Effective Use of Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee, the author of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, certainly and effectively used symbolism with flowers throughout the story. The first example of symbolism would be how the author used Camellias to describe Mrs.Dubose. The Camellia is the state flower of Alabama which is where To Kill A Mockingbird takes place. It thrives in acidic soil, has fairly deep roots and grows rapidly, up to 20 feet. It grows in Mrs. Duboses's garden and has an alternate meaning of prejudice in Maycomb. As evidence, "he [Jem] . . . cut the tops off every camellia bush [she] owned, until the ground was littered with green buds and leaves" (Lee page 74). Jem does not understand as he acts rashly, and wasn't thinking when he cut all of Mrs.Dubose's flowers. This means that prejudice cannot be dealt with simply. For example, '"Your father's no better than the n*****s and trash he works for!" [said Mrs,Dubose]' (Lee page 73) As Mrs.Dubose is prejudice, much like how the flower, is deep-rooted, especially in Alabama, she is very racist as this quote proved. Looking at the world through the eyes of a morphine addict, Jem forgave Mrs. Dubose for the hurtful things she said later on. To get rid of prejudice, you must attack the root, like Miss Maudie does with nut grass, '"Pull it up, child, pull it up?" She picked up the limp sprout and squeezed her thumb up its tiny stalk.' (Lee page 29) The white camellia shows that Mrs. Dubose was a kind, brave, yet pure lady deep in her heart. All in all, the Camellia represented the very little beauty there was in a seemingly ugly lady's heart. Secondly, Mayella was symbolized by Geraniums as they were thought to be the "poor man's rose". The description of Mayella Ewell's home was that of a small dump, a place tot...

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...re doing the right thing a while back, but all they did was stir 'em up." (Lee page 166). This quote proves how Miss Maudie is her own woman and is tough-natured. She makes up her own mind and is not easily controlled but is cheerful even though she's constantly surrounded by hypocrisy and prejudice in Maycomb. She's beautiful just like the Azalea. As evidence, "she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty" (Lee page 29). Also, when her flowers were destroyed in the fire, Miss Maudie determines to have a smaller house in order to raise more flowers, symbolic of her strength and determination which is another quality in the Azalea. In conclusion, all the characters symbolic flowers can relate by representing a color blind society in that flowers grow and bloom in all colors, much like the individual characters do throughout the story.