As a bildungsroman, Harper Lee's
novel, To Kill a Mockingbird presents a narrative in which the
children, Scout and Jem Finch are affected by their environment, their father, and other
characters in which they come in contact. Certainly, Atticus Finch has the most profound
influence upon his children, but many others do have an impact upon the children's
maturation. Here are some
examples:
ATTICUS
While
Atticus instructs the children often, telling them, for instance, that Mrs. Dubose has
been courageous in meeting death by withdrawing from morphine so that she could face her
final hours with a clear mind, his act of courage in quickly shooting the rabid dog in
the street certainly has the greatest effect upon the children in teaching them about
bravery, not to mention his intrepidation as he faces the agitated mob in front of the
jail before Tom Robinson's trial.
And, while Atticus tells
the children to consider things from other people's point of view, Scout and Jem are
most impressed with his objective and gentlemanly manner as he questions Mayella Ewell
at the trial of Tom Robinson, knowing that she has lied. His objectivity is
impressive.
CALPURNIA
The maid
and friend of the Finches is a woman of great inner strength and character. Despite the
prejudices of the time, she loves Scout and Jem as a mother; when they are gone on the
first day of school, she tells them how much she has missed them. When Scout brings
Walter Cunningham with her at lunch time, Calpurnia sends Scout to the kitchen after her
derogation Walter at the table. Calpurnia insists that she treat him with respect, as
her company, thus teaching Scout to treat everyone
decently.
When Calpurnia brings the children with her to
church, she defends them before the critical Lula, who
says,
"You
ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here--they got their church, we got our'n.
It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?"Calpurnia said,
"It's the same God, ain't
it?"
With her strong example,
Calpurnia displays her true lack of prejudice as she defends the white children's right
to be in the church.
BOO
RADLEY
With his quiet acts of friendship and love, Boo
Radley unknowingly teaches the children the meaning of their father's words, "It's a sin
to kill a mockingbird" and Miss Maudie's explanation that mockingbirds bother no one.
One incident that teaches Scout and Jem theat they are cruel by going to the house of
the Radley's occurs on the night that Jem runs up to the window on a dare from Dill.
When Boo places a blanket upon Scout and folds Jem's pants on the fence, they realize
his kind nature.
Of course, Boo's heroism at the end of the
novel teaches Scout the meaning of Miss Maudie's statement that Boo may not wish to come
outside. His love for the children is proven as he risks harm to himself by grappling
with Bob Ewell. After Scout sees Boo home, she looks from his porch and comprehends the
meaning of Atticus's statement about standing in someone's shoes and walking around in
them: "Just standing on the Radley porch was enough."
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