The Creation of Dynamic Characters in To Kill a Mockingbird
Dynamic characters are characters that experience emotional predicaments as a story progresses.
Conversely, static characters are characters that are not significantly affected in an introspective manner.
Because of this, dynamic characters can also be identified as protagonists. Protagonists are acknowledged
as the characters that face the main conflict in a story and change inwardly because of it. Static characters
are never protagonists because they are inadequately affected by story events. Static characters are also
usually minor characters. Due to these facts, moviemakers should never discard parts of literature while
adapting a story into a movie because doing so could change the psychological being that makes up the
protagonist. If events and occurrences that happen in a book are essential for the development of a
character, the removing of it can result as a character not being as developed as an author would intend to.
The removal of principal scenes can also change a viewer’s interpretation of a moral, or the entire theme
of the movie.
The two dynamic characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are Jeremy Atticus “Jem”
Finch and Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. In very little time, the two are snatched away from their safe
sanctuaries as naïve children and are forced to open their eyes to the reality of the real world.
For instance, one main incident that occurred within the book version of To Kill a Mockingbird is
Jem’s interaction with Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. Mrs. Dubose is described by Scout as “plain hell.”
Mrs. Dubose is a racist, elderly woman who seems to always go out of her way to say usually
condescending commentary. After one significant derogatory comment uttered about Atticus, Jem
releases his anger on Mrs. Dubose’s bed of camellias. As a consequence, Jem is forced by his father to
read to Mrs. Dubose for a month. Jem chooses to read Ivanhoe during his daily visits, but each time it
interrupted by Mrs. Dubose having sudden seizures. After a month and a week, Jem is released of his
punishment, and Mrs. Dubose soon dies after. Jem learns that the abrupt conniptions Mrs. Dubose would
have were a result of a lack of morphine, her addiction, and that her dying wish was to die free of all
painkillers. Reading to Mrs. Dubose helped her achieve her goal, and before Mrs. Dubose dies she
prepares a box of camellias, which Jem disposes of in horror. However, Jem is found admiring the
flowers later on. After having an epiphany forced upon him by Atticus, Jem realizes Mrs. Dubose’s
endurance during her last moments of life, and respects her from then on. Mrs. Dubose’s effect on Jem
turns him into a more perspective person, and it is from then on it seems that Jem takes his emotional
changes in a more painstaking way than Scout does.
There were other scenes that confronted Jem’s naïve self throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. They
vary from Jem discovering his father’s past as “One-Shot Finch”, and Mr. Nathan filling the Radley tree
hole with cement. Once Jem witnesses his father shoot the rabid dog Tim Johnson, he realizes his father is
more vigilant than he realizes. Likewise, because Mr. Nathan fills the Radley tree hole with cement, thus
preventing more surprise gifts from Boo Radley Jem cries. Jem feels mirthful when Boo Radley, whom
never leaves his house, leaves presents for him and Scout, and when the tree knot is filled, he feels as if he
has lost a significant connection his mysterious neighbor.
The events in To Kill a Mockingbird were crucial to making who Jem was at the end of the book,
yet the movie version did not develop him quite as well. For example, while Mrs. Dubose was seen
during a short scene in the beginning of the film, the scenes of Jem being forced to read to her were cut
out completely. Without interacting with Mrs. Dubose, Jem did not learn the lesson of what real courage
was. Although it does not change Jem’s overall character in the movie, it is a critical lesson to the young
Finch boy to learn due to the certain circumstances that were at hand at the time.
Similarly, Scout experiences moments throughout To Kill a Mockingbird that change her inward
self also. Two significant occurrences for Jean Louise were going to First Purchase A.M.E. Church with
Calpurnia and Jem and her witnessing the Tom Robinson case. One Sunday, while Atticus has been
dispatched to Montgomery, Calpurnia takes Scout and Jem to First Purchase, the colored church of
Maycomb County. Once there, the trio is confronted by Lula, an angry African-American woman. Lula
complains about Calpurnia’s choice to take the Finch children with her to Mass. Lula is resentful toward
Scout and Jem because black people are so often discriminated against white people, and is forced to
leave First Purchase because of her sudden outburst. After Lula is gone, Scout questions Calpurnia about
Calpurnia’s vocabulary while dealing with Lula; Scout notices that Calpurnia used more casual
terminology while arguing with Lula, and points out that she often talks with higher etiquette at the Finch
house. It is then that Scout becomes aware of Calpurnia’s “double life.” Moreover, the incident at First
Purchase revealed a side of racism to Scout that she had never seen before.
Furthermore, Scout is confronted with extreme injustice while watching the Tom Robinson trial,
especially when Tom Robinson himself is called to the stand. Mr. Gilmer, the lawyer defending Mayella
Ewell, is particularly harsh in his cross-examination, and Scout, Jem, and Dill, the Finch children’s
summertime friend, are simply too young to understand such unfair treatment. The children did not truly
understand why society was especially unfair to colored people, and seeing Tom Robinson being
ridiculed made the children upset. Afterwards, both Dill and Jem even started to cry.
In like manner to Jem, there was one critical aspect missing from the movie version of To Kill a
Mockingbird that changed Scout’s overall character: Aunt Alexandra. Alexandra Hancock, the sister of
Jack and Atticus Finch, is the typical southern woman. She is the definition of proper etiquette and a true
lady. She takes pride in the Finch family history, despite its constant, according to Atticus, “incestuous
streak.” Aunt Alexandra disapproves of the way Atticus raises Scout. She moves to Maycomb County to
live with the Finches to try to tame the children, and especially turn Scout into the typical Southern belle.
Aunt Alexandra encourages Scout to wear dresses, become interested in boys, and join her and her friends
for their weekly Sunday missionary groups. When does none unless forced to, Aunt Alexandra often
responds in an agitated manner. This causes numerous conflicts between Scout and Aunt Alexandra.
Towards the end of the book, however, Aunt Alexandra’s strict attitude lightens up, and she more or less
becomes a positive mother figure to Scout and Jem.
Although it may not seem like it at first, Scout matures because of Aunt Alexandra. As the end of
the book draws near, Scout and Jem become less involved with their childish antics, and one can assume
it is because of Aunt Alexandra’s stern mentality. At one point, Jem even tells Scout to not try to
deliberately anger Aunty.
As is obvious, dynamic characters, without a doubt, are different from whom they originally were
when the story first started – events that the author creates purposely make them so. Just as Scout
discovered racism from encountering Lula, Jem learned the mean of human sacrifice from Mrs. Dubose.
However, there was another character missing from the movie adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird that
broke down the barriers of segregation in a way that not even Atticus could do: Mr. Dolphus Raymond.
Mr. Raymond is a wealthy, white man who married a black woman and fathered “mixed” children. Mr.
Raymond prefers the company of colored people more than white people and is a supposed drunk.
However, after a discussion with him, Scout and Jem learn that Mr. Raymond does not associate with
colored people more because he is a drunk, but because he simply loves his wife and children, and his
false drunk appearance was created by him so the people of Maycomb County would not question him.
Mr. Raymond shows acceptance to colored people and does not discriminate one bit. The children see this
of Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and are in a state of awe upon realization – even Scout stumbles across her
words to make sure she does not insult Mr. Raymond. Mr. Raymond taught the valuable lesson of
acquiescence despite skin color, which is a moral all characters, dynamic or static, need to come in terms
with, and, moreover, all people need to accept.
The Creation of
Dynamic
Characters in
To Kill a
Mockingbird
Tracy Glova
Grade 8
Mrs. Kots