Change in To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

At the end of the novel, how does Harper Lee show there is, perhaps, the beginning of change?

Throughout the novel, I think Harper Lee shows that peoples opinions can change and the attitude of certain people can also change. Some characters show a big change but other characters show a very subtle, but still noticeable, change. I think this novel makes people think about how much opinions/attitudes can change over a short period of time.

A good example is Aunt Alexandra. On page 242 it says I thought Aunt Alexandra was crying, but when she took her hands away from her face, she was not. She looked weary. She spoke, and her voice was flat. she starts show signs of understanding and respect towards her brother Atticus, I think Scout starts to realize she is changing also. She says I cant say I approve of everything he does, Maudie, but hes my brother, and I just want to know when this will ever end. It tears him to pieces. Ive seen him when what else do they want from him, Maudie, what else? This shows that she is worried about what is going to happen to her brother, whereas earlier on in the novel she moves in with them wanting to change the finches way of living.

Another example is, during the trial scene the Cunninghams who are the jury, took a long time to decide whether Tom Robinson is guilty or innocent. On page 217 it says what happened after that had a dreamlike quality, in a dream I saw the jury return, moving like underwater swimmers, and Judge Taylors voice came from far away, and was tiny. I saw something only a lawyers child could be expected to see, could be expected to watch for, and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty. This quote makes me think about how the people in the courthouse reacted to the decision that the jury made. This shows change because if it were any normal court house decision, they would have come to a conclusion quite quickly, but obviously this took longer because it was something that none of them had ever dealt with before. This was the first time the jury had to really think about the situation. They knew for definite that Tom Robinson was innocent but because of the opinions and attitudes of everyone else, they found it was difficult to let Tom Robinson go.

Heck Tate shows respect and loyalty towards Boo Radley near the end of the book, He knows that Boo did stab Bob Ewell but he also knew that if Boo Radley went to court he wouldnt be able to deal with the pressure and all the people there. Boo Radley has lived alone and not come out of his house for many years, and he also saved Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell trying to kill them. Heck Tate obviously cares about Boo and empathises with him, he doesnt want to humiliate or threaten his life.

In conclusion, I think that Harper Lee does show a lot of change throughout to kill a mockingbird and I think its a brilliant book. She shows many different emotions and it also teaches people about racism and how things used to be. It makes you realize how lucky we are to have a society like we do nowadays.