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What are some quotes from To Kill A Mockingbird, that show the relationships between siblings, neighbors, parents and their children, community...

Sibling relationships

In Chapter 14, Scout mentions that Jem is overbearing and thinks that he knows more than her because he is older. She says,



"His maddening superiority was unbearable these days. He didn't want to do anything but read and go off by himself. Still, everything he read he passed along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he thought I'd like it; now, for my edification and instruction" (Lee 184).



Jem then tells Scout not to antagonize Aunt Alexandra anymore, and Scout punches him in the mouth. Their scuffle is typical of siblings arguing and getting on each other's nerves.


Neighbors


In Chapter 6, the children sneak into the Radley yard, and Nathan hears a commotion coming from his collard patch. He shoots his shotgun in the air to scare away the perpetrators, and the neighbors quickly gather outside of his gate. Scout comments,



"Mr. Nathan Radley was standing inside his gate, a shotgun broken across his arm. Atticus was standing beside Miss Maudie and Miss Stephanie Crawford. Miss Rachel and Mr. Avery were near by" (Lee 72).



The community members of Maycomb take care of one another and when Nathan's neighbors heard the shotgun blast, they came to his house to see what was the matter.


Parents and their children


In Chapter 11, Atticus makes Jem read to Mrs. Dubose as a punishment for ruining her camellia bushes. At the end of the chapter, Mrs. Dubose passes away, and Atticus says,



"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" (Lee 149).



Atticus displays his parenting skills by using Mrs. Dubose's attitude towards life as an opportunity to teach his children about courage. By exposing his children to people with character and integrity, Atticus hopes to encourage his children to become morally upright individuals.


Community members


In Chapter 25, the racist community members of Maycomb discuss Tom's death, and Scout mentions,



"To Maycomb, Tom's death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger's mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might've got him off scot free, but wait---? Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer's mighty thin. Nigger always comes out in 'em" (Lee 322).



The community of Maycomb is predominately prejudiced against African Americans and Tom's death only strengthens their beliefs.


Friends


In Chapter 4, Scout explains their "play" that they name "One Man's Family" in which she, Dill, and Jem pretend to be various individuals in the Radley family. Scout describes their game by saying,



"As the summer progressed, so did our game. We polished and perfected it, added dialogue and plot until we had manufactured a small play upon which we rang changes every day" (Lee 52).



Scout, Dill, and Jem are all best friends and are continually trying to entertain themselves throughout the summer.

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