To Kill a Mockingbiord
Maycomb, a quiet, rural town in Alabama may appear to be uneventful for someone not acquainted with the town. Tragically, however, Maycomb is unexpectedly plagued with gossip, threats, and prejudice. Growing up in this environment, a young girl named Scout will either emerge from this situation with her conscience intact, or she will be hurt or destroyed. Harper Lee, the author of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, writes this story about a young girl named Scout who learns that although humanity has a great capacity for evil, it also has a great capacity for good. She learns that evil is often overcome if one approaches others with an outlook of sympathy and understanding. Scout’s encounter with a mob of angry men leads her to realize that through sympathy and understanding for other people, she can help them realize the mistakes they are making and lead them to become better people. In this scene, Scout helps her father contend with a mob of angry men. Scout talks to Mr. Cunningham, one of the angry men and displays an understanding for his feelings and point of view. While intriguing him with his own interests and showing him sympathy and compassion, Scout earns the trust of this man and saves her fathers life. Scouts father realizes her role in saving his life and says, “So it took an eight year old child to bring them to their senses … That proves something—that a gang of wild animals can be stopped simply because they are still human.” (132) By interacting with Mr.