Curiosity in To Kill a Mockingbird

Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret.” (Emerson, Ralph Waldo). This quote fits the characters Scout, Jem, and Dill in Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird. This is brought to attention several times, such as when Jem and Scout are walking home after school one day and find a grey ball of twine in the knot hole and debate who puts these things into the knot hole and if they should take it (Lee 58). This incident is quite important because it shows the readers that the children are thinking hard about who could be doing this, and what they should do about the situation.

The children try to conquer there curiosity throughout this book by discovering the answers to all their questions. After comparing Scout, Jem, and Dill with their offering levels of curiosity, it is obvious throughout the story that their curiosity never dulls and also works to drive the plot.

 Curiousity about Boo Radley

First, Jem is always curious about Boo Radley.

Jem is determined he can get Boo out of the house so he attaches a piece of paper with a note onto a fishing pole, and with the help of Dill they move the note around in front of the window on the Radley’s house (Lee 48). With this being stated Jem’s curiosity is unique, instead of walking to the front door of the Radley house and trying to meet Boo he decides it would be a good idea to fly paper in front of a window, hoping Boo would see it and come outside.

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This is relatable to me because I would much rather try different options to get somebody’s attention rather than confronting them at their front door when they are not expecting me. Jem is also curious about the gifts in the knot hole, he wants to know who put them there and if he should take them or not (Lee 58). This shows the reader that Jem thinks before he does, and that he does not want to mess with the wrong person. Many things run through the curious mind of Jem, he is wondering if this is Walter Cunningham’s hiding spot that he goes to everyday at recess (Lee 58). This is proof of Jem’s curiosity and critical thinking because he is debating on and off who could be hiding the objects in the knot hole. All of these events drive the plot as well as the events occurring with Dill’s curiosity.

Dill’s Curiosity about Tom

For instance, Dill becomes curious about the trial while sitting in the courtroom with Scout and Jem, he ask questions on what Atticus is doing. Jem says Atticus is showing the jury Tom has nothing to hide (Lee 190). I feel that this shows Dill that it is okay to ask about the trial because until this point in the book I feel he is scared to open up and ask what is happening with Atticus defending Tom. On the other hand Dill is always curious about Boo Radley when he is in town during the summers and always encouraging Scout and Jem’s curiosity toward discovering more about Boo. Dill looks inside a window on the Radley’s house with the help of Jem and Scout who are holding him up so he can see through the window and into the house (Lee 58). This is a point in the book that shows Dill, Scout, and Jem are starting to overcome their fears and let their curiosity take over. The circumstance in which Dill shows his courage along with more of his curiosity is when he talks to Dolphus Raymond about what he drinks out of that paper sack, why he always acts drunk, and why he looks the way he does (Lee 200). Dill makes a brave move when he asks these question, but Dolphus Raymond then shares the answers showing Dill it is alright to wonder. I understand Dill because when I was a kid I was never afraid to ask questions if I did not know the answer, and in the end I always knew more than what I did before.

 Scout’s Curiosity

Therefore Scouts curiosity is the greatest of all in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. She is the youngest of Dill and Jem so not only is she curious about everything going on but curious about why the boys do what they do sometimes. On page 33 Scout states how she knew nothing about anything unless she read it from Time magazine (Lee 33). I took from this that she would be the curious one throughout the entire story. Tom’s situation interests Scout more than any reader could ever understand. She asks her father questions on why the kids at school say he is defending a Negro. Her father is astonished by what she asks. Atticus thoroughly explains to her that one person less will be using that word (Lee 74-75). This is very important to the plot of the book because it truly shows how Scout is fearless on what she asks her father. I feel that Scout is shown how seriously her father is taking the trial. This is relatable to me because I have found myself asking questions out of curiosity and then been shown the importance of the scenario that I am curious about. Another example of Scout being curious is when she goes to Calpurnia’s church and is bursting with questions, one being why they took up a collection for Tom Robinson’s wife (Lee 123). Now this church is full of blacks and it did not bother Scout, but what does bother her is that they took a collection up for Tom’s wife and no one can leave until it is all received. Reverent Sykes explained to her that Helen has 3 little one at home and Tom is not working so she has to feed and clothe them while paying all the bills too.

In conclusion, “Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret” is made clear in the children’s curiosity to discover what they do not know or understand (Emerson, Ralph Waldo). This catches the reader’s eye multiple times, like when the kids are walking home from school and find the grey ball of twine in the knot hole and wonder if they should take it or not (Lee 58). This circumstance is very important because it shows that the children think hard about who could be putting the objects in the tree, and what they should do in the situation. The children try to conquer their curiosity throughout the book by discovering answers to their questions. Comparing Scout, Jem, and Dill to their curiosity it has been made obvious that this drives the plot of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.