In what ways do you think the symbol of the Mockingbird is important in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird?” The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, was written by American author ‘Harper Lee’, in 1960. In the novel, killing a Mockingbird is said to be a sin. But, is the representation of a mockingbird something more than a bird? There are a variety of ways in which the “Mockingbird” symbolizes the idea of innocence, and various characters are portrayed as “mockingbirds”, including Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Jem and Scout Finch. The symbol of the mockingbird has a huge connection with the title of the novel and its main theme of innocence. The symbol is also a metaphor for the innocence that is ruined by the institutionally wrong society of …show more content…
One character seen as a Mockingbird is Boo Radley who was always referred to as a mysterious citizen of Maycomb due to his closure in his home for fifteen years. Initially, Boo was thought of as a monster and ‘night prowler’, due to the false rumors that circulated in Maycomb, but later on, in the novel came out to be a completely different person to what society viewed him as.This becomes evident when he leaves gifts for Scout and Jem on the tree outside their house: “Boo was our neighbor, he gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch, and chain, a pair of good luck pennies…”.Here, Boo’s action, shows that he can be seen as a friendly persona that doesn’t yet know how to approach the kids and have a friendship, and also implies how he is a misunderstood soul. Another way in which the kindness of Boo is shown is when Scout is sitting outside the burning house during the fire and he places a blanket around her: “you were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you”. This reveals Boo’s kindness and opposes the injurious public image made by the Maycomb society. Boo has also been referred to as a “malevolent phantom” which highlights how the people of Maycomb are unpleasant and criticize anything and anyone that is unique and does not fit into society’s norms. Also, the term …show more content…
The title of the novel “to kill a mockingbird” suggests that it shatters innocence, and demolishes the worthy pieces of people. This novel has two parts, one being the plot narrated by scout, suggesting innocence and the second being the main plot at the court scene suggesting the killing of a Mockingbird. Another example of a mockingbird is Tom Robinson who is a hardworking man that attends church and has an orderly lifestyle but is unfortunately wrongly accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Tom is a man that has built a very strong and positive reputation to many citizens of Maycomb: “he has been a faithful member of First Purchase since he was a boy”. The comment made about Tom reveals how empowered Robinson’s reputation as he is a religious man, and this links to his innocence. However, we witness the court scene where Robinson is bombarded with questions, one of them being “Tom did she ever speak to you” “she gave me the hatchet and I broke up the chiffarobe” she said “…I have to give you a nickel, won't I?’ I said “…no charge”. This implies that Mayella manipulated his kindness and generosity since he is metaphorically seen as a mockingbird that needs protection from evil, since had done nothing but help Mayella, only to be treated brutally and unjustly. Later on in the chapter, we witness Tom Robinson’s death where he is shot “seventeen times” whilst
The symbolism of the mockingbird plays a huge role in the development of the theme in the novel. The mockingbird symbolizes innocence. In the book, it is believed that it is a sin to kill a man mockingbird because they bring about no harm, only beautiful music to enjoy. In the same sense, killing a mockingbird would be the equivalent of evil defeating good. This is represented multiple times in the novel through characters like Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson. All of whom try to bring about the good in people rather than focus on the evil in the community.
The mockingbird is a major symbol in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Harper Lee chose the mockingbird for both the title of her book and as a symbol in her book. I believe she selected it because the mockingbird is a creature that is loved by all for its singing and mocking, for which it gets its name, and how it never intends to harm anything or anybody. Atticus Finch says to Jem, ??but remember it?s a sin to kill a mockingbird.? Whereupon Miss Maudie explains, ?Your father?s right, 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 mockingbirds.?
Within the beginning of the book, Boo Radley had a bad perception within the town of Maycomb due to abrupt rumors. For example, one of these rumors displayed in the first chapter creates a very violent image
The two characters in this book that represent this symbol are 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 one accepts him throughout the town, which forces him to hide in his home. He had rumors spread about him saying that he was a bad guy.
Boo Radley is the next door neighbor of the Finch’s. He is an outsider of the community, because he does not leave the house. He got in some trouble as a teenager, so his father locked him up inside the house. After his father died, his brother moved in with him. While Boo was locked up inside is house, the people of Maycomb County made up stories about him. The legend of Boo Radley was well-known to the people of Maycomb. Jem describes Boo, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” (Lee ). Boo is an innocent character because all he does stay inside his own house, and does not bother anybody. Yet the entire town believes that he could be a murderer. Harper Lee is showing that if you do not fit into southern society, they will make you into an outsider and a bad legend. Another example of Boo Radley being an innocent character is when he gives a blanket to Scout. Miss Maudie Atkinson, one of the Finch’s neighbors, had a house fire. Atticus (Scout and Jem’s father) woke up the kids and made them go outside, in case the fire spread to their house. While Scout was not looking someone gave her a blanket, “‘Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.’ ‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.’”(Lee ). Boo Radley is an innocent character because he helped warm up Scout in the cold, yet Scout was still scared that Boo had been near here. Harper Lee is showing us that Boo could do a nice thing, and yet Scout would still be scared because of his reputation. Finally, another
Also the most significant symbol in this novel is the mockingbird symbol which represents innocent people victims of a cruel society. There were two mockingbirds that were killed because one was black and the other was creepy. This was a case of injustice because two people’s lives were taken away from them because of one’s race and one being different from others. Even in a court of law some people do not get a fare trial. Only in the end when we all stand before God he will give us all a fare trial. Mockingbirds and Finches are type of song birds. Harper Lee gave the main characters’ the last name “Finch”, because the family was innocent and accepted all their neighbors.
Symbolism is used to show how the Mockingbird resembles innocence throughout the whole story. Loss of Innocence can be shown by many characters throughout the story. As Miss Maudie said, "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." Miss Maudie is basically saying that killing a mockingbird is seen the same as killing someone who is as eq...
Although the reader may not be aware of all the symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird, several are exceptionally noticeable. Atticus, without a doubt, symbolizes honorable morals and logical thinking. While the Mockingbird evidently depicts innocence and justice, there are several characters used to represent the Mockingbird. While the last symbol, the snowman, was not as evident as the other two, the snowman not only represents that Jem understands white and black people are the same but also symbolizes ethics. Scout innocently states, “Jem, I ain’t ever heard of a nigger snowman”(89). Jem replies with “He won’t be black long.”(89) Scout unintentionally uses a racist comment, but Jem shows that all people are equal by covering the mud with white
Both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley symbolized a mockingbird; it wasn’t however, until the ending of the story that Scout had realized it. When asked if she understood that Mr. Ewell fell on his own knife she responded with “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (370). Although Scout knew that Boo had killed Bob Ewell she also knew that Boo had done it to save them. Like Atticus, Boo Radley stood up for what was right even though it had been 15 years since he had been seen outside his home. Innocence, represented by the mockingbird, Tom, and Boo, is not earned, though it can be forsaken; character, however, can only be earned through courage to stand for what is right when the only benefit is the exercise of one’s own integrity, which, in Atticus’s eyes is benefit enough.
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: The Significance of a Mockingbird In a society surrounded by corruption, racism, and cruelty it is rare to find purity. Innocence is constantly being destroyed. For this reason, the harmless citizens need to be treasured and protected. Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird portrays the injustices of the 1930’s that expose the innocent to the malice of the society’s intentions. Some characters in the novel are characterized as harmless and pure and are symbolized by mockingbirds.
...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.
Tom Robinson was just a “respectable negro” with a kind nature who was accused in absence of wrong. Mr Robinson is immediately seen as an enemy by most in town of Maycomb. Is it because of his malicious personality? Is it because of his hair colour? Is it because he is arrogant? No, all of these are false he is instantly convicted because he is of a different ethnicity. It seems foolish but this is the reason why Maycomb has discarded a man who is of higher quality than the majority of the town. “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed.” As soon as the trial began Tom’s opportunity for victory grew slimmer and slimmer and Maycomb knew that Atticus was fighting an unwinnable battle. But Atticus was determined to defend the ‘ultimate mockingbird’ right up until the end; even after the court case Atticus defends Tom at the jail. A final act of Tom’s innocence to prove his mockingbird status was whilst in court, he still didn’t want to accuse Mayella because “she seemed...
Harper Lee decided to use the symbol of the Mockingbird to convey purity of heart, devotion, and selflessness of the characters. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are both representative of the Mockingbird ("Harper Lee" 221). This fact explains the meaning of the symbol of the Mockingbird in the context of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. First, critics compare Tom Robinson to a Mockingbird because berating him with publicity is a lot like shooting a bird that only brings pleasure to humans ("To Kill a Mockingbird"). This connects with Atticus’ belief that Miss.
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