Similarities Between To Kill a Mockinbir by Lee Harper and Atticus by Ron Hansen

A mockingbird is the innocence of a bird who only sings for others, bringing pleasure to those willing to listen. Tom is innocent, willing to help people, seeing the world as a positive place even if it was not what it seem. He is a gentleman whom was put down just because they are considered “different” in the society of maycomb. He was willing to help Mayella, a lonely, helpless girl, who needs his help because her father will not. He felt sorry for her, but yet in the end he was accused of a crime that he never commit. The blue jay is loud and arrogant; where else mockingbirds only sings other birds' songs. The people of Maycomb only knew Tom Robinson by what others said and accused about him, he did not have the chance to truly show them his real self. He did not have his own freedom, he does not have a "song", just like a mockingbird. Therefore, he was characterized by other people's viewpoints, not by him expressing his true self.

In the novel, Atticus tells Scout and Jem, "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." Tom was accused by the town for things that he didn’t do. It is a sin to kill a Mockingbird that just sings for people and it is a sin to judge people by outside appearance and judgements. He was discriminated, blamed for what he did not done, just because he did not abide by the status quo.

Tom Robinson is just like a mockingbird, he did not do one thing wrong. They "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." All he did was to provide help to t...

... middle of paper ...

... Ewell, the most despised of the white population and so, to them, the only reason for Tom to offer such help would be for a sinister purpose. For a cause. In contrary, Tom Robinson is a good man, not like what the white stereotyped blacks to be. He was clearly misunderstood, but he could not feel a thing but be helpless, and yet have a glimpse of hope.

In conclusion, Mockingbirds are caregivers. They provide beautiful music for those they try to help. They never did anything else but to sing their hearts out through their good deeds. Tom was misjudged based on wrong accusation. Black people did not have their own song instead, others sang their songs based on beliefs about them. People only knew Tom Robinson through what others said about him. He was the outcast of the society. They never did anything to hurt anyone they never deserved to be shot down by society.