Perception and Perspective of To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

📌Category: Literature, To Kill a Mockingbird
📌Words: 688
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 06 June 2021

Atticus once said, ¨you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.¨ Harper Lee's story To Kill a Mockingbird, Is told through the eyes of six year old scout finch, a rebellious tom-boy like girl.  The story takes place in the small town of maycomb in the 1930s. Scout lives with her older brother Jem and widowed father Atticus, A lawyer who had challenges to face when he had to defend a black man. Scout and Jem learn what it means to walk in others shoes because of the challenges they faced in their childhood.

Jem learned to see from others eyes when he reads to Mrs.Dubose. To illustrate, When Jem found out Mrs.Dubose died, Atticus said, “she said she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody. Jem, when you’re sick as she was, it's alright to take anything to make it easier, but it wasn't all right for her. She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that's what she did.” (Chapter…) Even though Jem disliked Mrs.Dubose so much, In the end, it was him who helped her die the way she wanted to. She was also free from being dependant on drugs or anybody which is what she wanted. Despite Jem not being very fond of her, he was the biggest help to Mrs.Dubose. Before her death. Before Jem read to her. Atticus said, “There was no point in saying you were sorry if you aren't” (Lee, 140).  If you say sorry and don't mean it, defeats the purpose. You say sorry in order to ease tension and to show you feel bad about what has happened. Atticus is telling Jem that when you say it just because you know you should without having any meaning behind it, there is no point of even saying it in the first place. 

Scout learned to see from others eyes with the Cecil Jacobs incident and the lynch mob. For example, when Mr. Cunningham showed up with the lynch mob at the county jail upon seeing Mr.Cunningham she shouts hello asking him if he remembered her and then about his son, Scout says, “He’s in my grade,” I said, “and he does right well. He’s a good boy” I added, “a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up but was really nice about it. Tell him hey for me, won’t you?” (Lee, 205) Scout is almost talking to Mr.Cunningham as a friend or a good father. She is reminding them of humanity in a way. Making mistakes like when she said his son was nice to her about her beating her up. Reminding him of his humanity. For instance, When Cecil said something about atticus, Scout says, if I fought Cecil, I would let Atticus down". (Lee, 102) Scout is thinking about what atticus had said, when he said to use her head instead of physical violence, as violence is never the answer. She was thinking about what he had told her. 

Conclusion

Throughout their childhood Scout and Jem grew to understand what it truly means to walk in others shoes. To illustrate, upon Arthur (boo) Radley emerging from his house and after everything that had happened he, Jem then says, ¨Scout, I´m beginning to understand why Boo Radley´s stayed shut up in the house all this time… It's because he wants to stay inside¨. (Lee,139)  Jem is understanding why Boo did not want to come out of his house. He does not blame him for not wanting to leave his home. He understands the dangers of the hate that exists throughout Maycomb. Jem is placing himself into Boo Radleys shoes. It was not only Jem that grew but Scout as well. Such as, When Scout looked back on the words of Atticus, Scout said "One time Atticus said you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them." (chapter 31) Scout is reflecting on what Atticus had told her once. You never do understand anyone fully unless you put yourself in their shoes. Their reasons their battles. Scout has matured and grown throughout the story. She is taking in her father's words fully. Reflecting on everything that has happened.

 

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