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To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

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What quotes in To Kill A Mockingbird illustrate love between characters?

Boo and the kids: "Summer, and he watched his children's heart break. Autumn again, and Boo's children needed him." (Pg, 279)

Atticus and Jem: "He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning." (Pg. 281)

Dill and Scout: "They kiss you good night and good mornìn` and good-bye and tell you they love you - Scout lets get us a baby.`(Pg. 143)

Quick answer:

Quotes illustrating love between characters in To Kill a Mockingbird include Boo and the kids: "Summer, and he watched his children's heart break. Autumn again, and Boo's children needed him" (Pg. 279). Atticus and Jem: "He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning" (Pg. 281). Dill and Scout: "They kiss you good night and good mornìn` and good-bye and tell you they love you - Scout lets get us a baby" (Pg. 143).

Expert Answers

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1. In chapter 1, Scout is explaining her family's history and begins elaborating on her father's occupation as a lawyer. Scout then mentions,

During his first five years in Maycomb, Atticus practiced economy more than anything; for several years thereafter he invested his earnings in his brother’s education. (5)

The fact that Atticus invests in his brother's education by paying for him to go to medical school demonstrates Atticus's love for his younger brother.

2. In chapter 15, the Old Sarum bunch surrounds Atticus and Jem disobeys his father's orders to go home. Jem demonstrates his loyalty and love for Atticus by refusing to leave his father's side. After the Old Sarum bunch leaves and the Finch family heads home, Scout notices Atticus's loving gesture towards his son by saying,

Atticus and Jem were well ahead of us, and I assumed that Atticus was giving him hell for...

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not going home, but I was wrong. As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem’s hair, his one gesture of affection. (157)

3.Boo Radley demonstrates his love and affection for the Finch children by anonymously leaving them various gifts in the knothole of the oak tree in his yard. Boo knows that Jem and Scout appreciate the gifts he leaves, and this is his way of attempting to develop a friendship with the children. Scout recalls one of Boo's most cherished gifts by saying,

Our biggest prize appeared four days later. It was a pocket watch that wouldn’t run, on a chain with an aluminum knife. (62)

4. In chapter 24, Scout attends her Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle and is nervous to socialize with the ladies. Scout sits next to her close friend Miss Maudie, and the other ladies begin asking her questions that make her feel uncomfortable. Fortunately, Miss Maudie comforts and supports Scout by holding her hand tightly, which demonstrates Maudie's love and affection for her. Scout says,

Miss Maudie’s hand closed tightly on mine, and I said nothing. Its warmth was enough. (234)

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It looks like you have some excellent examples already, but here are a few others from To Kill a Mockingbird.

UNCLE JACK.  Everyone seemed to love Atticus' brother, the doctor from Boston.

    • Rose Aylmer was Uncle Jack's cat. She was a beautiful yellow female Uncle Jack said was one of the few women he could stand permanently.
    • I always thought it was funny when Uncle Jack pecked Atticus on the cheek; they were the only two men we ever saw kiss each other.
    • "I shall never marry, Atticus... I might have children."

MISS MAUDIE.  Maudie has a certain love for Jack, too, at least in a flirtatious sense. Each Christmas the two old friends trade insults and Jack always repeats his request for her to marry him, but Jack claims that he is only "trying to get Miss Maudie's goat."

    • "Call a little louder, Jack Finch, and they'll hear you at the post office, I haven't heard you yet."
    • She loved everything that grew in God's earth, even the weeds.

DILL &SCOUT.  Despite their youth, the two hope to marry some day--though Scout's violent streak may have eventually deterred Dill anyway. 

    • He had asked me earlier in the summer to marry him, then he promptly forgot about it. He staked me out, marked as his property, said I was the only girl he would ever love, then he neglected me. I beat him up twice but it did no good, he only grew closer to Jem.
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