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Oct 23, 2014

Kenny Si
ENG1D
Mr. Kasper
To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
In society we tend to believe that we ourselves are not perfect but selfless, we never see or
believe there are more innocent or vulnerable people than us. Those who do see it, are in need of
protection and guidance. In Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she illustrates many unique
characters who are overshadowed with conflicts in society, forcing them to join the mob or be the
victim. One can see by examining Scout, Mayella and Boo, that Harper Lee examines the necessity of
protecting vulnerable members of society in To Kill a Mockingbird.
The reader can see by examining Scout, she is innocent and vulnerable therefore she needs
protection. Scout is a young girl who spends her days playing with Jem and Dill. The kids, curiosity of
Boo Radley has gone beyond the imagination. They wanted to have one look at Boo. Who is the so
called monster of Maycomb, who only comes out at night and any small crimes committed in
Maycomb, were his work. The kids fearless thoughts of going to the Radleys place leads them to
great danger. This is shown when Scout states, Jem leaped off the porch and galloped towards us. He
flung open the gate, danced Dill and me through and shooed us between two rows of swishing
collards. Half-way through the collards I tripped; as I tripped the roar of a shotgun shattered the
neighborhood. (Lee 71) Scouts, curiosity lead her to dangerous actions that could had her hurt or
even killed. She is immature and still has many things to learn and to experience. She is in need of
protection, because her mother died when she was just two years old, leaving Atticus the only adult
role model for Scout growing up in a racist and unaccepting society. Scout is illustrated to be innocent
and she needs protection and guidance from her reckless curiosity.

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In the novel Mayella, is illustrated as an innocent member of society and is in need of
protection. Mayella is the oldest of the Ewells and has never went to school. She spends her days
taking care of seven other Ewells and receives no help from Bob Ewell, her father. But Bob Ewell had
no problem bringing Tom to court for taking advantage of Mayella. When Tom gave his testimony
Scout states,
As Tom gave his testimony, it came to me that Mayella Ewell must had been the loneliest person in
the world. She was even lonelier than Boo Radley, who had not been out of the house in twenty-five
years. When Atticus asked had she any friends, she seemed not to know what he meant, then she
thought he was making fun of her. She was as sad, I thought, as what Jem called a mixed child, white
people wouldnt have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldnt have
anything to do with her because she was white. (Lee 256)
Mayella seems to be trapped, having no friends to talk to or spend time with and when she does try
to have one, Mayella lets her fears overcome her. Mayella doesnt seem to be accepted in any society
because of who her parents are and her skin colour. Mayella is in need of protection, because she is
uneducated and lost in a society where she doesnt seem to belong. Mayella is shown as an innocent
character trapped in her fears, therefore she needs protection and guidance of others.
Lee also illustrates the innocent and vulnerable in Boo, therefore he needs protection. Boo, a
mysterious man who hasnt been seen for 25 years. However, when Bob Ewell tried to hurt Scout and
Jem, Boo came out to save them, and stabbed Bob in defence of Scout and Jem. When its finally over
Boo is the one who needs help. This is stated when Scout says, I led him to the front porch, where his
uneasy steps halted. He was still holding my hand and gave no sign of letting go. Will you take me
home? He almost whispered it in a voice of a child afraid of the dark. (Lee 372) Boo has been exiled
and isolated for 25 years, but when he does come out, he seems to be developing trust and friendship
between Scout, a kid asking her to take him home. Boo has finally found someone who can see him
the way he is. Boo is clearly shown to be in need of protection and guidance because of discrimination
and stereotypes from the society he lives in. Boo is developed as a character that is innocent and
vulnerable and is in need of protection from society.

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One can see by examining Scout, Mayella and Boo that Harper Lee examines the necessity of
protecting vulnerable members of society in To Kill a Mockingbird. The real question remains, are we
doing enough to educated and protect victims of stereotypes or are more people learning to hide it
away.

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Word Cited
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird, New York: Grand Central Publishing. 1999.