To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes

Context

This line is spoken by Reverend Sykes, played by Bill Walker, in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, directed by Robert Mulligan (1962).

At this point in the movie, the trial that takes most of the focus of To Kill a Mockingbird is over. Atticus Finch has fought the good fight, but he's lost. Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman, will go to jail. As the white audience (seated in the lower courtroom), files out of the room, Atticus collects his belongings.

But, the black audience (seated on the balcony) stays put the entire time. As Atticus prepares to leave the courtroom, the crowd begins to stand up. Reverend Sykes turns to Atticus' daughter, Jean Louise (called Scout), and tells her to stand up, too, because her father is about to pass by all of them.

These words and actions are a mark of respect for Atticus. Even though he lost in the end, the community understands he did the best he could and appreciates the role he played. This is also a lesson for Scout, who sees the way people respect her father for doing what's right. Yay for justice!

Where you've heard it

Standing up is a mark of respect, so you might hear other folks quoting this line when a V.I.P. is passing by.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Everyone should stand up when Atticus Finch passes by. What's pretentious about that?