To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Thesis

“‘You want to grow up to be a lady don't you?’ I said not particularly.” While reading Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, I was shocked to read Scout Finch reply with these words when her uncle asked her about growing up to be a lady. All throughout the book, Scout demeans her own gender. It hurt my heart to think that she was ashamed being called a girl, but now I understand why she felt that way. She did not think she could be the strong independent individual she wanted to be just because of her gender, and it’s unfortunately true. From the day we are born, we are given a name and an identity: “Robin Leigh Mims, what a beautiful baby girl.” “She’s so cute, just precious.” “She’s going to be a heart-breaker one day”. Society places such a stigma on women- young women in particular. We directly correlate beauty to success, and femininity to meekness and weakness. Scout challenged this identity every way she knew how. She wore overalls, played with the boys, fought, spit and cursed all to avoid being seen or treated like a “proper young lady”. Because her mother died when she was young, Scout turned to the male figures in her life; her father Atticus and her brother Jem. She did not have a strong feminine character to look up to. I can relate to her. Although I do have a
Scout taught me a lesson that contradicts everything the world tried so hard to subliminally encrypt in my thoughts. I do not have to follow the traditional standards of womanhood. I am completely free to be my own person regardless of what is typically seen as feminine or womanly. I can wear a dress if I so please or I could wear pants. I can provide for myself or let someone provide for me. I want so much more than to grow up to be a lady. I want to grow up to be a kind and strong, proud and thankful, beautiful and smart woman ready for whatever life throws at