To Kill A Mockingbird Quote Analysis

The story To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on the idea of how a book should never be judged by its over. Taking in the middle of the Great Depression, Jean Louise Finch explains her life growing up in Maycomb, Alabama. Throughout her childhood she must learn many lessons including discipline, segregation, and respect.
Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout, is very intelligent, but must learn to be very disciplined. At the start of the story, Scout is caught in multiple fights both in school and at home. As the story progresses, she must learn to harness this violence and learn how to calmly deal with situations. For example Scout says “Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting anymore….” () This quote is told by Scout shortly after Atticus lectures her about fighting the Cunningham boy on the first day of school. It is significant, because it supports the idea of how Scout is not very disciplined. Along with this, her fight with the Cunningham boy who is no threat to her reveals her lack of self control and ability to calmly deal with specific situations.

As the story progresses certain events introduce new lessons for Scout to learn about segregation. A specific is when Atticus and the children visit Uncle Finch and Francis calls Atticus a “n***** lover,” to Scout. The importance of this quote is months later after Francis calls her this, Scout asks Atticus what it means aftering hearing Mrs. Dubose call him one. Atticus not wanting to tell young Scout the true meaning simply tells her that “trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves.” This not being the full meaning still gives Scout a better idea of how the colored people were treated in