ThePathFromIdtoSuperego Thetheoryofevolutionstatesthatpopulationsadapttotheenvironmentandtothechangesthat theyareexperiencing.InHarperLeesnovelToKillaMockingbirdasimilareventtakesplace. However,inthiscasethepopulationisalittletomboywholivesintheharshsmalltownreality,filled withracismandprejudice.TheadaptationthatJeanLouiseFinchacquiresistolistentohersuperego overherid.Scoutstartedasagirlwithvirtuallynoboundaries,shefoughtanyonewhoinsultedher,but oncethechallengesbecamegreatershelearnedtothinkofconsequences. Idisdefinedasthepartofhumanpersonalitythatdoesnotthinkofresultsofouractsbutis focusedonourtemporaryneedsanddesires.Likewise,intheveryearlystageofScouts characterizationshedecidestolistentoheridandfightWalterCunningham.Asexpectedfromafirst grader,shestatesthatCatchingWalterCunninghamgave[her]somepleasure(30).Thatisaperfect exampleofherid.Sinceherhonorandpridewerehurtsheconcludedthatsheshouldfight. WhenJeanrealizesthatheractionscantrulyhurtandaffectotherpeoplethepartofherpersonality thatisresponsibleforarealisticviewandasenseofconsequences,inotherwordsherego,startsto emerge.

IntheearlystagesitisobviousthatauntAlexandradoesnotapproveofScoutsbehaviourand fashionchoices.ItisevencleartoJeanherself,sherealizesthatinAlexandrasopinion[She]couldnot possiblyhopetobealadyis[she]worebreeches.(108)However,laterScoutrealizesthementalityof asmalltownandthatofheraunt,whenshegivesinandstartslisteningtohersuperego.Nowsheis awareoftheconsequencesandwhenAtticusasksherHowdyoulikefor[Alexandra]tocomelive withus?shestatesthat[She]wouldlikeitverymuch,whichwasalie,butonemustlieundercertain

circumstancesandatalltimeswhenonecantdoanythingaboutthem.(171)WhatScoutsaysis hypocriticalbutitproveshowmuchshematuresandthatsheisawareoftheconsequencesofher actions. TheconstantclasheswithracisminMaycombbringoutthemoralizingandcriticalsideofJean LouiseFinch.Commonlydefinedasthesuperego.AfterMs.GatesslessononHitlerandJews,she cannothelpbutnoticethestrikingparadox.ScoutthenasksJemhowcanyouhateHitlersobadan thenturnaroundandbeuglyaboutfolksrightathome(331).Inthatmoment,shesummarizesthe valuesofeverysmalltownintheSouth.ThefactthatScoutnoticestheparadoxaccentuateshowshe maturesandhowhersuperegoemerges. Jeanspathisalmostlinearandperfectlyshowsthestagesthatshegoesthrough.Whenwefirst meether,sheisarecklesslittlegirlwithnoselfcontrolthatthinksitisherrighttofightboyslikeWalter Cunningham.However,themoralandmentalitythatsurroundshermakesherlearntoignoreheridand payattentiononlytohersuperego.JeancouldnotbeartolookatauntAlexandrafortheholidays,and yetshedoesnotobjectwhenAlexandramovesinwiththem.Finally,shenoticestheonethingeveryone intheworldistryingtoignore,theinjusticeforAfricanAmericansandshecomparesittoHitler.It showstrueScout,theonethatisabletocriticiseandhaveasenseofmoral.Scoutsdevelopment accentuatesthesadrealitybehindmaturing,shehastogothroughalltheunpleasanteventsonlytolearn todistinguishbetweenidandsuperego.

WorksCited. Lee,Harper.ToKillaMockingbird.NewYork:GrandCentral,2010.Print.