Moral Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

875 Words2 Pages

The book “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee is the story with a moral of innocence. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a book based around several important moral values. A young girl named Scout portrays the lessons that are learned in the book. In the book, Scout learns many lessons about people and the world, mostly taught by her father Atticus. Scout learns one very important lesson from Atticus, the lesson about “Mockingbirds”. Atticus explains to Scout, “It is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. That is why it is a sin to kill a Mockingbird”. The metaphorical “Mockingbird” is portrayed by a variety of Characters in the story. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley all represent the characteristics of a mockingbird, as they have been mistreated in their own way. As Atticus was criticized for defending Tom Robinson, Tom Robinson was a victim of racial prejudice and Arthur “Boo” Radley is a victim of stereotypical intolerance, these characters are the metaphorical mockingbirds throughout the story.
Atticus Finch establishes himself as a significant mockingbird. Atticus Finch is the father of Scout and Jem, who is also a reputable lawyer in the town of Maycomb. Atticus is strongly suggested as a mockingbird by Harper Lee, because when Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, he could not refuse due to the sake of his reputation and children. Unknowingly, the citizens of Maycomb started to get very angry with him for defending a black man. Children from Jem and Scout’s school also began criticizing Atticus. Their cruel statements not only describe to us that Atticus indeed is a “Mockingbird” but also displays to us that many citizens in Maycomb have los...

... middle of paper ...

.... Boo Radley is the most Influential and important Mockingbird in this story.
The three characters portrayed as mockingbirds in this story have all been mistreated in their own way. As Atticus was criticized for defending Tom Robinson, Tom Robinson was a victim of racial prejudice and Arthur “Boo” Radley is a victim of stereotypical intolerance, these characters are the metaphorical mockingbirds throughout the story. The mockingbirds in this story are the most important characters. It is the mockingbirds that teach us the important life lessons that the author is trying to express to us. This story has taught us that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. The mockingbirds in this story have been teachers, died for false accusations and saved the day. Mockingbirds are an essential part of our world; they portray characteristic’s from which we learn valuable life lessons.

Open Document