January18
Children’s perspectives are often immature and inaccurate, but with the right guidance and assistance our perspectives can change into a more educated, reliable opinion. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the idea of misconceived perceptions and how they are the result of lack of understanding for that which is unfamiliar. This was demonstrated through the character of Atticus Finch who taught Jem to value respect, the trial of Tom Robinson which unveiled the injustice of Maycomb’s society, and Scout, Jem’s sister, who taught him the lesson of responsibility. All of these factors contributed to Jem’s change of perspective and growth in becoming a morally stable and virtuous person. Being put in unexpected situations, possibly, has the most affect on someone’s perspective.
Perspective endures change when the situation you are put in allows you the opportunity to come to a new realization about a factor in your life. From the very beginning of this novel we are shown respect through the character of Atticus, Jem’s father. Atticus was determined to show respect to everyone regardless of their differences and while he did not force these values onto his children, after gaining respect for Atticus they adapted his beliefs and values as their own. The children started the book with confusion as to why their father did not agree nor contribute to Maycomb’s practice of marginalization and discrimination. However, we see a turning point in Jem at the point in the book where Atticus shoots a rabid dog, from which Jem discovers Maycomb’s respect and pride for Atticus. In response to this new knowledge Jem makes the conscious choice to support Atticus’ modesty and personal choices, showing readers that Jem has not only learnt respect but gained a new perspective of his father. Although witnessing something is benefical nothing is more productive than experiencing it first hand. Not until Jem met Mrs. Dubose did he completely understand courage and respect for people whose covers do not match their true story. Jem learned to appreciate people and realized that not everyone is as they seem.
Injustice lurks in all corners but only those who can look past their own arrogance will notice how inaccurate their perspective truly is. From the very start of the book Jem is overcome with so much pride that he cannot see any flaws in the society he has grown up in, but instead has fallen to the fateful trap that consumes the rest of Maycomb. Injustice and inequality are engraved into Jem’s life and as change is not easy to adapt to he refuses to see the problem with the perfect world he believed he lived in. Not until Jem came to Tom Robinson’s trial did he understand what he had been supporting and how unfair it was for innocent people to be treated with less value because of their differences. Until this point Jem refused to accept how influenced he was by the Maycomb society that his perspective of people was a very judgemental and cruel one that he maintained. Jem had seen past what others could not, that everyone deserves to be treated equally and discrimination was not something to be encouraged. The fact that Jem had become willing to see past himself and to see his world from a different point of view shows maturity. Learning your responsibility is perhaps the most misunderstood and forgotten contributor to how your perspective is developed.
Being mature enough to take responsibility for yourself and what is expected of you shows great establishment of one’s character. Jem had viewed Scout as a playmate but she could also be seen as a detriment to his adventurous, boyish personality. As siblings of opposite gender this can be seen as a typical occurrence at an innocent, immature age, but as you become older and more wise this relationship is seen as a valued association. Learning your position and value in a unit creates wisdom and honour which ultimately affects your opinions and perspective on all factors in your life. As children, this is neglected to be understood, however as Jem became wiser and more mature he learned that Scout was his responsibility and that she was ultimately his priority. We saw this displayed when Bob Ewell attacked the children as they were walking home from the Christmas Pageant; Jem disregarded his safety to ensure Scout’s well-being. Jem had learnt that his job relied on him caring for his sister and that she was his responsibility regardless of the situation he was put in. This shows his perspective being altered from being a carefree boy to an understanding, aware individual. Jem, while his personality was affected his perspective also shifted with knowledge of knowing where you stand.
Throughout this novel Jem became to appreciate the differences that everyone carries and that developing your own perspective is essential to looking past prejudice and gaining maturity. Learning that respect is a value that is advantageous, that keeping an open mind has its benefits and accepting and fulfilling your responsibilities show character, would bring every person from arrogance to maturity, it all depends on what perspective you choose to see the world in. With personality development also comes with a wiser, more mature perspective.
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