The complex characters of To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee's characters in To Kill A Mockingbird portray the difference between innocence and experience in the real world. Lee portrays innocence through the children Scout, Jem, and Dill. Experience is shown through characters like Atticus. Lee's characters all uniquely explain the cruel world through the eyes of a growing child.

The innocence of the book is portrayed by the characters Scout, Jim, and Dill. Scout is the main character and is as well the narrator. She portrays herself as smart for her age. She is taught to read and write from Atticus. She also acts more like a tomboy because she never had any woman in her live to teach her to act like a girl. She hates to wear skirts and dresses. She is also is very honest and can be rudely honest when she talks to people. She is insulted when her teacher said her father didn't teach her anything and she shouldn't read at home anymore. Also children treat her differently because of what they believe her father is doing something wrong. Many people also refelect on Scout their views of what they think about Atticus. When a boy calls her father a "nigger lover", she attacks him although she truly doesn't understand the meaning of it. Her character grows curious about why other treat her and her father differently. Through Atticus helps, she grows to understand better while she still has a touch of innocence left.

Jem is Scouts older brother who's character symbolizes bravery, but the rashness to judge people. He always tries to act brave like by touching the side of Boo Radley's house. He is loving to his family and is always their to help. He however is quick to judge people. He judged Mrs. Dubrose as a mean old lady. When she died, he really didn't care because she was so mean to his father, but when his father explains the truth behind Mrs. Dubose behavior, he realizes his mistake. This misjudgement can show as a lesson to all people to not judge people before you know the true story.

Dill is commonly portrayed as a childish reckless boy. His main goal is to get Boo Radley out of his house. He tortures Boo Radley along with Scout and Jim by playing Boo Radley games. This shows the same judgement that Jem showed. he automatically assumes that the rumors about Boo radley killing someone is true, but he doesn't try to see it through the eyes of Boo. This signifies that Harper Lee was trying to push the great lesson of knowing the truth before judging others. This also shows that everyone i=not just one person has the rashness to judge.It is just that the people won't admit it.

Atticus is portrayed as a single working dad working as a lawyer for both white and black in the South. This makes him very interesting character to analyze. He has had to raise two children on his own with the help of a maid because his wife died. He also works as a lawyer and takes clients no matter their skin color. His work is a big controversy in the book. Some people believe he is a hero for helping the blacks while other believe he is doing horrible things protecting blacks. He believes that everyone should be treated equally because we never know unless we ask for the truth. he always try to see the best in people. He sees the best in Ms. Caroline, Mrs. Dubose, even the Cunningham's because he knows he can never know what they have been going through unless he has "been in their skin and walked around in it." His experiences in life help teach Scout and jem to learn to become better men. Also to give him opportunities he never had. He never went to school, so he sent his kids to school knowing they would get a better education the what he would give them by himself. He just wants his children to be better people and have them be people that never judge anyone because of skin color, background, etc. he is teaching the =m morals that usually weren't shown in the 1930's, where the story takes place. In conclusion, Atticus' experience and the children's innocence help make To Kill A Mockingbird a story about the growth of innocence and and how experience helps shape the world of equality for all men.