To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 26-27 Reflection

In To Kill a Mockingbird, as Scout matures she begins to develop empathy. For example, when thinking of Boo Radley, Scout "sometimes felt a twinge of remorse, when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheet torment to Arthur Radley" (242). This reveals how now that she looks back on what she, her brother, and Dill had done in the past Summers she regrets it. This also displays how Scout is becoming more empathetic because she put herself in Arthur's shoes and realized that what they had done was disrespectful. Furthermore, when Scout is still thinking of Arthur Radley she wonders "What reasonable recluse wants children peeping through his shutters, delivering greetings on the end of a fishing-pole, wandering through his collards at night" (242). This exemplifies how Scout is regretting her recipes actions and how it was a bit rude to do as she did in past Summers. This also goes how much Scout has matured throughout the story because she is empathizing with Arthur which she couldn't really do before. Throughout this novel, Scout becomes more empathetic as she matures.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows how Scout's character is maturing. For instance, when Scout is learning about Hitler, she asks Atticus "But it's okay to hate Hitler?" (246). This shows how Scout is trying to understand this situation because she knew Hitler did very bad things but was unsure of her feelings towards him. This also reveals Atticus' feelings because he says that it is not okay to hate anyone even though he doesn't approve of Hitler's actions. In addition, after upsetting Jem she "crept from Jem's room and shut the door softly, lest undue noise set him off again" (247). This displays how Scout wasn't trying to upset her brother but unfortunately she did. Also, it shows how Scout is not trying to cause trouble and does not want to disturb he brother because he had empathized with him and how he was angry which shows her maturation. The author expresses the development of empathy through Scout's character.