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Amanda Burt
Ms. Starry
English 9 Honors
5 November 2015
To Kill A Mockingbird Final Assessment

Children are like sponges because they soak up their surroundings and learn things from
the people around them, both good and bad. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee,
the reader observes a young girl named Scout during her early childhood. Fortunately for Scout,
a majority of her role models are positive and are shaping her to be the good person she is
becoming Scout's e. Lee effectively uses experiences with her neighbor Boo Radley, her family
cook Calpurnia, and her father Atticus to influence and teach her to be more tolerant of others,
to be good to people no matter what, and to know what true courage is.
An example of a character who impacts Scout in life is Boo Radley. At the end of the
novel, a man Scout once thought of as a monster becomes a friend when Boo saves her and Jem
from Bob Ewell (Lee 352). Boo's heroic actions change Scout's view of Boo and she sees
another side of him that she didn't know existed. Lee conveys to the reader never to judge a
person by appearance alone. Scout finally learns the lesson her father once taught her, "you
never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view" (Lee 39).
Scout had not actually met Boo prior to this and knew about him only from neighborhood
rumors. Now Scout finally understands what her father had tried to teach her. Lee teaches the

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reader the importance of perspective, and that to truly understand someone one must see things
from their point of view and not judge too quickly.
Calpurnia, the family cook, is another individual who influences Scout for the better. In
the novel, a poor boy named Walter Cunningham is over at the Finch's house for dinner.
Calpurnia steps in immediately when Scout criticizes Walter for drenching his dinner in syrup
(Lee 32). Scout is forced to bite her tongue and not criticize Walter any further. Lee teaches the
reader that one must always treat others with respect, regardless of one's different upbringing.
Soon after, Calpurnia states, "don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house's yo'
comp'ny, and don't let me catch you remarkin' on their ways like you was so high and mighty"
(Lee 33). Scout realizes that she isn't any better than Walter even though he is from a poor
family. Lee teaches the reader that everyone deserves respect, regardless of a person's race or
social class.
One of the biggest influences in Scout's life is her father Atticus. In the novel, Atticus is
defending a black man in a court system at a time period where this is considered political death.
Atticus states his beliefs when he says, " the one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a
person's conscience" (Lee 108). Scout observes the disrespect her father is receiving from the
towns people because he is defending a black man , but sees that he stands by his conviction
regardless of what people think. Lee conveys to the reader that following one's moral compass is
extremely important despite opposition. Atticus also tells Scout that, "courage is not a man with
a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you
see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do" (Lee 149).

Scout

observes her father courageously defend an innocent black man in court against harsh judgment.

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Through Atticus, Lee emphasizes that oftentimes it takes courage to do the right thing, even
when all odds are against a person.

It is life experiences, in particular the people a person in surrounded with, that truly
shapes one's identity. As a young child, Scout is a great example of this truth. Her role models,
including her father, her cook, and her neighbor successfully teach Scout to be more tolerant of
people with different backgrounds. In the novel, Scout learns to be more understanding of
people, to be kind, and to know the meaning of true courage. Ultimately, these lessons are ones
that will positively influence Scout on her journey of self-realization.