The Impact of the Minor Characters on the Major Characters in to Kill a Mocking Bird

324 Words2 Pages
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many minor characters which add richness to the text and aids development of the main character. In the novel, the protagonist, Atticus Finch, is a defence lawyer who is appointed to represent a black man, Tom Robinson, who is charged with raping a white woman. The novel is set during the 1930s in America, which was when segregation of blacks and whites was well manifested into the society of those days. A black person had no right to defend himself if accused of a crime by white men. The author depicted several minor characters which helped to build up and expose the personality of the text's protagonist, Atticus Finch and his two children who through their father and the characters surrounding them gain knowledge and maturity. Mrs Dubose has a vast affect on Jem From his encounter with her, He learns that there is more to people than just what they show on the surface. He also learns the value of self-control. Mrs. Dubose is rude and cantankerous, cruel to the children and openly and vehemently critical of Atticus's defense of Tom Robinson "Your father is no better than the n*ggers and trash he works for!". Jem hates her, and destroys her flowers in retaliation of her treatment of him and his family. When Atticus punishes Jem by making him read to Mrs. Dubose every day for a given period of time, Jem must discipline himself, bite his tongue, and be civil to the old lady. By learning to control his impulses and show kindness even though he may not necessarily feel it, Jem takes a giant step towards adulthood. He also discovers that Mrs. Dubose is in reality a woman of extreme courage, and he comes to respect her determined strength. Mrs. Dubose is battling morphine addiction, and facing the challenge with tremendous bravery and tenacious will

More about The Impact of the Minor Characters on the Major Characters in to Kill a Mocking Bird

Open Document