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21
Ignorant
"Our father didn't do anything... he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke. He sat in the living room an read" (Lee 21). At the beginning, Scout does not understand that despite Atticus' different choices in activities, he still is a very respectable man. Although he does not engage in the kinds of activities that other men his age do, which is typical for his character, he knows how to enjoy himself, work hard, and be a good father to his children. -
65
Loyal & Protective
"Tell you not thing right now, Uncle Jack, I'll be - I swear before God if I'll sit there and let him say something about Atticus" (Lee 65). Scout is often looked at as a "tomboy" throughout the story, and this scene definitely displays a more masculine reaction to hearing someone insult her father. This character trait stays static as Scout gets older and faces new experiences. -
102
Understanding
"Nobody said 'That's just their way,' about the Ewells" (Lee 102). This quote illustrates the growth that Scout experiences as contrasted with her previous ignorance. She's starting to understand the binary between black and whites. With much influence from her father, Scout is able to open her mind to the discriminating mindset that so many people in her community hold. -
111
Empathetic
"That Walter's as smart as can be, he just gets held back sometimes because he has to help his daddy. Nothing's wrong with him. Naw, Jim, I think there's only there's only one kind of folks. Folks" (Lee 111). Scout is able to understand Walter's situation despite her never experiencing something similar, which portrays her advanced sense of empathy. This is impressive considering she grows up in a time when people refuse to understand each other. Again, Atticus plays a key role in this trait. -
170
Mature
"So many things have happened to us, Boo Radley was the least of out fears" (Lee 170). Childish excitement about Boo morphs into a mature respect for him as an individual. Before coming to this conclusion, Scout, Jem, and Dill would fixate on Boo, which represents a fascination with the unknown. Now as they've gotten older and experienced more, they can understand what is really important in life.
