Essay On Scout's Childhood In To Kill A Mockingbird

The book To Kill A Mockingbird is written through the perspective of an older Scout, Jean Louise Finch, reflecting on her childhood. Scout develops the most as a character throughout the book. Scout experiences and witnesses events that most girls around her age do not. She faces the cruel reality of the world she lived in. Experiencing these things at such young age forces Scout to mature very quickly. We see throughout the book that Scout is innocent, investigative, and affectionate.

Scout's innocence gives us an uncorrupted view of maycomb county. Her innocence is made very evident early in the novel. Scout tries to explain to Miss Caroline,an outsider, how she is embarrassing Walter by offering him money. Scouts’ straightforward, yet innocent response is taken by Miss Caroline as a condensing response that is trying to undermine her power. Scout does not understand how her views differ from those of adults.
Scout’s caring and affectionate side first comes out when she becomes engaged to Dill. Even though this is not a serious relationship by any means this is where it first becomes clear that Scout is not as rough and tough as she tries to be. Dill is the first guy that Scout has romantic. Scout’s affection develops during the course of the book At the beginning of the book Scout is very curious about Boo Radley but by the end she shows compassion by respecting his need of privacy. Scout speaks kindly and doesn't push him out of his comfort zone. This also shows how Scout matures throughout the book. The last way that Scout shows compassion is when she defends Walter Cunningham Jr. to her Aunt Alexandra. ‘“Why not, Aunty? They’re good folks’”(Lee 255). Scout does not understand the social standards and likes people for who they are, not for what family they come from. In this Scout shows how she is willing to stand up for the people she cares about, even when it might lead to getting her in