Scout's Life

Parental Influences in Scout’s Life Who should a child look up to when growing up? In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the narrator Scout is a young girl who goes through a series of obstacles in her life to choose whether or not she’s choosing the right path. As life throws obstacles at Scout, she manages to get through them by following suggestions from her parental influences Atticus, Miss Maudie, and Calpurnia. Although she may cause some problems and choses the wrong paths, her parental influences, puts Scout back on the track to choose right from wrong. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, provides a proper influence on Scout’s life by treating her equally, provides her with lots of love, and provides suggestions about her problems. In the novel, Atticus comes off as a laid back middle aged man full of wisdom. Being a widower and having the weight of Maycomb on his shoulders, Atticus manages to fight for Tom Robinson’s rights and keep his children safe and well behaved. The relationship between Atticus and Scout is very close; instead of Atticus treating Scout like a helpless little girl, Atticus treats Scout equal by letting her choose her own paths. Atticus is considered to be one of Scout’s parental influences because she looks up to Atticus for his wisdom and love. Whenever Scout gets into trouble, Atticus doesn’t just punish her, he sits her down and talks to Scout about what she has done wrong and how she can improve on her behavior. Atticus influences Scout to have a wide perspective about the world. For example, the following quote “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” “Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.” (Lee, 237) said by Scout proves that Atticus has succeeded in teaching Scout how to see life through another persons’ perspective. Another influence on Scouts life in the novel is Miss Maudie. Miss Maudie isn’t just an average adult in Scout’s perspective but is more like a friendly figure. In Scout’s perspective, Miss Maudie is more like a friendly figure because Miss Maudie treats Scout with respect. When Miss Maudie talks to Scout or Jem, she uses the same tone of voice she would use to communicate with another adult. Throughout the novel, Scout tends to query Miss Maudie. For example, when Scout asks Miss Maudie why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, Miss Maudie replies with the following quote “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up peoples gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”(Lee, 74) The previous quote from Miss Maudie informs Scout that everyone should treat the innocent with respect. Also, Scout looks up to Miss Maudie because Miss Maudie is a tomboy in her own way. Miss Maudie stands up for her own beliefs by keeping everything to herself and resisting everyone else’s opinions. As for Scout, she manages to keep other’s opinions out and still manages to have a tomboyish personality under a heavy dress. In Scouts life, Calpurnia comes off as a motherly figure. Without Scouts real mom, the only female besides Aunt, Alexandria in the household is Calpurnia. Calpurnia is more of a nanny than a house keeper when it comes to the Finch’s’ because she has been in the household for many years. Calpurnia influences Scout by showing her how blacks and whites are equal. When Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her own church, Scout realizes that if the whites treated the blacks with respect, the blacks would be as educated and well-mannered like the whites. Calpurnia also taught Scout to give respect to both the black and the whites. For instance the following quote, “There’s some folks who don’t eat like us, but you ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table when they don’t. That boys yo comp’ny, and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?” (Lee, 18) said by Calpurnia is meant to teach Scout how to treat everyone with respect, especially company. Growing up as a child, you always have an influence whether you notice it or not. In Scout’s life, Atticus, Miss Maudie, and Calpurnia play an important role leading Scout onto the right path. Giving her useful suggestions, advice, love, discipline, and wisdom has made Scout turn into a mature little girl by the end of the novel. Even though Scout had a few slips in situations, she remembered her influence’s advice and solved what she has done. By the end of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout successfully understood and accomplished every obstacle.
Works Cited Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, New York: Warner Books. 1960.Print.

Cited: Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, New York: Warner Books. 1960.Print.