Coming of Age in to Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

that in life, there is racism and persecution for those who do not meet Maycomb's standards. Tom Robinson, a young black man, faces discrimination from Maycomb citizens solely because of his skin color. However, Scout starts to question this mindset. Despite evidence showing that his left hand is crippled, Tom is wrongfully convicted of raping Mayella Ewell, a white nineteen-year-old woman. Scout recalls that after the jury's decision, none of them even looked at Tom Robinson. Like many other black individuals in the South, Tom faces discrimination from numerous white citizens. Although he is a kind and caring man, Maycomb disregards this and groups him together with all other black individuals. Many citizens believe that there is no distinction between good and bad within the black community; they are viewed simply as "Negros." Contradicting Maycomb's beliefs, Atticus maintains that not all black people lie or are inherently immoral beings.that not all black men can be trusted around women, as Atticus says. However, through their experiences with Tom, Scout and Jem come to realize that Atticus is right - Tom is a good example of a black man who is honest, moral, and can be trusted around women. In addition to racial injustice, Scout also learns about discrimination against outsiders. One such outsider is Arthur Radley, also known as "Boo". Initially, Boo is seen as a crazy person that nobody wants to associate with. But just like Mr. Raymond, Scout discovers that Boo is not what he is rumored to be. According to Jem, Boo is tall and eats squirrels and cats, which explains why his hands are bloody. He has a long scar on his

face, yellow and disgusting teeth, and his eyes stand out while he drools most of the time. Most people in Maycomb, including Scout at first, believe that Boo Radley is a madman who should be avoided. However, as Scout learns more about Mr. Dolphus Raymond and Tom Robinson, she begins to understand why Boo chooses to isolate himself - he wants to escape the evil and discrimination in Maycomb. As Boo's story unfolds, Scout starts to see him as a real human being rather than just a rumor spread by Miss Stephanie Crawford.In the vicinity of Maycomb, Scout sees Atticus as a genuine human being and cares for him, unlike most of the town's residents. Eventually, she realizes that Atticus was right when he said that one cannot truly know a person until they walk in their shoes. Just standing on the Radley porch opens Scout's eyes to this truth. One night, she drowsily speaks about Atticus in relation to the character in The Gray Ghost, wondering why people questioned his actions when he is actually a nice person. This parallel is symbolic of Boo Radley, who is falsely accused of things he never did. However, when Scout finally meets Boo as an individual, she realizes that these accusations were all lies and comes to understand the importance of respecting others as individuals.

Throughout Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, the main characters Scout and Jem learn to respect and treat others based on who they are as individuals. They learn this valuable lesson by encountering three other characters in the novel. Mr. Raymond and Tom Robinson teach the children the importance of respecting and honoring

the fact that Black people are also humans, just like white citizens. Boo Radley teaches them to put themselves in someone else's shoes before forming an opinion about them. These two transformative years in the novel teach Scout and Jem the significance of all people in the world. In the end, Scout matures and realizes that there is only one type of people - people.