To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

“Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mocking bird, wouldn’t it?” (276). The main character in the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Scout, was at first an annoying little seven year old that was curious about everything. As the story progresses, she develops into a mature young women and looses her innocence. An example of this is when Scout wants Boo Radely to come out and finds out why he doesn’t. Another example how Scout becomes into a woman and looses her innocence is during Tom Robinson’s trial when she finds out why he is convicted even though he is innocent. Finally, the last example of how Scout looses her innocence and goes from an annoying curious seven year old into a mature young women is when Mr. Bob Ewell was killed and Mr. Tate is trying to convince Atticus that he killed himself.

In the beginning of the story, Scout is with her brother Jem and their new friend Dill. Scout and Jem have told Dill about the mysterious Boo Radely. But, Scout is still a little curious why he doesn’t come out, “Is that why Mr. Arthur stays inside the house, to keep away from women?” (45). As the story progresses, Scout and her brother are on the way home from the Halloween, they are confronted by Mr. Ewell, Boo Radely comes along and saves them and he brings them home. Scout walks him home, he closes the door and Scout never sees him again. She then realizes why he never comes out and what he goes through, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (279). Scout then goes home and reads with Atticus.

Another example of how Scout looses her innocence and turns into a mature young women is during the Tom Robinson Trail. Scout learns that he was only convicted because he is black; it was a white man’s word against a black man’s word, “They’ve done it before and they did it again and when they do-it seems that only children weep” (213). Scout realizes that the jury has done this before and they will keep on doing it. Scout’s brother Jem takes it harder than she does.