to kill a mockingbird quotes

What did your father see in the window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it?

Atticus is implying that Bob Ewell raped Mayella, and that the best defense to him raping his daughter was to cover it with pretending she had been raped by someone else: and who else was a perfect scapegoat? A Negro. When he says, "What did your father see in the window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it?" he means that did Mr. Ewell see a rape occur in that window, or did he see a good way to hide the fact that he had been having sexual relations with his daughter.

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.

Atticus said it to Scout He's telling her about the way their society works: there are many whites than are much less dignified and honorable as blacks, yet they will always be treated with more respect than the African-Americans. because they know they can get away with anything, they will cheat black men and women, taking advantage of their status and ignorance. atticus is disgusted by that, and knows that those people are the people who are trash.

People who held such views were climbers.

Climbers meant the people who wanted to be prim and proper, and were trying to climb their way up the social ladder. I'm not sure if Aunt Alexandra believes they truly could be proper and dignified, but they try very hard. When Cecil explained to Scout his mothers' views on the water being unclean, Scout didn't seem to understand, though Aunt Alexandra claimed that the Finches were always at the top of the social ladder (they had the best manners)

******** it, I'm not thinking of Jem!

Heck Tate is fed up with Atticus denying the fact that Jem didn't kill Mr. Ewell. Atticus wasn't listening to Heck's reasoning, and was acting very stubborn. Heck Tate is thinking of Boo Radley. He believes that Boo Radley is the witness, as he says: "It takes someone used to the dark to see in the dark, who would make a competent witness." This describes Boo Radley.

(something along the lines of) Mayella has brought these charges against Tom to get rid of her own guilt.

Her "guilt" is breaking the rules of the whole system, or as Atticus puts it: "time-honored code of our society." She flirted and seduced a black man, which was unacceptable. By blaming Tom, she would be free to not have to walk around with the guilt of trying to kiss a black man. By locking up Tom Robinson, it ensures that the evidence of what she did will be gone. He was the daily reminder of what she had done. She tempted a black man, and that was her guilt.

My small fantasy about him was alive again..

In Chapter 26, this is how Scout imagined meeting Boo: she would say "Right pretty spell we're having, isn't it?" and he would respond as if they had known each other for years. This was her fantasy, and it was coming true (under unusual circumstances)

They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it ---seems that only children weep"?

The jury always convicts black men, no matter if in their hearts, they believe the man is guilty. It's about what they see in their eyes: the man is black, and nothing he can do can change that. And the sad part is, only the children understand this injustice. Only they will cry because they are not corrupted by racism yet. Everyone else expects this, and wants this (except for a few exceptions) Children are the only ones who are still innocent.

I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em

They don't like it because he said, "I felt sorry for her." It was not his place, as a black man, to feel sorry for her. There is a system. Black people are lower than any whites, even the dirty Ewell's, and by saying he felt sorry for someone above him in this system is an insult. By feeling sorry for her, it made it seem like he was superior to her, and above her, which was unacceptable for a black person to say or be. It's ricudlous how Tom works harder than any of the Ewells, and is more polite and respectable than them, but yet he'll always be below them.

His food doesn't stick going down, does it?

When Miss Maudie says "His," she is referring to Atticus. It's so terrible that Miss Merriweather is in Atticus's home, eating his food, and is able to insult him so candidly.

I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system--that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. 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

atticus believes in justice

Just because we were licked hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.

atticus said it though he knows that they (tom) has a serious disadvantage, he will still try his best to win. again shows how much atticus believes in justice system.

Mr. C has blind spots

he has the same racist, prejudiced views as everyone else in maycomb, which is clouding his vision and judgement to be equal.

"...slapping his knees so hard Mrs. Taylor brought him a glass of water and one of his pills.."

he was laughing at the whole thing about scout not coming in on her cue of pork..etc.

themes:

love (family: parental/guardian: atticus, aunt, calpurnia, miss maudie) love: protective (boo: kids) justice/fairness good and evil: bob ewell innocence/childhood racism poverty ethics sexism

I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.... 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.

mockingbirds don't do anything but give humans pleasure. they're innocent, and they don't harm anyone. a mockingbird in this book could be boo. he helped out the children numerous times (trinkets in tree trunk, blanket, bob ewell) and is never rewarded or appreciated. he is still feared by most of the town, and has a bad reputation. also his father is abusive, yet he only tries to help. roly poly too: hasn't done anything wrong to children. also tom: never did anythign bad, persecuted wrongly because of skin color. helped out mayella without asking for pay, was rewarded by being accused of rape.

He aims to defend him

the Idlers club notice he is actually passionate about defending tom. there is a difference being appointed to defend a man and not try, and to be appointed and actually try. atticus is passionate about the justice system (doesn't matter about his client's innocence or guiltiness, it's only fair to defend him equally) and is trying his hardest to get him aquitted. however this displeases many.