Character Transformation

My assignment is based
on the novel To Kill a
Mockingbird. The
character is I chose is
Scout.

"Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In
rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on sidewalks, the
courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered
on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the
sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in
the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by
nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."

Before Transformation:
Scout is a five-year-old pure-hearted child who has never encountered the evils of the world at
the start of the book. She is a young child who believes that everyone is like her family. She has
no reason to believe anything different because she is not aware of how the real world functions.
She is terrified of her reclusive neighbor and refuses to become the lady that society expects of
her. Scout Finch describes Maycomb and the small-town lifestyle that shaped her upbringing. It
evokes images of a sleepy town where nothing bad could happen, but this is far from the case.
 I was once told "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". I never
really understood what that meant until I encountered
injustice.

Cause of Transformation:
Scout's personal development was influenced by Tom Robinson and Boo
Radley. Scout Finch changed drastically after witnessing the injustice of
Tom Robinson's trial. Scout discovers different types of courage, she learns
about race and its complexities, and she modifies her perspective on those
around her by putting herself in their shoes. Boo Radley also contributes to
her transformation. The majority of Maycomb residents, including Scout at
first, believe Boo Radley is a lunatic who should be avoided at all costs. As
the plot progresses and Scout learns more about Mr. Dolphus Raymond and
Tom Robinson, Scout begins to understand why Boo wants to live alone. He
wishes to escape Maycomb's evil and discrimination. Scout starts to see Boo
as a real person, not just a rumor spread by Miss Stephanie Crawford. Scout,
unlike the majority of Maycomb residents, begins to care for Radley as the
story progresses and sees him as a living human being.

 I had no idea the world could be so vicious.

How can people judge each other based on
the color of their skin and rumors.

During Transformation:
As a result of Tom Robinson's conviction, Scout gains understanding as she comes to
realize that Maycomb's racial disparity was merely the cause of his conviction. As
she says, "Then Mr. Underwood's meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool
available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts
Atticus had no case," she has started to comprehend the racism that permeates her
town and feels for the black people denied the same rights as the white people. The
moment Mayella Ewell screamed and opened her mouth, Tom was already dead. As
she ages and becomes more aware of the world around her as a result of the Tom
Robinson Trial, she learns about race and how it can be extremely complicated and
unfair. She begins to realize that people judge you based on your skin tone before
getting to know you, just as they did Tom Robinson. Boo Radley also played a part in
her transformation. It is clear that Scout has gained some understanding of Boo as
she sees the humanity in him and how, despite never meeting him, he truly cared for
her all along when she views the neighborhood through his eyes. At first, she judges
Boo based on the rumors surrounding him. In the end, Scout used Atticus' advice to
learn to respect and value the differences in people.
 It took the death of a man for me to
become a more understanding mature
person and see my town for what it truly
was.

After Transformation:
By the book's end, four years later, she understands that her reclusive
neighbor is nothing to be concerned about and that being a lady
doesn't preclude you from having strength. Scout changes as a result of
discovering what true bravery is, participating in other people's
performances, and realizing that not everything is as it seems. Scout
follows in Jem's footsteps and learns a lot from him. As Scout gets
older and experiences more of the world she lives in, her definition of
bravery evolves. Scout and Jem put up with a lot of unwarranted
insults and taunts from members of the neighborhood. Scout learns
from Atticus that doing the right thing doesn't always entail following
the crowd. Scout understands that she can present a ladylike exterior
while internally remaining true to herself and her own beliefs. By the
story's the end, Scout can imagine herself in Boo Radley's position.
Even though Scout is still a child at the end of the story she grows into a
wonderful character with traits like social maturity, empathy, emotional
control, and respect for other people's differences.