Cliche Representations Give Way to True Heroes in to Kill a Mockingbird

Cliché Representations Give Way to True Heroes
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
Christopher Reeve
Many are not born heroes, but become heroes through their interactions or accomplishments. Others, such as in the case of Scout Finch, are unaware of their hero position but slowly grow into it. Scout becomes the hero of To Kill a Mockingbird by the end of the novel through her attitudes, accepting nature, and ability to stand up for what she believes in.
Scout’s tolerant attitudes stem from many of her mentors- Atticus, Calpurnia, Jem and Miss Maudie. Many describe her as a child with an adult mind, and she often recognizes connections that others miss, such as the connection between her teacher’s blatant disgust for Hitler but racist notions of the colored population in Maycomb County. [“Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-” (pg. 331)] She combines a child’s perspective with the teachings of the valued adults around her and uses them to create a viewpoint that is all her own. “’Naw Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.’” (pg. 304)
At the beginning of the novel, Scout at first struggles with fighting and not minding her manners. Her attitudes toward characters such as Walter Cunningham are questionable- “’He made me start off on the wrong foot.’” (pg. 30)- and she is a is a bit startled by presences such as Dolphus Raymond and Boo Radley, but as the story continues she eases more and more into a state of acceptance and friendliness. Her transition to hero was made complete when she met Boo Radley and escorted him home. “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.” (pg. 374)
One of the most wonderful traits about Jean Louise Finch is that she often defends herself and her family without even realizing it. She breaks up a mob at the jail with a simple conversation, and rolls around in almost complete ignorance as Bob Ewell tries to kill her and Jem. "’Atticus, I wasn't scared.’ He raised his eyebrows, and I protested: "Leastways not till I started telling Mr. Tate about it. Jem wasn't scared. Asked him and he said he wasn't. Besides, nothin's real scary except in books.’” (pg. 375) Her charisma and childlike innocence make others realize their own faults, and bravery proves to be her strongest trait, even when she isn’t aware of using it.
As William Shakespeare once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” While she may not have saved the day, Scout achieved greatness and hero title through her attitudes, tolerance, and courage. The teachings of her loved ones help her formulate her own viewpoints and fit into her place as hero.