In Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the main characters is Laney, the younger sibling of Scout and Jem. Laney is a young girl who plays an important role in the story, despite not being one of the central characters like her siblings.
Laney’s Background
Laney is the youngest child of Atticus and his late wife. She lives with Scout, Jem, and their father Atticus Finch in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression era. Not much detail is provided about Laney’s background other than that she comes from the prominent Finch family.
As the youngest of the three children, Laney often looks up to and tries to keep up with her older siblings Scout and Jem. She is innocent and naive at the start of the novel, and learns some hard life lessons throughout the course of the story.
Laney’s Personality and Role
Several key traits define Laney as a character. First, she is very curious and precocious. She asks a lot of questions and always wants to know what is going on around her. For example, at one point Scout gets frustrated with Laney’s constant questions, remarking that “Laney had asked me earlier what a hot box was; it dawned on me that if Laney had ever seen a jail she would have asked what a courthouse was.”
Second, Laney looks up to her older siblings and tries to emulate them. She wants to join in their games and adventures. As the youngest, she is often left out by Jem and Scout which hurts her feelings. She feels a need to prove herself to them.
Third, Laney represents innocence in the novel. She maintains a childlike awe of the world throughout the majority of the story. Events like the trial of Tom Robinson showcase Laney’s innocence, since she is too young to understand the racial dynamics at play.
In terms of her role in the novel, Laney is mainly present to showcase Scout’s development. Scout has to learn to be more patient and caring for her younger sister. The interactions between Scout and Laney demonstrate how Scout overcomes her judgmental tendencies. Laney asks honest questions that force Scout to reconsider people and events in Maycomb.
Key Events Involving Laney
Some significant events that involve the character of Laney include:
- When Laney wants to accompany Jem and Scout but is told she is too young
- Laney being disciplined by Aunt Alexandra for misbehaving and poor table manners
- Laney’s school lessons and experiences
- Laney asking Scout questions after the Tom Robinson trial
- Laney joining Scout in speaking to Mr. Raymond, one of the town outcasts
Each of these experiences shapes Laney and showcases her relationships with family and community members. While Laney is not directly involved in main events, she observes a great deal and gains maturity as the story progresses.
How Laney Changes and Matures
At the start of To Kill a Mockingbird, Laney is an innocent 5 year old who entertains herself mostly by pestering her older siblings with questions. But as the novel continues, we see Laney lose some of her wide-eyed innocence.
Specifically, there are 3 key ways Laney grows up over the course of the book:
- She realizes that Boo Radley is not an evil monster. After interacting with him briefly at the end, she recognizes his humanity.
- She starts to become aware of racism and social inequality in Maycomb, especially after Tom Robinson’s guilty verdict. Laney senses injustice.
- She sees members of the Finch family and Maycomb community in a more nuanced light. For example, she gains appreciation for Aunt Alexandra.
While still a young child, Laney has started the journey to maturity just like her older siblings. She is presented at the end as less naive than before.
Importance of Laney’s Character
As a relatively minor character, Laney may seem unimportant at first glance. But upon deeper analysis, it becomes clear that Laney serves several key functions:
- She acts as a foil to both Scout and Jem, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
- She demonstrates the loss of childhood innocence which is a major theme.
- Her questions push other characters to rethink their assumptions.
- She represents the limited role of women and girls in 1930s Southern society.
- She provides some comic relief and endearing moments to balance the novel’s serious events.
Harper Lee uses the likeable, curious character of Laney effectively to add depth to To Kill a Mockingbird without making her a completely central figure. Laney’s presence enhances the novel’s messages about prejudice, justice, education, and growing up.
Conclusion
Although secondary to Scout and Jem, Laney Finch contributes significantly to To Kill a Mockingbird. She begins as an innocent tagalong to her older siblings but gradually starts to mature and develop her own personality. Laney’s curiosity, honesty, and charm provide memorable moments in the classic novel. Through her presence, Harper Lee is able to demonstrate the deficiencies and hidden virtues of the small Alabama town of Maycomb. The interactions between Laney and other characters reveal the complexity of race, inequality, justice, and morality in the segregated South. Laney Finch is an endearing character who plays a bigger role on second look for readers of the novel.
