Key Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird

"They don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird." Atticus teaches his children not to harm innocent creatures or humans. This links to the death of Tom Robinson. (Page 100)

"...it's just a baby step, but it's a step." Miss Maudie explains why the jury took so long to make a decision. People's attitudes towards Negroes have changed, due to Atticus and the trial. (Page 238)

"You mean women in Alabama can't - ?" This shows Scout maturing as she realises the prejudice against women that occurs in Maycomb. (Page 244)

"...our folks don't like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don't like the Ewells and the Ewells hate and despise the coloured folks." This shows the prejudice between different families in Maycomb. (Page 249)

"...I say forgive and forget..." Mrs Merriweather is prepared to forgive Helen Robinson but she won't forgive Tom. This is irony as Helen has not done anything wrong. (Page 255)

"You're shamin' him Miss Caroline." This is SATIRE as Scout knows more than the teacher does about the children. (Page 24)

"Don't say ******, Scout." Atticus is teaching his children the right thing to say, even though the whole county says '******'. He doesn't want his children to become common. (Page 83)

 "There wasn't a school when he (her son) was born. I made him learn though." Calpurnia wanted her children to have an education because she knew they would suffer even more prejudice if they didn't. (Page 138)

"Your father does not know how to teach." This is a shock to Scout as she has always looked up to her father and respected him. (Page 19)

"Don't do that Scout." Scout is tormenting an insect when Jem tells her to stop. He does this because killing an innocent animal is like the killing of innocent Tom Robinson. "...they don't bother you." (Page 262/263)

"...it's like a Roman Carnival." "...it was a gala occasion..." This shows that the whole community comes together in this sort of situation which upsets and angers Miss Maudie. (Page 176)

"A wagonload passed us..." This shows that people from out of town would come to watch a trail. This shows the social divide in the County at the time. (Page 174)

"...so serene was Judge Taylor's court, that he had few occasions to use his gavel..." Everybody in the court was extremely quiet because they wanted to hear what happened to a Negroe. (Page 190)

"It was Miss Stephanie's pleasure to tell us." This suggests that she is the town gossip because she likes to be the centre of attention. (Page 239)

"Did Atticus put us up there as a sort of - ?...Didn't it make us mad to see our Daddy beat...?" Miss Stephanie wants to know what the children thought because know one else will know. She will be able to spread it around Maycomb and once again be the centre of attention. (Page 237)

"Tom's death was typical. Typical of a ****** to cut and run. Typical of a ******'s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw." This is what the Maycomb community thought of Tom Robinson when he tried to escape. The way he ran (like a coward) was normal and like any other Negroe.

"Maycomb was interested by the news of Tom's death for perhaps two days..." This shows that once the news is spread (probably by Miss Stephanie) it is old and no one really cares anymore. The case, trial and conviction has lost its excitement.