Brycen Wilborn
Mrs. Ellis
English 1.3
10 May 2022
Scouts Views ChangeThe Changing Views of Scout
The individuals in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, and their attitude towards people of
color aid in changing Scout’s views. She sees her town in a clearer view than she did before.
With this understanding, Scout encounters difficulties that bring her to a new understanding of
the world. Scout's recognition of the world has changed greatly and the safe space that she once
considered her town to turn out to be the complete opposite. She realizes the racism that is
prevalent throughout Maycomb and the specifics of social classes and how they influence an
individual’s actions towards others. The beginning of the book shows a mischievous Scout who
likes to get in trouble as that's the only fun activity she can find to do. She is called unladylike
and tomboyish among other names. Scout's opinion of some of the people she used to not like
has also changed now that she realizes they were not as bad as she originally thought. Therefore,
the idea portrayed through To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee concerning Scout’s view
of Maycomb, Alabama as she gets older is that she becomes uncomfortably aware of the racial
prejudice in her town.
Tom Robinson’s case is a subject that is focused on throughout the book. The way his
case is treated purely because of the color of his skin speaks to the influence that white men and
women have throughout society. Mr. Ewell says "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my
Mayella!" (231). Mr. Ewell claims that he saw Tom Robinson rape his daughter and uses the
marks present all over his daughter to prove his argument. In the trial, Atticus brings up the idea
that maybe Mayella is being abused at home by her father and that it was not in fact a black man
responsible for the crime that he is being convicted of. Mr. Ewell presented a very hostile
personality when being questioned; the fact that they had “proof” that a black man had allegedly
raped Mayella Robinson should have for the court to convict Robinson. Mr. Ewell did not
believe that he should be being questioned with all of this in mind and the fact that his daughter
was hysterical whilst recounting her version of events. Scout was present during this trial and
witnessed this debacle. While being in the court case, she observed that the court was not in
favor of Tom Robinson purely due to his skin color. The ignorance of his testimony aids in her
awareness of racism in her town. "There’s something in our world that makes men lose their
heads – they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a
black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life…The one
place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow,
but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box”(295). Atticus is
speaking to Jim on Tom Robinson’s case. He tells him how twelve white boys on trial for rape
would have been found innocent compared to one black man on trial for the same matter.
Atticus’ attitude towards both of his children is equal and he teaches them morals and values
consistently. The fact that these words are directed to Scout’s brother is one’s that would be told
to Scout in various other forms. These views further help both siblings understand how racism in
their town plays a huge role. Being taught these lessons from an authority figure that they trust
also aids in solidifying their opinions of the world around them.
Aside from Tom Robinson’s "First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout,
you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until
you consider things from his point of view ... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it"
(39). Atticus is providing Scout with a specific lesson in this scene that she carries throughout
the entirety of the novel. Scout’s teacher is discouraging in her ability to read at such a young age
and she fails to understand why her teacher acts this way. Scout is frustrated with her teacher
however, Atticus teaches her to have patience and “consider things from [her] points of view.”
Her inability to sympathize with Miss Caroline’s situation carries her throughout the novel.
Meeting Boo Radley allows her to comprehend and apply the knowledge from Atticus to an
actual individual. ”Don’t talk like that in front of them.” …“Like that in front of Calpurnia. You
said Braxton Underwood despises Negroes right in front of her.” … “I don’t think it’s a good
habit, Atticus. It encourages them. You know how they talk among themselves, everything that
happens in this town’s out to the quarters before sundown” (209). The citizens of Maycomb are
wary about what they say in front of people of color. Amongst other views, one of them is that
African-Americans love to gossip. This perspective shapes the mindset of the community of
Maycomb and allows Scout to form her own views about how she feels. Atticus is standing up to
Calpurnia’s racist views in this scene whilst Scout is present. Atticus mentions how there is no
law prohibiting any black individual from doing anything. Saying all of this in front of Scout
allows her to form views of her own without having her worry that no one will be supporting her.
Atticus’ view of giving Scout the potential to stand up for people of color would be an extreme
turn of attitude compared to others living in Maycomb. “Scout,” said Atticus, “nigger-lover is
just one of those terms that don’t mean anything—like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain—ignorant,
trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves.
It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves when they want a common, ugly term to
label somebody…I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes—baby, it’s never
an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that
person is, it doesn’t hurt you” (144-145). Many times Atticus has shown his attitude towards
African-Americans and this time is no different. He is explaining to Scout that the way that
someone else identifies you does not matter and that it is up to you to feel offended by what
someone says. Showing Scout how he clearly feels allows for her morals to build throughout the
story. Scout is seen as a strong-willed and independent girl that does not allow the words of
others to harm her. Atticus consistently preaches that the color of one’s skin has nothing to do
with the way one should be treated.
In conclusion, Scout's opinion of some of the people she used to not like has also
changed now that she realizes they were not as bad as she originally thought. Therefore, the idea
portrayed through To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee concerning Scout’s view of
Maycomb, Alabama as she gets older is that she becomes uncomfortably aware of the racial
prejudice in her town.
Works Cited
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Grand Central Publishing, 1988.