As long as stereotypes remain a part of society, justice cannot be maintained due to the biases and prejudices of these misconceptions. Specifically, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows the outcome of a racist and stereotyped society through the eyes of the young protagonist Jean Louise (Scout) Finch. As Scout matures, she begins to notice the myriad of flaws and imperfections within her society, and as a result, Scout's father, Atticus Finch, teaches her to look beyond an individual's outward appearance. Therefore, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee shows the physical consequences of stereotypes and how they limit, restrict, and govern the actions of human beings; ultimately, this shows the destructive nature of stereotypes that also impedes individual growth. The physical consequences of stereotypes are shown countless times throughout the novel. For those who don't comply, the consequences include control, isolation, and even death. When Atticus Finch decides to defend a black man, he is bombarded with criticism. Her grandson Francis said, "'...Grandma says it's bad enough to let you all run wild, but now that he's turned out to be a fucking lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He's ruining the family , that's what he's doing" (Lee 83). Due to Maycomb's intolerance for people of color, Atticus Finch is shunned by society. Furthermore, this control extends beyond Atticus himself and causes his family to face hardship; this is seen as Scout and Jem are mistreated by Maycomb's white community because they do not approve of their father's actions. Yet even more atrocious were the unjust actions towards Tom Robinson. “The State has not produced an ounce of medical evidence to support the effect that… half of the document… examples demonstrate how stereotypes discourage individual growth, as individuals are expected to act in a certain way: to conform to the stereotype. In conclusion, To Kill a Mockingbird shows how stereotypes are not only superfluous but also impractical. They cause pain to their victims while continuing to generate a community of closed-minded individuals. stereotypes will continue to govern the way humans live, both limiting and forcing individuals to act in certain ways. Certainly a world free of stereotypes would be ideal, but it is not realistic since tradition is not easily abolished. Therefore, the only real solution is to learn to get under someone else's skin and realize that there is always more than meets the eye Works Cited Lee, Harper. To kill a thrush. New York: Warner, 1982. Print.