Most Bold Examples Of Scout's Maturity example essay topic

"There is always a possibility of richer maturation - taking of more and more responsibility for yourself and your life". This quote from an anonymous source explains that a person can continue to strive to become more and more mature throughout their life, no matter how old one gets. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, takes the reader on a journey of maturation for three children. However, one of the three children's maturation process stands out the most. The young tomboy, Scout, shows the biggest leap in maturity by the end of the novel. Three specific happenings in the book show excellent examples of Scout's ability to begin to understand adult situations.

The three situations are when Scout recognizes that her teacher is speaking hypocritically, when she realizes the danger of the mob outside the county jail, and when Scout acknowledges that Calpurnia, their black housekeeper acts differently around other blacks. One of the most bold examples of Scout's maturity is when she tells Jem about how what Mrs. Gates, her teacher, says is hypocritical. In class, Mrs. Gates talks about what a horrible man Hitler was and what he did to Germany. She lectures about how America differs from Germany because America governs as a democracy and does not believe in persecuting people. She goes on to say that Germany is run as a dictatorship and states the Germans persecute people because of prejudice.

Scout goes home to Jem and tells him all about what Mrs. Gates Germany. Scout also remembers hearing Mrs. Gates talk to another May comb resident after the trial of Tom Robinson. She recalls: .".. she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were getting' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home... ".

(247). Scout makes a very mature observation in this particular scene. She realizes that Mrs. Gates was a complete hypocrite in saying what she did about Hitler and then turning around and showing the same prejudice of Hitler and the Germans. Although what Mrs. Gates said about Hitler seemed very true and justified, Scout identifies the connection between her Hitler opinions and her opinions of Tom Robinson. The second event that shows progress in Scout's maturation is when she becomes aware of the danger that Atticus is facing during the riot outside of the prison. Most of the townspeople formed a mob outside of the county jail, hoping to get to Tom Robinson and lynch him.

Atticus is attempting to protect him, which infuriate the townspeople, pushing them towards harming Atticus. At first, one would not think that Scout comprehends the extreme danger of the mob, which she probably does not. However, as the mob becomes angrier, she starts to grasp the actual amount of danger that her father, and possibly herself, are faced with. When she begins to sense that the riot could turn ugly, she breaks it up by engaging in a normal conversation with Mr. Cunningham. She converses with him as if nothing is wrong: "Don't you remember me, Mr. Cunningham?

I'm Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts one time, remember?" (153). Scout sees that her striking up an everyday conversation with Mr. Cunningham will break the spell of mob mentality and create a diversion from Atticus. Scout may have saved her father's life with this one little action. The last situation which shows Scout's growth in the novel is when she understands that Calpurnia, the Finch's black caretaker, has a completely different life outside of her work and acts different around the other blacks at her church. One morning, Scout and Jem attended church with Calpurnia.

Calpurnia's church was obviously an all black church, meaning the children would be the only whites there. As Scout listens to Calpurnia talking with her church friends, she notices that Calpurnia talks very different than how she talks in the Finch household. She observed that Calpurnia talked like all the other blacks when she was around them. When Calpurnia and the children return home from church, Scout proceeds to question her housekeeper why she talked and acted different around the other black folk. Calpurnia responded: "Suppose you and Jem talked colored folks' talk at home it'd be out of place, wouldn't it?

Now what if I talked white folks' talk at church, and with my neighbors? They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses" (126). From this explanation, Scout concludes that Calpurnia does act to fit in when she is around other blacks. Scout then asks Calpurnia if she can come visit her at her home sometime. Scout wanted to see how Calpurnia acted at home. Scout shows her maturity here because she finally sees that Calpurnia has a total separate life on her own and Scout shows the desire to learn more about that life.

In conclusion, Harper Lee develops Scout into a much more mature character throughout her book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout shows her maturation through interpreting the hypocrisy in Mrs. Gates statements. She also shows more understanding when she sees the severity of the mob scene. Scout shows adult comprehension when she realizes that Calpurnia has a parallel life where she acts like all the other blacks. From the beginning of the novel to the end, Lee traces Scout's journey off the path of childhood and onto the road of adulthood..