quickly in a town like this. This
has proven undoubtedly true in the famous classic, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This
novel focuses on two children, Scout and Jem and their experiences within living three years in
their town of Maycomb, which is clouded with social injustices, racism, and sexism.
Additionally, Maycomb County is notorious for their towns boogie man, Boo Radley who rarely
steps out of the house. Experiencing such things, Scout and Jem soon mature in the sequence of
the story and finally lose their innocence. However, due to Jems mysterious appearances, Scout
has proven to show the most growth in the story. Growing up and further losing innocence,
Scout starts to develop a higher understanding on such topics after observing her Maycomb
peers; becoming aware of a womans role in society, learning the virtue of courage, and being
open-minded to anothers perspective.
Scout demonstrated immense growth through her behavior, as well as her demeanor;
going from one who does not perform diligently with no manners into one who does their part
and contributes in the process. For example, when suddenly notified about the disastrous news of

Tom Robinsons death, Scout still continues on with her duties and does not stop in the process,
Aunt Alexandra looked across the room at me and smiled. She looked at a tray of cookies on
the table and nodded at them. I carefully picked up the tray and watched myself walk to Mrs.
Merriweather. With my best company manners, I asked her if she would have some. After all, if
Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I (Lee, page 318). This shows that Scout was
able to learn how to act accordingly in spite of having unnerving circumstances that suddenly
emerge out of the blue. Before, Scout would not have behaved appropriately in a situation like
this. She would have probably protested against her Aunt Alexandra for not taking action and
just staying at home, having a ladies gathering, even after hearing this unsettling report. For
instance, prior to this event, Scouts cousin, Francis had offended her father, Atticus by saying
that he was a huge disgrace to the whole Finch family. As one would expect, Scout did not
behave maturely, seeing that she was about seven years old. Scouts initial response was that she
cursed Francis and beat him up. Comparing her performance in these two situations shows how
Scout has become proficient in working under pressure.
Additionally, Scout learn the true meaning of courage, which is not one who withholds a
gun, but is one who has the courage to act for the better. For example, when Scouts father,
Atticus reveals to her and her brother, Jem the reason why they had to visit Mrs. Dubose daily,
he admits that, Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict. She took it as a pain-killer for years. The
doctor put her on it. Shed have spent the rest of her life on it and died without so much agony,
but she was too contrary- (Lee, page 147). He adds on to his reasoning, I wanted you to see
what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. Its
when you know that youre licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through

no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do (Lee, page 149). This shows Scouts
succession in learning the virtue of courage. Before, Scout believed that bravery was shown
when her father, Atticus had shot the rabid dog in their neighborhood. However, this is untrue.
Courage is when one takes measures for the better. Atticus tries to teach Scout and Jem this by
having them visit Mrs. Dubose, so they could see what true bravery looks like. Thus, Scout
learns the significance of courage.
Furthermore in the novel, Scout learns that one cannot understand another without
considering things from their point of view. For example, when Boo Radley asks Scout if she can
take him home, she permits it, Boo and I walked up the steps to the porch. His fingers found the
front doorknob. He gently released my hand, opened the door, went inside, and shut the door
behind him (Lee, page 373). This shows Scouts development in her acquaintance with
Maycombs boogie man, Boo Radley. Before, she would never have dreamed of seeing Boo
Radley nor meeting him in real life. When Scout was about six years old, she, her brother, Jem,
and her friend, Dill, used to make skits revolving around the stories of Boo Radley. Although
Boo was such an interesting subject to discuss due to his mysterious whereabouts, the kids
seemed to forget that Boo is still a human being. His point of view should also be accounted in
ones judgement of him. Throughout the story, Scout comes to realize her faults of assumption
due to Boos selfless and kind acts. At first, it began with Scout and Jem finding toys in the
Radleys tree hole, which were evidently left by Boo, himself for the kids. However, Scout
ultimately realizes her mistake, when she and her brother, Jem are saved by Boo Radley from
Bob Ewell, who tries to murder the children in order to get revenge on their father, Atticus for

revealing his true self at the Tom Robinson trial. Hence, Scout has moved forward in learning
that one cannot form an opinion until hearing both sides of the story.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout encounters many terrifying experiences in her town of
Maycomb that even a child her age could never live to face. Due to this, Scout has made a lot of
progression throughout the novel and finally loses her innocence during the closing of the story.
Through the sequence of the novel of living in Maycomb County for three years, Scout learns
many life lessons from her family, friends, and peers. She was able to learn how to cooperate in
spite of sudden events. Also, she grasped the true definition of one who is heroic. Lastly, she
learns that one should hear anothers point of view until making a decision. Thus, Scout has
bloomed from being an innocent kid who did not understand much about the world into a
mature, young lady who has now had a glance at reality and is ready to step forth in life.