Certainly Scout's narration in To Kill a Mockingbird offers many negative glimpses into the lives of the people of Maycomb, but the overall tone of the novel is overwhelmingly optimistic. Harper Lee injects the story with a humorous undercurrent through the innocent eyes of Scout, and despite the many serious and even tragic events that unfold, the reader is left with hopeful expectations for the future.
Scout and Jem are thrust into the adult world at an early age, but we know that their loss of innocence has not destroyed their love of life. Scout fondly retells the early accounts of her life, seemingly learning from each of her encounters. The final chapter details her new outlook of the world around her.
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.
... As I made my way home, I suddenly felt very old... I thought Jem and I would get grown but there wasn't much else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra.
The two Finch children have seen and learned plenty during the past few years. They have witnessed the evils of the adult world--death, racism, cruelty, violence--and they are ready to tackle what comes next.
"Atticus, I wasn't scared... Jem wasn't scared. Asked him and he said he wasn't. Besides, nothin's real scary except in books.
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