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Cia Soto

Pre AP English / Per 4

Mr. Boyatt

9 April 2015

To Kill a Mockingbird Character Essay

In the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee writes about a young girl named

Scout learning important life lessons from other characters throughout the story. The ignorance

of her teacher Miss Caroline, the optimism of her neighbor Miss Maudie, the modesty of her

father Atticus, and the courage of Mrs. Dubose all contributed to these lessons of staying strong,

or even having the strength within to keep her head throughout aggravating times. Through these

interactions and lessons, Scout learns an overall message to stay true to her own way and rely on

her strength from within.

From reflecting off of Scout’s interaction with her teacher Miss Caroline, Scout learns

look at things not only from her perspective, but others’ too. From “[considering] things from

[her] point of view” Scout was able to realize that her teacher just simply didn’t know any better

(pg 39). Having only just arrived in Maycomb, there was still a lot for Caroline to learn and

understand, and even become accustomed to. Scout had realized that she “could not expect her to

learn all Maycomb’s ways in one day and… could not hold her responsible when she knew no

better” (pg 40). To have expected so much of Caroline, despite her being newly residented, was

certainly unfair as Caroline simply did not know the customs of Maycomb. All the blames help

with nothing and with simply taking a moment to evaluate the situation from both viewpoints

Scout learns to have empathy and to have a better understanding to not judge others so quickly.
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Scout learns from Miss Maudie’s reaction to her house burning down to not dwell and

grieve over a tragedy but instead just carry on and stay positive. The morning following Miss

Maudie’s house burning down “[she] was staring at the smoking black hole in her yard… [and]

she did not want to talk” (pg 95). Miss Maudie could’ve been grieving and sobbing, crying out

and throwing a pity party for herself, but no. She just took her time to accept what had happened

to her home, her home that was once a home, remained strong and prepared to move on. When

“her old grin crossed her face” Scout questioned Miss Maudie wondering why “[she] ain’t

grievin’ “ where she told Scout,”Why, I’ll build me a little house and take me a couple of

roomers and - gracious, I’ll have the finest yard in Alabama,” (pg 97). So not only did Miss

Maudie just move on, accepting that the house had burned to the ground, but she rejoiced seeing

new opportunities rise up from the smoke of the flames. Overall, Scout realizes that no matter

how terrible things may seem to be, to always just make the best of it.

Scout and her brother Jem learn that they should not value their father on what he can or

can’t do or how old or active he is, and that not every talent needs to be rubbed in the face of the

world. When Atticus choose to not to discuss his gift of shooting, Miss Maudie explained to Jem

and Scout that “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents” (130). Having a

talent is great and all, but there is no real reason to flaunt it. Talents shouldn’t be used for

attention but merely for what they are gifted for in the first place. Atticus had realized he had “an

unfair advantage over most living things” and “decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to” like

when a mad dog made its way into the neighborhood (130). This stunt of Atticus’ really

surprised Jem and Scout for they had always believed he was just their boring, old father who

couldn’t do anything. Jem had caught on to his father’s secrecy and respected his decision as an

act of modesty, believing it was a gentleman-like act and he wouldn’t have cared if his father
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was really talented at nothing, because he was a gentleman and that’s what really appealed to

Jem and was shared with Scout. To wrap things up, Jem and Scout reflecting off of Atticus’

example taught them to appreciate their father for who he is and not for what he does and that

gift and talents should not be used for bragging rights.

From Scout’s witnessing to Jem’s interaction with Mrs. Dubose, she learns to always

strive for what you want until the end. Weaning oneself from the hands of addiction is no easy

task as Jem had to read to Mrs. Dubose, where he and Scout were first hand witnesses to when

“she [had] fits” (pg 143). When Scout went with Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose, she would use

reading as a distraction. She was addicted to morphine, and with her faltering doses of morphine

came the nasty, drooling fits, and distractions were her only escape. Mrs. Dubose never gave up

“to break herself [of her addiction] before she died” and with her perseverance she managed to

pull it off (pg 148). Even though Mrs. Dubose struggled with her fits as she tried to break free

from her addiction, she never gave up. She kept striving and Jem and Scout realized that she was

pursuing her freedom even though her fate was already eminent. In the end, Mrs. Dubose proved

to them the strength to reach for what you desire, even when destined to fail.

As you can see, through her interactions with Miss Caroline, Miss Maudie, Atticus, and

Mrs. Dubose, Scout comes to a realization of the life long lesson of finding and harnessing the of

power of inner strength, in which each person displayed differently. Miss Caroline showed Scout

to keep your head instead of exploding over mistakes, and to take a moment in the other’s shoes

before making a judgment. Miss Maudie taught her to always stay on the bright side. Atticus

revealed his humbleness and lacking need to feel popular. Then Dubose proved to Scout true

courage, determination, and willpower with her struggling till her last breath. All in all, Scout
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learned an important lesson from them all, to live not running off of others’ impressions, but

rather to find your own way and stay true to that.