Gabriel McCormick

TKAM Final Draft

English 9H
3-23-15

During the 1960s, the civil rights movement was at its peak. Many topics and issues such as equality,
empathy, prejudices and stereotypes were put forth to the public eye. Harper Lee's influential book, To Kill
a Mockingbird came out during the civil rights movement, in order to justify/put into perspective the above
topics and issues for the public. In order to do so, Lee needed an effective narrator, so she could help
society take the right, beautiful, meaning from her book. Harper Lee uses Scouts credibility to reveal the
corruptions of society.
Scout builds her credibility with the reader through her wisdom beyond her years, and thus is able to
effectively portray the corruptions of society such as racial stereotyping and not taking responsibility. This
can be shown through the quote: How was this so, I wondered, as I read Mr. Underwoods editorial.
Senseless killing- Tom had been given due process of law to the day of his death; he had been tried openly
and convicted by twelve good men and true; my father had fought for him all the way. Then Mr.
Underwoods meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom
Robinson, but in the secret courts of the mans hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the
minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed. The name Ewell gave me a queasy feeling. Scouts
wisdom is shown throughout the entire quote, because of her profound understandings and dissection of
society. She is effectively able to portray that society is playing by the rules it has set up for itself, as seen in
these quotes due process of law, tried openly and convicted by twelve good men, but that those rules
set up to ensure justice for the benefit of good people, do not always work. Scouts thought process shows

the reader that they have to stop internal unprecedented biases, because societys rules won't protect the
good people, only we (consciously) can do that. This was shown in the section secret courts of the mans
hearts Atticus had no case. These ideas are further demonstrated to the reader when Scout says The
name Ewell gave me a queasy feeling, thus showing that the Ewells are the scum of the earth but were not
punished because of the societal system, instead, Tom Robinson who only ever did good with good
intentions was killed! Harper Lee's lessons about the harmful effects of stereotypes and prejudices show
through here, implying the need for all members of our society to personally abolish their use.
Because Scout is innocent and appealing/likeable, the reader trusts and likes her; thus they can take
meaning from all of what Scout narrates. Her innocence and likability are especially evident in the quote:
Teach me? I said in surprise. He hasnt taught me anything, Miss Caroline. Atticus aint got time to teach
me anything, I added, when Miss Caroline smiled and shook her head. Scout's childlike innocence is
shown when she is taken aback when Miss Caroline accuses her father of teaching her. Because being
read to as a child is an indirect form of learning, Scout doesnt realize that her dad had taught her, which is
shown through the words Teach me? I said in surprise. He hasnt taught me anything. The reader will
open up to an innocent person more than they would a regular or guilty person. Ones of Scouts likeable
traits is her noble loyalty. She does not just go along with Miss Carolines convictions against her father to
get out of any possible trouble she could be getting in to, instead she stands by what she believes and
defends her father. And thus, gaining status with the reader.This was shown during the quote Why, hes so
tired at night he just sits in the living room and reads. The final one of Scouts likeable qualities is her
conviction in her actions, shown through her humble loyalty, but also through her Scouts confidence in
herself. By doing things such as holding mature conversations with adults, speaking her mind, and not
wearing dresses, Scout demonstrates her confidence in herself, thus enabling herself to become popular
with the reader. But Scout takes this a step further by doing such things as not enjoying hosting princess

tea parties, and not singing and dancing with her girl friends, (throughout the entirety of the book, there is
never any mentions of Scout having and female friends); she subtly defies many prejudice (including the
stereotype that ladies shall only socialize with ladies) in a way the reader will not block out. Harper Lee
enables Scout to be the messenger of values including equality, empathy, confidence, and kindness to the
reader throughout the book.
Scout gains credibility with the reader through her open mindedness and acceptance, and is then able to
teach the reader about rejecting stereotypes,Scoutays the rest of society can not. This is most evident in
the quote: That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me.The idea that she had a separate
existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having to command two languages.
Cal, I asked, why do you talk nigger talk to the- to your folks when you know its not right? Scout, like
most whites, during this time, was unaware of the fact that Cal, a negroe woman, is leading a much harder
life than her own, that is demonstrated by the worlds separate existence, and modest double life. This
hardship symbolizes the many hardships that almost all African Americans during this time endured, and
the obliviousness or unawareness that many whites had towards the blacks unjustly difficult lives. Its what
Scout does after her obliviation then surprise that Harper Lee wants the reader to learn from. By describing
the experience Cal has to endure as a" novel one," you can see that Scout is accepting of this double life
and is almost proud of Cal. She wants to know more though, and is OPEN MINDED and curious about
what cal has to endure. So SHE ASKS CAL! Many whites would have pawned the blacks hardships off on
a stereotype, for exanple that it was the blacks own fault and they should have harder lives. But Scout
openly inquires Cal about the experience; thus through her childish open mindness demonstrating to the
reader to not blindly follow prejudices, instead to inquire and treat others equally.

Through Scout's wisdom beyond her years, likeability, and acceptance Scout appeals to and forms a bond
with the reader. Through that bond Harper Lee is able to "bypass" the guard many people have up against
acceptance. She is able to effectively show the reader about all of the unjust prejudices they have, and let
them see the horrible repercussions of actions based off of hateful prejudices. Through Scout, the reader
was shown the power of equality and empathy over that evil prejudice. We can hope that "to Kill a
Mockingbird" made a positive change in the world back in the 1960s, but you have the power to guarantee
that positive influence, today. Inequality, cold hearts, and hateful unjust prejudices are still gigantic issues.
Be the change you wish to see in the world, and let the true meanings in "To Kill a Mockingbird," affect how
you live your life.