Why is Scout the narrator in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout is the narrator because having a child tell the story adds an element of interest and makes it a coming of age story.

Harper Lee used a child narrator because it allows for additional layers to the text.  The Scout that is telling the story is not the child Scout, but an adult version.  In this way, she can look back on how she felt as a child but also have the understanding of an adult.

Child narrators are known as unreliable narrators.  An unreliable narrator tells things from a slanted perspective.  We also consider narrators who are reflecting back over time unreliable.  Scout seems to have two marks against her.  However, as a narrator Scout is very entertaining.  She is humorous, precocious, and insightful.

Scout is the perfect narrator for this story because she is Atticus Finch’s daughter.  This gives her inside information on the trial, but also allows us to follow the Boo Radley plot line.  In many ways, Boo Radley is directly connected to the events of the trial.  In this way, it is good to have Scout narrating because as she grows up she comes to better understand Boo Radley.

Boo Radley is important because he rescued Scout and Jem.  This is related to the Tom Robinson trial because the reason the children were in danger was that Bob Ewell was angry at Atticus. If we had not had Scout’s perspective on Boo Radley as she was growing up, this incident would not be as meaningful.

Scout is the narrator instead of Jem because she is younger.  This makes her coming of age and growing consciousness more interesting.  For example, Scout is afraid of Boo Radley for most of the book.  After he saves them, she looks back at her life from his perspective.

Summer, and he watched his children’s heart break. Autumn again, and Boo’s children needed him.

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. (Ch. 31)

Scout is an excellent narrator because she is genuine.  She is not lying to the reader or trying to sugar-coat things.  The Tom Robinson case was the trial of the century for Maycomb.  Reading about it from the point of view of a young girl who happens to be the daughter of the lawyer is a great touch.