Introduction
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee shows us that two children can grow up through a series of events in a short period of time. The two children motion in this novel not like at another novel. In these novel children constructed become to the maturity because of the events in the way of novel. These events help them to understand how society is and how cruel and unfair life is at times. They grow wiser with knowledge and understanding of how people get hurt even though they did nothing wrong, it was simply because of what they look like. They also realize that you can't judge someone because of what they look like or what they do, you can only judge someone when you get to know them, know what they are really like. These points show that growing up isn't always about maturing but in having knowledge of one's surroundings and what is happening, becoming wiser in society. Based on “the child's environment shapes learning and behavior; in fact, human behavior, development, and learning are thought of as reactions to the environment.”
Based on the explanation above, the writer would like to study the Children in to kill A Mocking bird Novel and analyze the maturity constructed that come to Jem and Scout because of their society. The theory that will used in this paper is behaviour theories theory. That theories using for analize the development of children because of their society. Based on Morris
“early relationships with caregivers play a major role in child development and continue to influence social relationships throughout life.”
Through some events in the novel Jem and Scout have learned how brutal and harsh society can be at times. By Tom Robinson's trial and death they have understood how people mean can be. This shown by Scout crying because she knew it was wrong. Also when Scout questioned about Hitler, she realized that killing Jews was wrong but that also sentencing someone to death was wrong. They are both acts of unfairness and brutal behavior, which she understood. This shows that Scout is aware of how the town did the wrong thing by sentencing Tom to death, and she knows that it is discordant.
To judge someone because of what they like or what they might say or do is one thing that Jem and Scout realized was not a deleterious thing to do. Through Jem's acts of violence against Mrs. Dubose's roses, and discovering the new side of courage within her andrealized that you can't judge a book by its cover. Another example is Boo Radley, the rumors that were made by the community were disgraceful and discriminative towards him.. By the end of the novel Jem and Scout found out this was not true, this helped them to understand that people do judge people wrongly. These points helped Jem and Scout to acknowledge how society judge people and develop this understanding.
The community of Maycomb judged certain members because of what they look like or how they live, Jem and Scout realized this and that it was a mistake. An argument arouse in the church, the lady that told Jem and Scout to leave miss judged Jem and Scout because they were white, they weren't doing any harm to anyone but they were still judged. Jem and Scout realized this and they discovered that society was not good.
The judgments Maycomb made helped Jem and Scout realize the things that were going on in their community. They took these into account and used them; they decided that they could do the right thing. This helps them grow up and understand what is going on, for these life skills that not many people have. Accusing someone of something is not right unless they have the facts. The accusations made of people because of what they look like helped Jem and Scout to understand how cruel society can be.
Analysis
In the award winning novel, To Kill A Mocking Bird the author, Harper Lee illustrates the development of Jem and Scout moral education through the many learning experiences they undergo. Both Jem and Scout change from two innocent children to two mature and understanding children. People are not what they appear, true courage, and how society works are among the topics that Lee conveys through the events of the novel. Through various characters, Scout becomes aware that people are not what they seem to be. Jem's experiences with courage are prevalent through the novel. His understanding of courage develops to a more mature definition of courage. Lastly, the decisive court case shapes Jem's and Scout's understanding of how society functions. Through numerous events and several encounters, Jem and Scout learn about moral education and society.
The first part of moral education pertains to courage and moral integrity. Jem's view of courage is defined by childish acts. For example, Atticus makes the Radley house off limits to Jem and Scout, but one night, Jem ignores his father's rule and touches the front door of the Radley place and then hurries home. While running, Jem's pants get caught in the fence so he must go back to get them. However, as Jem returns to the fence, he demonstrates courage and retains moral integrity in that he goes back to such a dangerous place to avoid disappointinghis father.
As the novel progresses further, Jem observes a stray dog down the street. As the events of the stray dog unwind, Atticus must shoot the dog from a far distance. Jem sees courage as a man with a gun in his hand. One day, as the kids are playing outside, Jem cuts off Mrs. Dubose's flowers. In the hopes of understanding true courage, Atticus makes Jem go to her house and read to her. During one night, after Mrs. Dubose's death, Atticus explained,
"I wanted you to see something about her-I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."
Jem, who finally understands true courage, observed it by none other than Atticus. Just by defending Tom in a courtroom where he knows he is going to lose, Atticus demonstrates overwhelming courage. In these events of the novel, Jem matures, for he no longer thinks childish things are courageous, and at the same time, recognizes real courage.
Another important lesson in moral education regards looking at things from a different perspective. Scout receives her moral education through the experiences with Boo Radley and Mr. Dolphus Raymond, but Atticus nonetheless talks with Scout. Boo Radley often comes to mind when thinking about, looking at things from different angles. The town of Maycomb has engraved a fingerprint on Boo portraying him as a freak and a lunatic. However, the town fails to see Boo from another angle.
Another character that comes into play is Ms. Caroline Fisher, Scout's first grade teacher. Scout and Ms. Fisher get along poorly on the first day because Ms. Fisher has little experience teaching. Frustrated, Scout judges Ms. Caroline and one evening, while talking on the porch, Atticus advises,
"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."
As the quote explains, one must look at things from all angles, just like observing the positives and negatives of making an important decision. Scout remembers Atticus's advice when she has difficulty understanding her teachers.
Another ideal example showing Scout's maturing is that of Mr. Dolphus Raymond outside the courtroom. In the middle of the court case, the children come outside of the courtroom to the back of the balcony, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond is there in a coat, supposedly drinking liquor from a brown bag, when in reality, he is drinking Coca-Cola. As expected, Scout warns Dill not to have too much as he is about to sip the beverage. Once more, Scout made an assumption because of Mr. Raymond's dress and brown bag. Mr. Raymond serves as another tool for Scoutto learn to not make assumptions without trying to understand his or her point of view.
In the closure of the novel, Atticus's advice is effectively implemented with the long awaited appearance of Boo Radley. Scout sees Boo's real side, a side without any fingerprints, and thinks for a moment about what it would the world would be like from Boo's standpoint. Through these events, Scout matures and grows to be a person who can look at things from perspectives.
Conclusion
Finally, Jem and Scout learn a great deal about the society they thrive in. The two innocent children learn what the real world is like after only one court case. As the defense attorney and the plaintiff engage in a verbal altercation, Jem and Scout keenly observe how Atticus' argument is nullified because he defends Tom Robinson. As the dispute continues, Tom Robinson's angle of the story is also marked falsely because of the unimportant and stereotypical fact that he is black. Attentively waiting for the jury file out of the back room, Jem and Scout soon hear the guilty verdict of Tom Robinson. In these several hours of the court case, both Jem and Scout have been educated about a society in which black people are at the bottom, and furthermore stripped of fairness.
In conclusion, Scout learns a tremendous lesson of looking at situations and people from all angles; Jem learns what true courage is; and collectively, they learn about society that will stick with them for much of their life. Scout learns about looking at people from a different angle through Boo Radley and Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Likewise, Jem learns about true courage through Mrs. Dubose and Atticus. And, they learn about society through the courtroom and the case. The development of the moral education of Scout and Jem is clearly revealed throughout the novel along with their of understanding of how society functions.
Work Cited
• Allan, John. (1994, November). Society And Children. Philadelpia: Union press, 76(3), 206-212.
• Lee, Harper, (1960) To Kill A mockingbird. United States:J. B. Lippincott & Co
• Morris, Edward. (1997). The Development of Children. New York: Harper & Brothers.
