Scout Flashcards
‘Catching Walter Cunningham in the school yard gave me some sort of pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt, Jem came by and told me to stop.’
At the beginning of the novel, Scout seems to think that the way to solve all arguments is through violence. This, in part, hilights her youth and innocence as a character.
‘Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting any more; I was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learned to hold in, the better off everybody would be’
Atticus teaches Scout that violence is not the way to solve problems, and soon she stops using this as her outlet for her feelings. This, in turn, shows the reader her growing maturity as a character and how she represents the theme of growing up.
‘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.’
Scout shows a huge deal of maturity through her actions here and how she has developed as a character. She is able to take Atticus’ teachings and put them into practice, showing that she understands them.
Represents the theme of education and growing up.
‘Previous minor encounters with her left me with no desire for more, but Jem said I had to grow up some time.’
Scout learns that growing up involves doing things that you don’t want to do- which in turn requires some form of bravery.
Represents the theme of growing up.
‘Jem and I would have had several swift, satisfying fist-fights apiece and ended the matter for good. As it was, we were compelled to hold our heads high and be, respectively, a gentleman and a lady.’
This again shows how Scout is taking on Atticus’ message of not fighting. Faced with a conflict, both Scout and Jem are forced to act like adults, and shows both characters maturity.
Demonstrates the theme of growing up.
‘I said I would like it very much, which was a lie, but one must lie under certain circumstances and at all times when one can’t do anything about them.’
This line, again demonstrates how Scout has become much more mature and is able to apply this maturity to certain situations when they call for it.
Demonstrates the theme of growing up.
‘We laughed. Haints, Hot Steams, incantations, secret signs, had vanished with our years as mist with sunrise.’
This shows how both scout and Jem see their childhood beliefs as ridiculous and shows how much they’ve grown up, but in a ‘traditional’ sort of way. However, little do they know that there is still a lot for them to be afraid of as the attack with Bob Ewell is soon to follow.
Represents the theme of growing up.
‘I was not so sure, but Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that’s why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with.’
Shows how, at the start of the novel, Scout sees ‘being a girl’ as something weak and negative. If she acts like a girl, then she’d be excluded from their games and so, equates ‘being a girl’ with being ‘hated’.
Shows the theme of women.
[Calpurnia] ‘seemed glad to see me when I appeared in the kitchen, and by watching her I began to think there was some skill involved in being a girl.’
Shows how, despite her thoughts at the beginning of the novel, Scout now sees being a woman as something stronger and more skilful. She begins to admire femininity as she sees it being shown through strong female role models, such as Calpurnia.
Represents the themes of women and growing up
‘I felt the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me, and for the second time in my life I thought of running away. Immediately.’
However, despite having these more positive views on femininity, she still sees the societal expectations of women as restrictive and terrifying.
Shows the theme of women and prejudice.
‘With my best company manners, I asked her if she would have some. After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.’
Again, through her female role models, Scout begins to see how being a woman isn’t weak, in fact Scout is beginning to realise that sometimes being a woman is stronger than being a man.
Themes of growing up and women.
