"Determination" is when someone comes to a decision or becomes set on solving problems in a specific way. Thus, the way Scout solves problems is her determination. At the beginning of the book, Scout is rambunctious. She is quick to start fights with anyone who challenges her. Atticus, although a gentleman, is deliberate when he deals with and teaches Scout about how to change her behavior. He does not teach by violence, for example. He...
"Determination" is when someone comes to a decision or becomes set on solving problems in a specific way. Thus, the way Scout solves problems is her determination. At the beginning of the book, Scout is rambunctious. She is quick to start fights with anyone who challenges her. Atticus, although a gentleman, is deliberate when he deals with and teaches Scout about how to change her behavior. He does not teach by violence, for example. He calmly speaks to her and tries to convey his message in reasonable tones. One such incident includes Atticus allowing Scout to listen to him speak about her with Uncle Jack after she got in a fight with her cousin Francis.
"She's coming along, though. Jem's getting older and she follows his example a good bit now. All she needs is assistance sometimes. . . So far I've been able to get by with threats. . . She knows I know she tries. That's what makes the difference. What bothers me is that she and Jem will have to absorb some ugly things pretty soon. I'm not worried about Jem keeping his head, but Scout'd just as soon jump on someone as look at him if her pride's at stake" (88).
Clearly, Atticus knows his daughter very well. He knows that even though she has a few knee-jerk reactions, she is trying to improve. By the end of the book, Scout has learned to be more guarded with her reactions to people who challenge her pride. Scout learns to look at other people from their perspective and she discovers that people aren't always what they seem to be. She grows a woman's heart because she wants to invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner again; she becomes friends with Cecil Jacobs again; and, she learns to mind her manners in public rather than verbally exploding in public.
One of the best demonstrations of Scout practicing her manners in public is when she puts on a dress and attends a tea party with Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie at her house. The guests get to gossiping and saying racist things, but Scout keeps her cool.
"Aunt Alexandra looked across the room at me and smiled. She looked at a tray of cookies on the table and nodded at them. I carefully picked up the tray and watched myself walk to Mrs. Merriweather. With my best company manners, I asked her if she would have some.
After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I" (237).
By the end of the book Scout has put off most of her tomboy ways and learned manners, how to control her temper, and how to handle some very adult situations. Her determination for solve problems peacefully and without fighting greatly improves.
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