Can you provide quotes showing Scout's innocence in To Kill A Mockingbird?

In chapter 8, Maycomb experiences extremely cold weather, and Scout wakes up to see snow falling from the sky. Scout displays her childhood innocence by saying, "The world’s endin‘, Atticus! Please do something—!" (Lee 66). Scout has never seen snow before and is terrified to the point that she actually believes that the world is ending.

In chapter 9, Scout attends her family gathering at Finch's Landing, where she interacts with her racist, arrogant cousin, Francis Hancock. Francis Hancock ends up offending Scout by calling her father a "nigger-lover," and Scout ends up punching him in the face despite the fact that she does not know the definition of the racial slur. Later on, Scout illustrates her childhood innocence by explaining to her uncle why she punched Francis. Scout says,

A nigger-lover. I ain’t very sure what it means, but the way Francis said it—tell you one thing right now, Uncle Jack, I’ll be—I swear before God if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin‘ about Atticus (Lee 89).

In chapter 14, Dill runs away from home and hides underneath Scout's bed. Atticus allows Dill to spend the night, and Scout and Dill then have a conversation before they go to bed regarding why he ran away. The conversation ends with the two children talking about the possibility of having a baby. Scout once again illustrates her innocence by attempting to explain to Dill where babies come from. Scout tells Dill,

Aunty said God drops ‘em down the chimney. At least that’s what I think she said (Lee 145).

Can you provide quotes showing Scout's innocence in To Kill A Mockingbird?

There are many places in the novel that show that Scout is young and innocent. Let me give you three quotes.

First, as we begin the novel, we see that Scout and Jem are both young and innocent. In a short passage Scout talks about her boundaries. She was allowed to go around their neighborhood and no further. This shows that they have a small world, which underlines their innocence.

When I was almost six and Jem was nearly ten, our summertime boundaries (within calling distance of Calpurnia) were Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose’s house two doors to the north of us, and the Radley Place three doors to the south. We were never tempted to break them.

Second, when the trial is about to start, there is talk about Tom Robinson and his accused crime of rape. Scout has little understanding of what the crime of rape is. At one point, she asks Calpurnia about rape.

“Well, if everybody in Maycomb knows what kind of folks the Ewells are they’d be glad to hire Helen... what’s rape, Cal?”

One the best passages that underlines Scout’s innocence is her interaction with Mr. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham and a few other men come to harm Tom Robinson, and they are even willing to harm Atticus. When Scout sees this, she has no clue what is happening and she engages Mr. Cunningham in a conversation. She talk about school and other mundane things. In fact, her innocence is what defused the potential violence.

 Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I’m Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts one time, remember?” I began to sense the futility one feels when unacknowledged by a chance acquaintance.

“I go to school with Walter,” I began again. “He’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir?”

Mr. Cunningham was moved to a faint nod. He did know me, after all.

“He’s in my grade,” I said, “and he does right well. He’s a good boy,” I added, “a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time but he was real nice about it. Tell him hey for me, won’t you?”

What quote from To Kill a Mockingbird shows Scout's youth and innocence?

There are numerous scenes throughout the novel that demonstrate Scout's youth and innocence. In chapter 2, for example, Miss Caroline criticizes Scout for her ability to read, and Scout denies that Atticus taught her how to read. Scout reveals her innocence and youth by telling her teacher that she was born with the ability to read, saying,

Jem says I was. He read in a book where I was a Bullfinch instead of a Finch. Jem says my name’s really Jean Louise Bullfinch, that I got swapped when I was born . . . (Lee, 17)

The fact that Scout genuinely believes her brother's fantastical story regarding her ability to read demonstrates her innocence.

Scout is also a curious girl. She continually demonstrates her innocence and youth by inquiring about explicit subjects and terms. In chapter 9, Scout asks her Uncle Jack, "What’s a whore-lady?" (Lee, 89). In chapter eleven, Scout asks her father, "Atticus . . . what exactly is a nigger-lover?" (Lee, 112). In chapter 14, Scout asks her father, "What’s rape?" (Lee, 136).

Another memorable moment that reveals Scout's youth and innocence takes place in chapter 15, when she unknowingly runs out into the middle of a lynch mob. Scout has no idea that she has entered such a serious, dangerous situation and attempts to make small talk with Mr. Cunningham, who is the leader of the lynch mob. Scout does not understand why Mr. Cunningham is ignoring her and demonstrates her naivety by mentioning,

Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in. Mr. Cunningham displayed no interest in his son, so I tackled his entailment once more in a last-ditch effort to make him feel at home. (Lee, 155)

What quote from To Kill a Mockingbird shows Scout's youth and innocence?

Atticus tells Scout that "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Scout is unsure of his meaning, and asks Miss Maudie. "Your father's right," she says. "Mockingbirds [only] sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Chapter 10)

Scout still doesn't understand what Maudie and Atticus mean. This is a demonstration of her innocence and youth. It isn't until the final chapter of the novel, when she is saved by Boo Radley, that Scout understands. Tate and Atticus agree to the lie that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife, and Scout observes that allowing the town to gain this intimate knowledge of Boo would be akin to killing a mockingbird.

What are three quotes concerning coming of age in To Kill a Mockingbird?

At the beginning of part 2 of the novel, Scout sees that Jem is beginning to change. She states,

Overnight, it seemed, Jem had acquired an alien set of values and was trying to impose them on me: several times he went so far as to tell me what to do.

This reflects Jem entering adolescence or beginning to come of age. He now is beginning to think of himself as an adult and Scout as a child rather than of himself as just her older brother.

When Scout goes to Calpurnia in distress about the changes that have come over Jem, Calpurnia confirms he is maturing, saying,

I just can't help it if Mister Jem's growin' up. He's gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin' whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome.

Jem's entry into adolescence coincides with the Tom Robinson trial. Because he sees white adults in his community acting badly about the trial, such as convicting Tom despite all the evidence that shows he is innocent, Jem takes the outcome very hard. When he reacts harshly to Scout questioning him about racial hypocrisy and refuses to answer her, she goes to Atticus. He explains to her that while Jem is going through the process of coming of age, there are certain things he won't want to deal with, such as the town's racism, until he is a little older. In the meantime, he will be difficult:

Atticus said that Jem was trying hard to forget something, but what he was really doing was storing it away for a while, until enough time passed. Then he would be able to think about it and sort things out. When he was able to think about it, Jem would be himself again.

Both children mature over the course of the novel. Evidence of Scout's maturity comes at the end of the novel when she stands on Boo Radley's porch and is able to see the world through his eyes for the first time. She comes to understand that

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.

What are three quotes concerning coming of age in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The ultimate tomboy, Scout discovers her feminine side when she meets Dill Harris, and they soon become intimate, even spending an innocent night together sharing her bed. But when Scout discovers that Dill won't be coming to Maycomb for the summer, she is "crushed."

The fact that I had a permanent fiance was little compensation for his absence: I had never thought about it, but summer was Dill... summer was the swiftness with which Dill would reach up and kiss me when Jem was not looking, the longings we sometimes felt each other feel. With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.

Scout is constantly harrassed by her Aunt Alexandra about her need to act more ladylike. When she is invited to attend the Missionary Circle tea, Scout dresses in her Sunday best, but the women make several jokes at her expense, especially concerning the whereabouts of her overalls. By the end of the afternoon, Scout realizes that many of these Christian women could use some lessons in etiquette themselves. After Atticus brings the news about Tom's death, she watches how Miss Maudie and Alexandra recompose themselves and go on with the business of serving refreshments. Scout is impressed: It is a real breakthrough and she realizes

... if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.

Scout's fantasies about Boo Radley finally come true at the end of the novel. She sees him in the flesh, makes small talk with him on the porch swing, and then walks him back to his house. It's another step in the process of becoming a lady.

... if Miss Stephanie Crawford was watching from her upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would do.

What are three quotes that show childhood innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird?

1. In chapter 2, Scout is having a rough first day of school and meets up with Jem on the playground to vent about her terrible day. Jem attempts to comfort Scout by telling her,

"Our teacher says Miss Caroline’s introducing a new way of teaching. She learned about it in college. It’ll be in all the grades soon. You don’t have to learn much out of books that way—it’s like if you wanta learn about cows, you go milk one, see?" (Lee, 18).

When Scout responds by saying that she is not interested in cows, Jem displays his childhood innocence by saying,

"I’m just trying to tell you the new way they’re teachin' the first grade, stubborn. It’s the Dewey Decimal System" (Lee, 18).

Clearly, Jem has no idea what the Dewey Decimal System is and assumes that it has to do with Miss Caroline's experimental teaching style.

2. After the children attend their first Sunday service at First Purchase African M. E. Church, Scout asks Calpurnia several questions concerning the Tom Robinson case. Scout displays her childhood innocence by saying,

"Well, if everybody in Maycomb knows what kind of folks the Ewells are they’d be glad to hire Helen . . . what’s rape, Cal?" (Lee, 125).

Calpurnia avoids answering Scout's difficult question by saying,

"It’s somethin' you’ll have to ask Mr. Finch about . . . He can explain it better than I can" (Lee, 125).

3. In chapter 21, Jem and the children return to the court as the jury is deliberating, and Jem reveals his childhood innocence by telling Reverend Sykes,

"He’s not supposed to lean, Reverend, but don’t fret, we’ve won it,” he said wisely. “Don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard—” “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr. Jem, I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man . . .” But Jem took exception to Reverend Sykes, and we were subjected to a lengthy review of the evidence . . .

Jem does not factor racial prejudice into the case and naively believes that the white jury will acquit Tom Robinson. Despite Reverend Sykes's warnings about being overconfident, Jem remains adamant that Atticus will win the case.

What are three quotes that show childhood innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird?

1.  Towards the end of chapter 15, when the angry mob comes to the jail to harm Tom Robinson, Scout and Jem happen to be there.  Scout, being a child, doesn't understand the full extent of the dangerous situation.  In her innocence, she recognizes Mr. Cunningham as one of the men there, and asks innocently,

"Hey Mr. Cunningham.  How's your entailment gettin' along?...I go to school with Walter...and he does right well.  He's a good boy."

She is casually making conversation with a man who has come to injure and possibly kill an innocent black man.  She doesn't quite understand the situation.  And, she is confused as to why he isn't responding to her, or being kind.  She narrates,

"Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in...So I tackled his entailment once more in a last-ditch effort to make him feel at home...I was slowly drying up, wondering what idiocy I had committed...'What's the matter?' I asked."

She feels awkward that everyone is just staring at her, and innocently asks them what is going on.  This instance of childhood innocence saves the day; it forces Mr. Cunningham to act as a decent, human being instead of an angry mobster.  He takes the mob and leaves--Scout's innocence put a face on the mean thing these men were going to to, and gave them a perspective check.

2.  In chapter 12, after Scout and Jem go to Cal's church, Scout is amazed at the fact that Calpurnia has a life outside of the one that she lives with them.  In her childhood innocence, she doesn't realize that Cal doesn't belong only to their lives, and has other situations going on. Kids are very self-focused, and understand the world only as it relates to them.  She states,

"That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me.  The idea that she and a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages."

3.  Scout asks question after question that reflects her naivety and innocence.  One is that she asks Cal, "What's rape?"  Another one is when she asks,

"Cal,...why do you talk nigger-talk to the--your folks when you know it's not right?"

Another is when Walter is pouring syrup on his food, she states,

"he would probably have poured it into his milk class had I not asked what the sam hill he was doing."

All of these questions reflect a childhood's innocent nature, one who doesn't know more adult and mature things in the world.

I hope that these thoughts help a bit; good luck!

What are three quotes from Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird?

To Kill A Mockingbird involves the maturation of the two Finch children, Jem and Scout. By looking at several quotations of Jem's, we can see how his character evolves and grows up throughout this novel.

One of the first times we see Jem stand up for himself and his family occurs in chapter 11. In response to Mrs. Dubose insulting Atticus for his defense of Tom Robinson, Jem can't help but respond even though Atticus had specifically instructed his son not to respond to the old woman's insults; Jem's pride won't allow him to take it on the chin. At this point in the novel, we can see that Jem is developing an identity of his own, but he still has a lot of growing up to do. Later, when Jem arrives at Mrs. Dubose's house to read to her as part of his punishment for losing his cool and destroying her flowers, Mrs. Dubose takes the opportunity to insult Scout's appearance. Despite the fearful shaking of his knees, which doesn't go unnoticed by Scout, Jem replies that

My sister ain't dirty and I ain't scared of you.

In chapter 23, we see just how much Jem is concerned with the influence of racism on the legal system. Jem and Atticus discuss this to great length and Jem grapples with some tough concepts. This is illustrated when he says that,

No sir, they oughta do away with juries. He wasn't guilty in the first place and they said he was.

At the start of chapter 25, Jem stops his sister from killing a roly-poly bug. Scout asks him why and he responds by saying,

Because they don't bother you.

This short reply illustrates that Jem has taken Atticus's message about killing innocent creatures, such as mockingbirds, to heart. Scout reckons that Jem is just going through a phase, yet it seems to the reader that Jem is maturing into a thoughtful and compassionate man, much like his father.

What are three quotes from Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird?

I like this quote from chapter 3 where Jem invites Walter Cunningham home for lunch after Scout beats him up. It shows Jem's kind heart and his maturing:

Jem said, "Our daddy's a friend of your daddy's. Scout here, she's crazy-she won't fight  you any more."

After the trial and Tom is found guilty, Jem struggles to understand how the people of Maycomb could have done such a terrible thing. This quote shows the pain Jem experiences as he continues to mature and realize the adult world is not what he thought it was:

"It's like bein' a caterpillar in a cocoon, that's what it is," he said. "Like somethin' asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that's what they seemed like."

He is talking to Scout and Miss Maudie. This is from chapter 22.

In chapter 23, there is another cool quote that Jem says when he is trying to comfort Scout and convince her that Aunt Alexandra doesn't really hate her. They are trying to figure out what she means about their family, how their family is different from the Cunninghams, etc.:

"That's what I thought, too," he said at last, "when I was your age. If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time . . . it's because he wants to stay inside."

It shows that both Scout and Jem are learning the hard lessons of life.

What quotes portray Tom's innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird?

During the defense portion of Tom Robinson’s trial, Atticus Finch elicits information from the witnesses that is designed to demonstrate Robinson’s good character. He hopes that this background information will favorably influence the opinions of at least one juror, which would make it impossible for them to achieve unanimous consensus of guilt. However, this type of information is irrelevant to Robinson’s guilt of rape, the crime of which he is accused.

One problem that Finch must confront is that he is primarily dealing with a “he said–she said” situation: the case relies on the words of the accused and the accuser. However, Bob Ewell claims that he witnessed the rape. Finch does what he can to challenge Ewell’s ability to see what occurred. Although this is not proof, it casts doubt on his testimony overall, especially on his identification of Robinson. Finch focuses on Ewell’s description of Mayella’s injuries, as compared with that of Sheriff Tate.

“Mr. Tate testified that her right eye was blackened, that she was beaten around the—“

“Oh, yeah,” said the witness. “I hold with everything Tate said.”

In the 1930s, medical examinations in sexual assault cases were not routinely done, and DNA evidence had yet not come into use. Trying to find physical evidence that could exclude Robinson, Finch focuses on Mayella’s explanation of the physical aspect of the assault. He questions her about the details and then asks her to point out the alleged rapist. When Robinson stands up, it is clear that his left arm is not fully functional.

His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. I [Scout] could see that it was no use to him.

Finch presses Mayella for clarification, expecting others will infer that a right-handed man could not have inflicted a blow on her left eye.

He blacked your left eye with his right first?

Although she hesitates at first, she then states emphatically, “I said he hit me.” Atticus, however, suggests that it was her father, not Tom, who did so.

What quotes portray Tom's innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird?

As a poor man who has probably lived all his life in the Quarters on the other side of the tracks, Tom Robinson is a guileless and kind-hearted man. Unfortunately, Mayella Ewell makes this innocent man the scapegoat for her scandalous behavior.

Because the Ewells live near the end of Maycomb, Tom Robinson passes their shack each day as he walks to and from the fields belonging to Link Deas where he works. So, when he notices the poor Mayella Ewell having to play the role of mother and having no one to help her, Tom performs some tasks for her. After describing the time he broke down a chiffarobe for Mayella with a hatchet that she handed him, Atticus asks Tom, "Did you ever go on the place again?" Tom innocently responds, "Well, I went lots of times." This statement causes a murmur from the crowd. Nevertheless, Tom continues to respond candidly. When Mayella had some little things that needed fixing, Tom kindly fixed them.

Further, Mayella called him inside her house at another time. While Tom sensed that there did not seem to be anyone else around, he did not suspect anything on Mayella's part; however, Mayella put her arms around him. Tom resisted. In fact, he was frightened. After Bob Ewell arrived and cursed his daughter, Tom ran. When Atticus asks him why he ran, Tom replies without guile, saying Mr. Finch would run, too, if he were black like him. Perhaps his most incriminating words come from those he expresses without any guile when asked by Mr. Gilmer about why he helped Mayella:

"You're a mighty good fellow, it seems--did all this for not one penny?
"Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of   'em--"
"You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" (Ch.19)

In the Jim Crow South, no black person should feel sorry for a white person. It just is not their place to do so.

What are three quotes of Atticus's sense of justice in To Kill a Mockingbird?

RACIAL JUSTICE.  When it comes to the races, Atticus is color-blind. Altough he realizes that he cannot win the Tom Robinson case, he is able to present enough evidence that would free Tom had the jury not been biased against his client. As Scout reminds Dolphus Raymond,

     "Atticus says cheatin' a colored man is ten times worse than cheatin' a white man... Says it's the worst thing you can do."  (Chapter 20)

WOMEN'S RIGHTS.  Atticus knows that things might have been different if Miss Maudie had been able to serve on the jury. He has to explain to Jem that in Alabama, women cannot serve on juries (in 1935). Jem is "indignant," and Atticus jokingly tells him that

"I guess it's to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom's. Besides... I doubt if we'd ever get a complete case tried--the ladies'd be interrupting to ask questions."  (Chapter 23)

BOB'S DEATH.  Following the attack on his children by Bob Ewell, a confused Atticus makes it clear that he will not allow Sheriff Tate to protect Jem (who Atticus mistakenly believes killed Bob) by falsely claiming that Bob Ewell "fell on his knife."

"... nobody's hushing this up. I don't live that way... I don't want my boy starting out with something like this over his head. Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open... I don't want him growing up with a whisper about him, I don't want anybody saying, 'Jem Finch, his daddy paid a mint to get him out of that..."  (Chapter 30)

In To Kill a Mockingbird, which quotes represent characters' innocence?

Throughout the majority of the novel, Scout's innocence is depicted in her inability to understand certain derogatory phrases and adult concepts. Scout's innocence is also portrayed in the fact that she believes everything Jem says. Some of Scout's most explicit questions include:

"What exactly is a nigger-lover?" (Lee 67).

"What’s rape?" (Lee 84).

In Chapter 2, Miss Caroline tells Scout that somebody had to have taught her how to read because she wasn't born with the ability to read. Scout responds by saying,

"Jem says I was. He read in a book where I was a Bullfinch instead of a Finch. Jem says my name’s really Jean Louise Bullfinch, that I got swapped when I was born and I’m really a—" (Lee 12).

Scout believes her older brother's ridiculous story and actually thinks that she was born knowing how to read.

Jem is also depicted as being innocent throughout the majority of the novel. In Chapter 7, Jem explains to Scout what he is learning in the sixth grade. Scout mentions,

"he went through a brief Egyptian Period that baffled me—he tried to walk flat a great deal, sticking one arm in front of him and one in back of him, putting one foot behind the other. He declared Egyptians walked that way; I said if they did I didn’t see how they got anything done, but Jem said they accomplished more than the Americans ever did, they invented toilet paper and perpetual embalming, and asked where would we be today if they hadn’t?" (Lee 37).

Jem's belief that Egyptian art was an accurate depiction of how they walked portrays his childhood innocence.

Another significant moment that depicts Jem's innocence takes place during Tom's trial. In Chapter 21, Jem comments

"He’s not supposed to lean, Reverend, but don’t fret, we’ve won it...Don’t see how any jury could convict on what we heard—" (Lee 128).

Jem doesn't take into consideration the fact that the jury is racist, and their prejudice will prevent justice from being administered. Following Tom's verdict, Jem, Scout, and Dill lose their childhood innocence after witnessing racial injustice.

Dill, Jem and Scout's best friend, is also considered innocent throughout the novel. In Chapter 14, he tells Scout that they should have a baby. Scout wonders where they would get a baby and mentions,

"There was a man Dill had heard of who had a boat that he rowed across to a foggy island where all these babies were; you could order one—" (Lee 88).

Dill's belief that babies come from a mysterious foggy island where people can order them depicts his childhood innocence.

Arthur "Boo" Radley is another innocent character. He is Maycomb's most reclusive citizen, and when he saves Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell, Sheriff Tate refuses to disclose his heroics to the community. Tate says,

"To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me, that’s a sin. It’s a sin and I’m not about to have it on my head. If it was any other man it’d be different" (Lee 169).

What are the most significant quotes in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are many significant quotes throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The following quotes are important to the plot and theme of the novel.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view---" (Lee 39)

An important theme throughout the novel is gaining insight into other people's point of view. Atticus teaches Scout about perspective when she returns home from her first day of school.

"Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down." (Lee 102)

This quote portrays Scout's moral development. She is cognizant that her actions have consequences and does not want to upset her father. This quote portrays how Scout looks up to Atticus and values his opinion.

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Lee 119)

Another important theme throughout the novel is the importance of treating innocent beings with respect and kindness. Mockingbirds symbolize innocent humans such as Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Atticus teaches his children that it is a sin to harm innocent beings.

"nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything---like snot-nose. It's hard to explain---ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody." (Lee 144)

This quote depicts Atticus explaining to Scout what the racial slur "nigger-lover" means. Throughout the novel, Scout and Jem are subjected to racial slurs directed towards their father. Atticus teaches his children the importance of responding to ignorant remarks with tolerance instead of hate.

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that real courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." (Lee 149)

Following Scout and Jem's interaction with Mrs. Dubose, Atticus explains why he wanted Jem to read to her. He explains to them what real courage is, which parallels his choice to defend Tom Robinson in the midst of a prejudiced community.

"No, everybody's gotta learn, nobody's born knowin'. That Walter's as smart as he can be, he just gets held back sometimes because he has to stay out and help his daddy. Nothin's wrong with him. Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks: Folks." (304)

This quote depicts Scout's moral development. She is not jaded about humanity the way her brother is following Tom's conviction. Scout has learned from her father that all people are created equal, despite what others think.

"He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad." (Lee 373)

Scout finally realizes that Boo Radley is a caring, shy individual. This moment depicts her understanding and displays her maturation at the end of the novel.

What are some quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird to back up the theme of protection of innocence?

The novel includes several instances of the protection of innocence. Here are three:

1. When Tom is moved to the Maycomb jail, Atticus sits outside to wait for the lynch mob. When they show up, they tell him that they sent Sheriff Tate into the woods on a "snipe hunt," which makes Atticus realize that he's standing alone against a lynch mob. Scout goes to him, followed by Jem and Dill. Atticus stands up and says, "Go home, Jem.... Take Scout and Dill home" (172). When Jem doesn't move--a highly unusual choice on his part--one of the men try to manhandle Jem and Scout kicks him. One of the men, mostly strangers to Scout, says to Atticus, "All right, Mr. Finch, get 'em outa here.... You got fifteen seconds to get 'em outa here" (173). Although the men are there to lynch an innocent man, they do not want the children to be there for it, to be corrupted or traumatized by the event. 

2. Atticus's defense of Tom Robinson, the main action of the book, is protection of innocence. Atticus knows he cannot win, even before the trial begins, but he does his best anyway. However, "in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed."

3. After the trial, which Atticus loses even though he proves the innocence of his client and guilt of Mayella's father, Bob, Bob waits until the fall pageant to take revenge by attacking the Finch children. In the confusion, he is killed, stabbed with a kitchen knife. When Atticus, who believes Jem stabbed Ewell, argues that he will not cover it up, the sheriff eventually turns on him and says, "God damn it, I'm not thinking of Jem!" (315). He insists Jem is innocent and Ewell fell on his knife. As it becomes clear that Boo stabbed Ewell to protect the children, Tate says:

I never heard tell that it's against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did, but maybe you'll say it's my duty to tell the town all about it and not hush it up. Know what'd happen then? All the ladies in Maycomb includin' my wife'd be knocking on his door bringing angel food cakes. To my way of thinkin', Mr. Finch, taking the one man who's done you and this town a great service an' draggin' him with his shy ways into the limelight--to me, that's a sin." (317)

What are some quotes that support the theme "It's a sin to hurt an innocent person" in To Kill a Mockingbird? 

There are a number of places where this theme occurs. 

First, the title of the book comes from the words of Atticus who says that it is sin to kill a mockingbird.  He says these words in the context of Jem and Scout getting air guns.  Atticus says that they should never shoot mockingbirds.  Jem and Scout are perplexed. So, Scout asks Ms. Maudie. Ms. Maudie explains that Atticus right, because mockingbirds only do good. Here is the excerpt:

“Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

To be sure, these words do not speak directly of the evils of hurting innocent people, but the lesson is there and develops.

Second, in a stern conversation between Atticus and Jem, Atticus says that when a white man harms a black man, the white man is trash.  These words come in the context of the trial of Tom Robinson, where people are harming an innocent man – Tom Robinson. Here are the words:

As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it— whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.”

Finally, arguably the strongest words on this topic come during the trial. Atticus says that he pities Mayella, but his pity does not extend as far as harming an innocent man. Here are the words of Atticus:

“I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake, which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt.”

What are three quotes about Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird?

One of my favorite quotes concerning Scout comes following the attack by Bob Ewell on Halloween night. As Jem is being tended to by the doctor, Aunt Alexandra turns her often dormant mothering instincts toward Scout. Instead of grilling Scout about what happened on the way home from the pageant, Alexandra

... brought me something to put on, and had I thought about it then, I would have never let her forget it: in her distraction, Aunty brought me my overalls. "Put these on, darling," she said, handing me the garments she most despised.

Scout's Uncle Jack felt guilty after having spanked Scout for beating up on her cousin Francis during a Christmas visit to Finch's Landing. He apologized to Atticus and kept his promise to Scout, not telling his brother what the fight was about.

"Her use of the bathroom invective leaves nothing to the imagination. But she doesn't know the meaning of half she says--she asked me what a whore-lady was..."

At the beginning of Chapter 12, Scout notices a change in Jem, who is growing into adolescence. In a fit of irritability, Jem tells Scout,

"It's time you started bein' a girl and acting right!"

What are some quotes and their significance in To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are other quotes, less well-known, perhaps, but certainly as significant in To Kill a Mockingbird. 

• One of these quotes is that of Atticus, who tells the children about Mrs. Dubose after she dies; he describes her as a true hero, telling the children,

"Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."

• Ironically, Atticus exemplifies courage himself as he defines it when he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, for he knows that he will probably lose the case before he begins.  However, as he tells his brother before the trial, he must take the case in order to prevent his children from "catching Maycomb's usual disease."
• After the trial, Atticus's sister is very disappointed with the citizenry of Maycomb, and the "secret courts of men's hearts" that had Tom Robinson condemned before his trial even began. But, Miss Maudie consoles her by telling Alexandra the town does respect Atticus,

"Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we’re paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It’s that simple.”

• Still another quote that carries much meaning is the poignant comment of Mr. Dolphus Raymond after he witnesses the affect of the trial upon Dill. He tells Jem and Scout that Dill will not cry after being struck by the wrongness of things.  Scout and Jem asks him what he means, and he tells them that Dill will not

“Cry about the simple hell people give other people — without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too.”

• Finally, the quote that ties together the ending narrative with Atticus's beginning admonition to Scout to "walk around" in people's skins and view things from their perspectives in order to understand them is Scout's observations when she stands on the Radley porch in Chapter 31:

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.

Certainly, the most significant passages of Harper Lee's novel are ones that further the motif of maturation as Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a bildungsroman. This maturation is achieved from lessons in altruism and understanding of what motivates human beings.

What are some important quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Here are some significant quotes from the book.

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. (ch 1)

This quote describes the town using personification.  This is important because the town is a character in the story.  It is old and set in its ways.

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” Atticus said. (ch 9)

Atticus describes his attempt to win the trial this way.  It is interesting because Atticus knows he is going to lose the trial, because of the racism set dead against him.  However, he still is willing to try the case and give it everything he’s got because it’s the right thing to do.

Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (ch 10)

This famous quote is where the book got its name from.  It shows that innocence should be protected, even though it will always be a target.

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.  Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” (ch 11)

This statement from Atticus to Jem demonstrates one of the main themes of the book: the importance of mental courage.  Courage comes in all forms, and mental courage, including fighting oneself, is the strongest and most important kind.

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)

This quote is significant because it shows that Scout has grown up.  She now understand empathy, and can look at the world from Boo Radley’s perspective.

What are some important quotes that come from Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus Finch is one of the most memorable characters in literature.  The way he lives his life, and the lessons he teaches, are so important we never forget them.

The first important thing that Atticus says is to Scout, when she is having trouble understanding why her teacher is mean to her.  He teaches Scout a “simple trick” for getting along better with people.

" You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view …-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (ch 2)

Atticus is talking about empathy.  Empathy is understanding other people, and where they come from.  We can never really understand a person until we try to look at things from that person’s perspective.

Another important pearl of wisdom from Atticus is about courage.

I wanted you to see what real courage is… It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (ch 11)

Atticus tells Jem and Scout that Mrs. Dubose is a model of courage because she died on her own terms, not addicted to morphine.  She was able to be strong enough and brave enough to wean herself off the drug.  Atticus wants his children to learn that you have to be strong mentally as well as physically.

When Atticus is presenting his case to the jury, he says some wise things in closing arguments.  He tells the jury that there is no difference between a negro and a white man, and the assumptions about Tom Robinson are wrong.

Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up. (ch 20)

Atticus makes a strong speech to the jury about all men being created equal, and the duty of them men on the jury to live up to those words.  In a way, they do.  They deliberate longer than anyone thought they would have before finding Tom Robinson guilty. 

What is a good thesis statement about To Kill a Mockingbird with the theme of protecting the innocent?

When students are struggling to find a thesis statement for an argumentative or position paper, they are likely also struggling to envision what the body paragraphs will contain. Therefore, I often instruct such students to try to craft a thesis statement that provides the key points they plan to make in 3 body paragraphs, lending the outline for the paper.

A possible thesis statement following the parameters you've provided could be this:

In various plot developments, Scout, Tom Robinson, and Arthur "Boo" Radley show that innocence is a worthy value and one worth protecting.

In three paragraphs that follow, you could take each character individually and demonstrate how this is established through each character's conflicts.

Scout innocently tried to explain the world of Maycomb to her young and inexperienced teacher—and received a reprimand because of it. Atticus smooths things over and promises that they can keep reading together as long as she doesn't mention it to her teacher. At Calpurnia's church, the children are confronted about their presence at an all-black church, and this division is something that has never crossed Scout's mind. In fact, she begins to question Calpurnia's "double life" in working with the Finch household and attending church and notes how she even speaks differently. At the trial, people try to shield Scout from the details of the alleged rape.

Tom Robinson is innocent of the rape and assault he's accused of, yet he is convicted, anyway. His physical limitations make it impossible that he could have done the things Mayella claims, and Atticus works tirelessly and without the support of almost everyone in town to try and protect his innocence. Although Tom is convicted, there is evidence (such as the racist Mr. Underwood's editorial after Tom dies) that Atticus has begun to shift the public's racist sentiments in his town.

Boo Radley is a recluse who rarely emerges from his home, and this makes him the subject of great childhood speculation for years. Atticus instructs his children to leave the man alone as what he does inside his own house is his own business. Boo Radley is a defender of the innocent himself, and it's clear that he keeps a watchful eye on the children as evidenced by his knowledge that they are in danger from Bob Ewell's schemes of angry retaliation. When Bob attempts to kill them after the play, it is Boo who rescues them and risks his own life to save theirs. The ability of one innocent to rescue another is a powerful message within the story.

I hope this provides you with some ideas that you can work with as you craft a thesis that really speaks to you. You might also choose any one of these characters and show how it is impossible to completely shield innocence forever as all three characters do face the negative outcomes of various conflicts. Scout emerges with a more mature understanding of the world around her. Tom dies for crimes he never committed. Boo must face evil in order to save an innocent child. So while it is noble to protect the innocent, maintaining complete innocence in a world that also contains evil is an impossible feat.

What are some quotations from To Kill a Mockingbird?

It really depends on what theme or issue you are exploring, but there are some commonly quoted parts of the book.  Most of these relate to the theme of coming of age or injustice.  I have chosen some and explained them here.

The first significant quote is a conversation between Atticus and Scout.  Scout is upset by her teacher’s reaction to her at school.  She and Miss Caroline have many conflicts.  Atticus tries to teach Scout that sometimes the key to getting along with people is to try to see things from their perspective.

“First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-”

“Sir?”

“-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Ch. 3)

Empathy is an important lesson for any child to learn, and it is part of growing up.  It is especially important for Scout, because she will face some challenges soon.  Atticus knows this, and he tries to guide her in her interactions with others.

Another concept that is key to the novel is the concept of courage.  Scout and Jem will have to face injustice and come to an understanding of it as they get older and it gets closer to the trial of Tom Robinson.  Atticus tries to teach his children the importance of moral courage.  He explains to them that Mrs. Dubose was brave because she fought her illness and addiction.

I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (Ch. 11) 

This is important because Scout and Jem will both have to understand that their father is brave for fighting for Tom Robinson against impossible odds. He wants them to understand why he is doing it, even though winning is unlikely.  He is setting an example for them that some things are worth doing even though they are hard.

When the children get guns for Christmas, Atticus explains to them that guns are not to be used to target the innocent.  Scout is surprised that her father says it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because he never says anything is a sin.  She asks Miss Maudie, who explains what Atticus means. 

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Ch. 10)

The mockingbirds are symbolic.  Scout realizes this later.  Mockingbirds do not harm anyone; their singing is only good for people.  They are easy targets.  Scout later realizes that people can be mockingbirds too, and society targeted Tom Robinson and Boo Radley for being different.

What are some important quotes by Jem and Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout has many words of wisdom to express for such a young girl, though many of her observations come from a retrospective view as an adult. She senses the jury's verdict before it is announced.

... in a dream I saw the jury return, moving like underwater swimmers... I saw something only a lawyer's child could be expected to see... and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing the gun was empty.
     A jury never looks at a defendant it has convicted, and when this jury came in, not one of them looked at Tom Robinson.  (Chapter 21)

After Tom's death, she realizes that Atticus never had a chance of gaining an acquittal, since the jury had made up its mind before the trial even started.

... in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.  (Chapter 25)

At the Missionary Circle tea, Scout observes the hypocrisy of the devout ladies of Maycomb, and decides that her Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie are the best of the bunch. After the two women return to the business of serving refreshments following the news of Tom's death, Scout is impressed.

     After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.  (Chapter 24)

As for Jem, his disappointment with the jury verdict makes him wonder if the people of Maycomb are as good as he once imagined. He can't understand why so many of the people "despise each other," and he comes to a conclusion:

"I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside."  (Chapter 23)

What are three quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird and an explanation for each?

FAMOUS QUOTATIONS FROM TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

• "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." -- Atticus to Jem, Chapter 10.

Literally, Atticus delivers this message to Jem as a reminder that it's a sin to kill any innocent thing. Atticus obviously believes the beautiful blue jay is exempt, and Miss Maudie later explaiins to Scout that unlike many other birds, the mockingbird

"... don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."  (Chapter 10)

Symbolically, the mockingbird represents all of life's innocent creatures, including the human mockingbirds in the story. Most of the children are like mockingbirds: They live in a world that is not so innocent, and they witness things that seem unexplainable. Tom and Boo are also human mockingbirds--innocent men who have been accused of things of which they are not guilty and have no control.

• "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." -- Atticus to Scout, Chapter 3

This is Atticus's great lesson in tolerance following Scout's disastrous first day at school. Jem and Scout both use this advice later in the novel: Jem trying to stand in Bob Ewell's shoes to understand Bob's hatred of Atticus, and Scout climbing into Boo's skin--and seeing things through his eyes--in the final chapter.

• "After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I." -- Scout, Chapter 24

Scout constantly resists the adult advice that she begin acting more like a lady, and after watching the bad example set by the supposed ladies of the Missionary Circle, she still prefers being around men.

... I was more at home in my father's world. There was something about them (men) that I instinctively liked... they weren't--
     "Hypocrites..."  (Chapter 24)

But after witnessing two real ladies--Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra--in action after they compose themselves following the news about Tom's death, Scout realizes that if they can behave as if nothing has happened, so can she.