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Mia Moumdjian
Mrs. Davenport
English 9 H
25 October 2015
How Society Shapes People
Dont judge a book by its cover. Through her experiences in Maycomb County, Scout
learns about being friendly, and not judging people based on what you think of them. The reader
learns that society shapes how they live.
Scout is a tough, little girl who stands her own ground. She has been so used to people
saying things around her that she knows is misguided. Her father has taught her about being kind
to all types of people. Society teaches her the opposite. On page 100, Scout says, Then why did
Cecil say you defend niggers? He made it sound like u were runnin a still. Scout did not think
that her father defending an African American man, was a big deal. When Atticus told Scout no
to use the word, negro, she was confused on why he said that. Everyone at school said it and
she did not know that it was not an amiable thing to say. Atticus cannot control what society
teaches Scout, but he can control what he teaches her at home.
Scout, Jem, and Dill often heard false rumors about Arthur Boo Radley. They made up
games about him and tried to get him out of the Radley house. Scout was judging Boo based on
things she heard about him, not things she knew about him. Atticus has taught Scout not to judge
a book by its cover. When he finds out she was playing the Boo Radley game, he tells her to
stop tormenting him. When Scout finally met him she realized how nice Boo was. Scout was
mad at herself for not being kind to him back. One page 376, Scout says, , an Atticus, when
they finally saw him, why he hadnt done any of those things Atticus, he was real nice. The
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rumors she heard about him were never true, the community was creating a Boo Radley that did
not exist.
Society shapes how people live. Scout is herself because of her vicinity. If she was not
influenced by the people of Maycomb, she would be an entirely different person. When talking
about Atticus, on page 374, Scout says, One time he said you never really know a man until you

stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Everyone has a different personality based on their
experiences with different cultural and societal norms. People usually dress how society dresses,
and they act in ways the community sees as routine. This shows the reader that life and everyday
living has formed them into who they are.
In conclusion, Scout learns two important lessons from the Maycomb community. She
learns about being genuinely nice and not judging people based on how the look. The reader
learns that societal norms affect who they are and how they live.
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Works Cited
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Hachette Book Group, 1960. Print.