This section from the book To Kill a Mockingbird explains the title. Throughout the entire book Harper Lee talks about Boo and mentions that it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird since they don't harm anyone. Boo Radley is just like the mockingbird. He is innocent and even saves them from Mr. Ewell. When Boo saves their lives by killing Mr. Ewell he shows that goodness does exist in him but it was corrupted by the evil of the outside world.
Almost everyday one decides to sacrifices an aspect of their life, but is limited to only so many on their behalf of their morals. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch and Jem Finch sacrifice their identities, perspectives, well being, and time for their beliefs. The book takes place during the great depression where racism is a normal day to day behavior. Atticus is a lawyer who is assigned to take on a case defending Tom Robinson who is an african american man accused of rape. While knowing that the usual act of a lawyer being appointed to defend an african american, during the great depression, is to not try to defend the defendant at all, Atticus believes that he should give the same amount of effort to defend Tom Robinson as he would to a
Atticus Finch is an extraordinary individual who teaches his children Jem and Scout valuable life lessons about morals. Atticus does so by teaching his children that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Atticus says that mockingbirds do not harm anyone, and that all they do is make beautiful music for us to enjoy. This is proven when Atticus says, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, 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” (Lee 90). This is further proven when Miss Maudie tells Jem and Scout that Atticus is right because “[Mockingbirds] 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” (90). When Atticus talks about mockingbirds in this profound way, it also refers to individuals such as Tom Robinson. Tom can be seen as a mockingbird, because he does not hurt anybody, he always tries to be friendly and help his neighbours, but he is wrongly accused, and is sent to jail. Lastly, Atticus also teaches valuable life lessons about moral...
Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior, to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930's, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Friends and neighbors object when Atticus puts up a strong and spirited defense on behalf of the accused black man. Atticus renounces violence but stands up for what he believes in. He decides to defend Tom Robinson because if he did not, he would not only lose the respect of his children and the townspeople, but himself as well.
Statements and Themes of To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee makes some direct statements about the thoughts of the public during the mid-nineteen thirties. The simplest way to make a statement in the novel is through the thoughts of Scout. Scout shapes her character from her father's advice. One of the principle values Scout attains from Atticus appears at the end of the novel when she states, "Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them" (279).
What is the significance of the title "To Kill a Mockingbird?" This has been one of the most frequently asked questions since Lee Harper published this book over fifty years ago. The actual character of the mockingbird is vaguely switched throughout the book from Jem, to Tom Robinson, then Dill, Boo Radley and so forth. With a bit of word play the title, as stated by Herbert, becomes "To Mock a Killingbird" which roughly implies the act of Boo Radley shutting himself apart from the world as a result of being accused of things via rumors of a trial he underwent as a teenager. According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary a mockingbird is defined as "a grayish bird with black and white markings that is known for its remarkable ability to exactly imitate the notes of other birds." In the book Lee first describes Boo 's character as being a seemingly dark figure who is "sickly white, with thin, feathery hair, and gray, colorless eyes, almost as if he were blind" (14). This of course further implies that Boo Radley is indeed the actual mockingbird.
a) Reader-Response Criticism
When I read the novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, I think that the novel is great because it interest me to read it from the beginning until the end. I like the point of view that the writer used in telling the whole story, which is a child perspective. As a reader, I could see the situations in the story through a girl’s eyes and thought. However, there are some things, which I do not agree in the story. For example, I think that Mr. Radley should not punish his son, Boo Radley by imprisoning him for many years.
Why is the Novel called To Kill a Mockingbird.
In order for us to understand the reason why the novel is called "To
Kill a Mockingbird", we need to take into account what the title
actually means. The mockingbird is a type of finch, and it gets its
name from its ability to make sounds that mimic other animals. This
bird is not a predator and all it does is to make music.
The Significance of the Title of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The title of this novel is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and throughout the
book the word mockingbird appears several times. The mockingbird is
the most significant symbol in the novel. The motif of the story is
the innocent creature of the mockingbird. What is a mockingbird? A
mockingbird is a type of finch.
The Significance of the Title To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In this novel the most significant symbol is the mocking bird. A
mocking bird is a type of Finch: a small, discrete bird with a
beautiful song, which 'mocks' or imitates the other birds' song. One
of the most explicit references made about mocking birds is that in
chapter 10. Atticus is telling Scout and Jem how top use their
shotguns for the first time, he says, 'Shoot all the bluejays you
want, if you can hit'em but remember it's a sign to kill a
Mockingbird.'