42
2. Respectful
Based on Murphy‘s ―speech‖, one on the techniques to describe the characters in the novel, it is seen that the second Scout‘s character is being
respectful. The author gives a clue that Scout is a respectful girl. Once, there is an incident at Scout‘s class that involved her classmate, Walter Cunningham. Scout
knows well about the poor family background of the Cunningham‘s. In one lunch
time, Miss Caroline, her teacher, offers Walter money for buying his lunch. But Walter is in trouble to refuse it. Thus, Scout helps him out to speak up to Miss
Caroline. However, Miss Caroline does not approve the way of Scout ‘s speaking
about the Cunningham‘s. It results a punishment for Scout since she has annoyed
her teacher. I knew I had annoyed Miss Caroline, so I let well enough alone and stared
out the window until recess when Jem cut me from the covey of first- graders in the schoolyard. He asked how I was getting along. I told him.
―If I didn‘t have to stay I‘d leave. Jem, that damn lady says Atticus‘s been teaching me to read and for him to stop it-
‖ p.20. Scout understands that what she has done to help Walter is not approved by Miss
Caroline. As a result, she is punished to stare out the window. She realizes that it is an embarrassing moment for her that makes her wants to flee from that place.
But Scout keeps following her teacher‘s order and finishes her punishment. This clue shows that Scout is a respectful girl. Scout knows that a teacher or an adult
must be respected since the Finch is taught as an honorable man. It can be proven from the statement
―As it was, we were compelled to hold our heads high and be, respectively, a gentleman and a lady.‖ p.279. Therefore, Scout‘s father, Atticus,
never lets his children to behave rudely, or even to have fight with their friends.
43 ―You can just take that back, boy‖
This order, given by me to Cecil Jacobs, was the beginning of a rather thin time for Jem and me. My fists were clenched and I was ready to let fly.
Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting anymore; I was far too old and too big for such childish things,
and the sooner I learned to hold in, the better off everybody would be. I soon forgot p.85.
Atticus orders Scout not to fight with Cecil Jacobs, her schoolmate although he has annoyed Scout. She respects her father and listens to what he orders to her
although her pride is torn away. I drew a bead on him, remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped
my fists and walked away, ―Scout‘s a cow—ward‖ ringing in my ears. It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought
Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him p.87.
Avoiding a fight is not Scout‘s style. However, she knows well that if she has a fight this time, she will upset her father, Atticus. Since she really respects her
father, she follows Atticus‘ order to walk away from a fight.
3. High-tempered
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