To Kill a Mockingbird Case

In order to be influenced by someone else, you need to have an emotional connection with them. Children, especially, require this relationship, since they are easily influenced by the world around them, typically people that they have a warm and loving relationship with, and that they are able to open up to. Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Scout, the book’s main character, is influenced by her father’s, Atticus’, non prejudicial ways. However, at the beginning of the novel, Scout and Atticus have a distant relationship, while later on they grow closer, and Scout begins to assimilate his beliefs. In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is more of an independent character, yet, she is also influenced by the racism in her town. In contrast, her father, a lawyer, is able to see the good in everybody and is against discrimination and racism. Despite Scout having a remote relationship with Atticus, she eventually develops his morals as she becomes closer with him.

Since Scout and Atticus have a remote relationship in the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout does not share Atticus’ views, which leave her prejudicial. Atticus believes, “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.” (39), as of now, Scout doesn’t understand this concept. Before Scout and Atticus develop a true connection, Scout often defies Atticus' morals. After Scout is yelled at by Miss Caroline for trying to explain the Cunningham’s family name, Scout tries to start a fight with Walter Cunningham on the playground, but she is soon pulled off of him by Jem. Jem goes on to invite Walter to dinner at their house as a way to apologize for Scout’s behavior. Walter agrees. Later, at the Finch household, Walter asks for syrup for his food, and after Calpurnia brings it to him, he proceeds to drench his plate of food with it. Scout gives Walter a funny look and asks, "...what the sam hill are you doing?" (32). By putting Walter on the spot like this, Scout shows that she does not share the same morals as Atticus, of respecting others and viewing things from other people's perspectives. Scout displays this characteristic a second time when she, Jem, and Dill are trying to deliver a letter they wrote to Boo Radley. While in the process of delivering the letter to Boo, Dill rang the dinner bell, warning Scout and Jem that Atticus was close by, but when Scout hears the bell she is frightened and explains, "Shoulder up, I reeled around to see Boo Radley and his bloody fangs; instead, I saw Dill ringing the bell..." (64) By interpreting this about Boo, Scout clearly shows that she expects the worst of him. She, again, goes against Atticus' morals and assumes that Boo Radley is some sort of monster, and refuses to see the good in him. Before Scout and Atticus held a tight bond, she was prejudicial.