Many communities in the states of South America were built by the use of slaves. This created racial tension as the white class perceived themselves to be far superior to their coloured slaves. The racial tension and prejudices had a substantial impact on the behaviour of members in the community and had a strong influence on the way laws were founded and administered. This racial prejudice can clearly be seen in the movie ‘A Time to Kill’ by Joel Schumacher and the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Lee Harper. These two mediums have a number of similarities which can be compared. The court room is one of the main settings in ‘A Time to Kill’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ which showcased a great deal of racial intolerance and segregation. The way …show more content…
The culture of discrimination in these parts of America was cruel to those in the coloured community. The time in which these texts were set differ as there is an approximate 50 year gap between periods, but unfortunately racial intolerance didn’t abate, it grew stronger. In ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Scout shows how the community had a huge influence on her own racial intolerance in chapter 20 where she states “I had a feeling that I shouldn’t be listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn’t care who knew it… (Lee, 2004)’. The man explains to Scout that the contempt the community has towards his marriage to a black woman drive him to pretend to be an alcoholic to excuse him of his actions. This is an example of the undertone of racism in ‘To kill a Mockingbird’, which can be compared to ‘A Time to Kill’ where the displays of racism were on a grander, more vicious scale. In ‘A Time to Kill’ the KKK is a very prominent, racial group who protest their beliefs through the use of violence. The acts of violence were evident in their treatment of Jake’s family and employees and their racial tendencies in the scene at the rally in front of the courthouse. What begun as individuals and their own beliefs grew into the creation of violent, sectarian groups such as the …show more content…
In ‘A Time to Kill’ Jake’s family was helped on numerous occasions by an anonymous caller in the KKK who called himself “Mickey Mouse”. Similarly, in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ the children Scout and Jem, had the character Boo Radley who protected them and was presumably the one who left them trinkets to find. The two characters are symbolic of a ‘guardian angel’ because of them being anonymous and their will to protect. The title of the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ holds a great deal of symbolic weight, which can be contrasted with ‘A Time to Kill’. Ms Maudie explains to Scout ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but…. Sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird (Lee, 2004)’ and therefore the mockingbird represents innocence and this innocence can be seen in the characters of Carl Lee Hailey in ‘A Time to Kill’ and Tom Robinson in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The use of symbolism in both mediums was used effectively in giving the characters meaning and
Mockingbirds do no harm to anything they just sing. The two characters in this book that represents this symbol is Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a “mockingbird” because he is wrongfully accused of raping a white girl. Through the prejudice of the people in Macomb he later convicted and killed, even when he never did anything to Mayella Ewell. Boo Radley is also another great example of a “mockingbird” because no accepts him throughout the town which forces him to hide in his home. He had rumors spread about him how that he was a bad guy. But he was nothing but kind to the children and even saved their lives (Dave).
"I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This is what Atticus Finch tells his children after they are given air-rifles for Christmas. Uniquely, the title of the classic novel by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, was taken from this passage. At first glance, one may wonder why Harper Lee decided to name her book after what seems to be a rather insignificant excerpt. After careful study, however, one begins to see that this is just another example of symbolism in the novel. Harper Lee uses symbolism rather extensively throughout this story, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism can be seen by studying various examples from the book. This includes the actions of the children, the racist whites, and the actions of Atticus Finch.
Growing up in a prejudiced environment can cause individuals to develop biased views in regard to both gender and class. This is true in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, where such prejudices are prevalent in the way of life of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama. The novel is centered around the trial of a black man who is accused of raping a white woman. The narrator, a young girl named Scout, is able to get a close up view of the trial because her father is defending Tom Robinson, the defendant. The aura of the town divided by the trial reveals certain people’s prejudices to Scout, giving her a better perspective of her world.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (p.90) Miss. Maudie, one of the main protagonists in To Kill a Mockingbird, warns the young girl Scout that mockingbirds should not to be killed or hunted down because they represent those who are kind and innocent. So, on a broader spectrum, the term “to kill a mockingbird” symbolizes cruel and improper behavior towards people with good hearts and intentions. In the town of Maycomb, unethical behaviors, such as prejudice and gossip, are most commonly used against the “mockingbirds”. Three of those “mockingbirds” that are featured in this novel are Arthur “Boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch. Due to the depiction of the mockingbird symbol in the novel, the reader understands the consequences that immoral attitudes have towards those who are innocent and kindhearted.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee utilizes the significant symbol of a mockingbird to convey the coming of age theme of knowing someone’s background before forming opinions. When Scout and Jem get airsoft guns for Christmas, Atticus knows they will go “after birds,” so he allows them to “shoot all the bluejays” as long as they do not “kill a mockingbird” because it is “a sin” (Lee 119). Through close analysis, the advice Atticus presents has a much deeper meaning to it than originally perceived. The “mockingbird” is a symbol for all of the innocent people that are portrayed unjustly and the “bluejays” represent the malevolent individuals. Also, Lee’s decision to use the word “sin” suggests that killing a mockingbird is absolutely iniquitous,
The mockingbird is a powerful symbol that is repeatedly seen throughout the novel. The bird is representative of the innocence and susceptibility of certain characters. Shooting birds in Maycomb is a past time, and one day, while Jem is practicing his shot, Atticus reminds him, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (103). A mockingbird is a harmless creature that does not harm anyone or anything. Atticus doesn't mind his children shooting blue jays because they are ordinary birds who cause problems, but he feels that mockingbirds are innocent creatures whose lives should be preserved; therefore, it would be a sin to kill a mockingbird. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley exemplify the moc...
To Kill a Mockingbird: Race Relations Racism is a problem that has been around for multiple centuries. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it demonstrates how racism can affect one person even in the court of law. In this story, the case of Tom Robinson is told. It is obvious that Robinson is a victim of racist people that see him guilty only because of his race, African American. From the beginning, it seems obvious that Robinson does not have a chance of winning his case, whether he is guilty or not.
When Scout and Jem get rifles for Christmas they learn why they should not kill a mockingbird. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (103). Mockingbirds represent happiness. They do not cause any harm to anyone or anything. Therefore, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Tom Robinson, a black man, is the man who was falsely accused of the rape of Mayella Ewell, a white woman. “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children” (275) Tom Robinson is one of the mockingbird symbols. He was convicted and was murdered for the rape of Mayella Ewell. He did not rape Mayella but he was blamed for it. Since this took place in the 1930s, they black people were not believed over white people. So when Tom was killed it was like killing a mockingbird. He did nothing but help people, but he was killed. He only brought joy and happiness, not hatred. Tom Robinson was not the only mockingbird symbol in the novel. Boo Radley was also a symbol of a mockingbird. Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell. He ended up killing Bob while trying to save the kids. Heck Tate, the town sheriff, could prove that Bob fell on his knife. He did this so Boo would not get in trouble. “Well it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird,
Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem, is well known lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama. He introduces the symbol of the mockingbird by stating, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can't hit `em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Atticus wouldn't teach Scout and Jem how to shoot after he gave them air rifles. Scout didn't understand his philosophy so she asked Miss Maudie about it. She just replied, "Your father's right. Mockingbirds don't do one but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. " Lee's uses the symbol of a mockingbird to represent the innocence of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley and the way justice has been twisted to a point where individuals are no longer able to receive equal treatment.
Society is unwilling to become aware and understand before it judges. This idea has a lot of effect on the plot of To Kill A Mockingbird. In this particular situation, these problems are initiated by prejudice. These circumstances become an issue when morality is questioned. The mockingbird is a reoccurring symbol that denotes the idea of the exploitation of blameless beings by those of higher influence. The prominent theme in To Kill A Mockingbird is that the innocent are often taken advantage of by those with more power.
...birds are one of the main symbols. Mockingbirds are innocent they do not harm anyone but makes beautiful music. However, they get killed by people every day. There are many innocent person present in this novel; three main characters that are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and they symbolize the Mockingbirds. Tom was a wrongly accused of rape, and he was brutally killed because he was black. Boo Radley did not do any harm to anyone, he was innocent, but people in the Maycomb County were thinking him as a monster which hurt him mentally. Lastly, Mr. Raymond symbolized the Mockingbird because he was innocent, however only because he thought different than others, he was looked down by the people in Maycomb County. Mockingbirds in this novel symbolized the innocent people who are getting wrongly accused and their innocence getting destroyed by evil.
“Remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). That’s what Atticus says to Jem and Scout when they want to kill birds with their new rifle guns. To Kill A Mockingbird is an excellent novel with a plethora of deep, powerful messages and themes found within the story. One theme that was especially dominant was the idea of gossip and innocence. This theme is recurrent throughout the entire novel. A symbol that aids the theme is the mockingbird, ironically found in the title of the book. Harper Lee used a variety of quotes and the mockingbird symbol to demonstrate how gossip can control a group of people (the town) and destroy the innocence found within people.
Racism presents itself in many ways in the town of Maycomb. Some are blatant and open, but others are more insidious. One obvious way that racism presents itself is in the result of Tom Robinson’s trial. Another apparent example is the bullying Jem and Scout had to endure as a result of Atticus’s appointment as Tom Robinson’s defense attorney. A less easily discernible case is the persecution of Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who chose to live his life in close relation with the colored community.
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee's only novel, is a fictional story of racial oppression, set in Maycomb, A.L. in 1925 to 1935, loosely based on the events of the Scottsboro trials. Unlike the story however, the racial discrimination and oppression in the novel very accurately portrays what it was like in the 1920's and 1930's in the south. Tom Robinson, the black man accused of raping a poor low class white girl of 19, never stood a chance of getting a fair trial. This can be supported by giving examples of racially discriminatory and oppressive events that actually took place in the south during the time period in which the novel is based. In addition to actual historical events, events and examples from the book that clearly illustrate the overpoweringly high levels of prejudice that were intertwined in the everyday thinking of the majority of the characters in the book supports the fact that Tom Robinson never stood a chance of getting a fair trial.
The main symbols discussed and portrayed in the book were Tim Johnson, the Mockingbirds and Boo Radley. Tim Johnson was a neighbourhood dog who appeared down the Finch’s street one day, but looked very ill and was rabid. Calpurnia the black maid working at the Finch’s rang Atticus and he shot it. Tim Johnson could symbolize the prejudice and mob mentality of Maycomb at the time and because Atticus shot Tim this represents Atticus’s morals beliefs about stopping racism and creating equality. The Mockingbird used in the title of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is the most important symbol depicted in this novel. One day Atticus told Jem that he’d rather Jem shoot at tin cans, but he knew Jem would go after birds. He gave Jem permission to shoot all the blue jays he felt like, but it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. Jem then went to Miss Maudie to ask about what Atticus had just said, "Your father’s right," she said. "Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This conveys the loss of innocence in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and thus killing a Mockingbird is to destroy innocence. A number of characters (Jem, Tom Robinson, Dill, Boo Radley, Mr. Raymond) can be identified as Mockingbirds who have been injured or destroyed through their contact with evil. As the novel progresses, the children’s perspective towards Boo Radley matures and this replicates the development of the children. Boo Radley was once an intelligent child, only to be ruined by his cruel father is one of the most important mockingbirds as his innocence was destroyed. Luckily for Jem and Scout, Boo was merely a source of childhood superstition often leaving presents for them. Despite the pain that Boo