Prompt: Do We Need Other People in order to Understand Ourselves?
Humans are social creatures who mature and develop through interactions with others. When we connect with others, we grow a better understanding of ourselves. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist, Scout Finch, learns about the nature of humans, especially of herself through her socialization with her neighbours and family. Furthermore, Mahatma Gandhi states that it was through his involvement and experiences in South Africa that he learned about his own values and place in society.
Scout Finch, in the novel To Kill and Mockingbird by Harper Lee, experiences and perceives much of the events through an untainted and innocent lens. As the story progresses, she leaves behind childhood as she matures in her new found understanding of her place in this society. Through her interactions with her Aunt Alexandra, who is a stereotypical southern lady, she recognizes her own roles as a female, albeit she doesn’t quite agree with them. Without the presence of her aunt, Scout would not have acknowledged her feminine side. Furthermore, through her communications with Boo Radley, she understands her own ignorance and prejudice which she so emphatically detests. She naively believed all that was told to her about Boo Radley without bothering to verify the truths which causes her to misunderstand Boo Radley. Without the interplay between Boo Radley and her, she would not have been able to identify her own prejudice. Through her socialization with various characters in her life, she is able to piece together herself and form a rough identity.
This is similar to the story of Mahatma Gandhi who stated that his experiences in South Africa had greatly molded his understanding of his own placement and views of society. During Gandhi’s trip to South Africa, he faced discrimination and debasement of which he was unused to. He was thrown off of the train on his journey as he would not comply with the order for him to leave first class. Furthermore, hotels would not allow his entry due to the colour of his skin. He was suddenly more aware of the plight and the status of his race in the eyes of the British colonists. In his interactions with the locals and other scholars and reformers, he began to understand his own beliefs of independence and non-violent protestation through non-conformity. Also, as he gained adherents, he learned of his abilities in leadership and his charismatic personality. Without these interactions, Gandhi wouldn’t have understood and developed such strong beliefs as he did.
The importance of social interaction in the full development of people on a psychological point of view is essential. Through growth of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird and Gandhi’s furthered understanding of his own place and abilities, one can see that the importance of interactions with others is indubitable.