Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird
analytical Essay
1005 words
This essay is about the some of the several themes found in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The three symbols that will be talked about are, how the tree by the Radley house symbolizes Boo Radley’s kindness and longing for friendship. How Tim Johnson symbolizes Atticus’ fight against racism. And, how mockingbirds symbolize peace and innocence. First off, how does the tree by the Radley house symbolize Boo Radley’s kindness and longing for friendship? Kindness and longing for friendship are shown when Boo puts the items in the tree for Scout and Jem to find. Scout and Jem are very curious and cautious at first of what they find, but later they start taking anything in it without hesitation, this might show their slow trust for …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the essay is about the themes found in the book, to kill a mockingbird by harper lee.
- Analyzes how boo radley's kindness and longing for friendship are shown when he puts the items in the tree for scout and jem to find.
- Analyzes how tim johnson symbolizes atticus' fight against racism by showing maycomb's degradation and how they slowly go mad.
- Analyzes how mockingbirds symbolize peace and innocence, since they don't do anything wrong and only bring joy to people.
- Concludes that harper lee uses many symbols in her book to kill a mockingbird, such as the tree by the radley house, tim johnson's fight against racism, peace and innocence.
The mockingbirds in the story symbolize peace and innocence because they don’t do anything wrong and they only bring joy to people. “‘But remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird [said by Atticus]’....’Your father's right,’ she [Miss Maudie] said. ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee, 119). The title also has meaning in it, since mockingbirds represent innocence, to kill a mockingbird means to destroy innocence. Some of the characters in the story can be represented as mockingbirds, or innocent people destroyed by evil things. One of the major mockingbirds in the story, Tom Robinson, who was killed by the police, was an innocent man who was destroyed by the evil of the Ewell’s. “‘Tom’s dead.” [said by Atticus]. Aunt Alexandra put her hands on her mouth. ‘They shot him,’ said Atticus. ‘He was running. It was during their exercise period’ (Lee, 315). Tom had the misfortune of knowing the Ewell’s, it was because of Mayella and Bob’s lies that he died. “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (Lee, 323). There are other mockingbirds in the story too, such as Jem and Boo Radley. Jem’s innocence was destroyed during Tom Robinson’s trial, where he sees Tom undergo an unfair trial. Since the trial took place in the deep South in the 1930’s, what a white man says is held higher than what a black man says, even when it’s not true. "The jury couldn't …show more content…
The ones talked about in this essay are, how the tree by the Radley house symbolizes Boo Radley’s kindness and longing for friendship. How Tim Johnson symbolizes Atticus’ fight against racism. And, how mockingbirds symbolize peace and innocence, especially how innocence in people can be destroyed by evil. These symbols are all very important by showing the story's main themes and ideas that it’s trying to convey to it’s
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- Critical Issues In To Kill A Mockingbirdanalytical essayThe novel addresses the themes of race relations, justice, the loss of innocence, and small town life. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are viewed as mockingbird characters because they are subjected to suffering yet they are harmless and innocent.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how harper lee's to kill a mockingbird novel deals with critical issues such as racial inequality and rape. the plot and characters are based on harper’s perception of her neighbors and her immediate family.
- Analyzes how harper lee's to kill a mockingbird deals with critical issues in society such as racial inequality and rape.
- Analyzes how atticus likened tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. lee uses this moment to incorporate her ultimate image of good in the world.
- Analyzes how tom robinson and boo radley are viewed as mockingbird characters because they are subject to suffering but are harmless and innocent. the plot of the novel and characters depend on harper's perceptions about her neighbors and her immediate family.
897 wordsRead More - Motifs In To Kill A Mockingbirdanalytical essayIn To Kill a Mockingbird there are a lot of symbolism and racism going on, but the subject that is going to be talked about today is how motifs connects to the theme of the novel. Harper lee uses motifs to support the theme of the novel.
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- Analyzes how harper lee uses motifs to support the theme of to kill a mockingbird.
- Analyzes how the title of the novel, to kill a mockingbird, points to one of its key themes. the motif reveals that tom robinson is not the only one.
- Analyzes how the theme of to kill a mockingbird is set upon many motifs, including atticus finch telling jem and scout if they want to shoot birds.
493 wordsRead More - Symbolism and Allegory in To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essaySymbolism and Allegory in To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch. One of the more effective allegories in the novel is the building of a snowman by Jem and Scout. There was not enough snow to make a snowman entirely out of snow, so Jem made a foundation out of dirt and then covered it with what snow they had. If the snowman was made completely out of snow, Jem's action would not be so significant.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how harper lee uses symbolism extensively throughout to kill a mockingbird, referring to the problems of racism in the south during the early twentieth century.
- Analyzes how the building of a snowman by jem and scout is one of the more effective allegories in the novel.
- Analyzes how the alteration from black to white can be considered as a merging of the two races into one, without any differences between them to separate them, an equality of black and white people.
- Analyzes how the symbolism of the snowman signifies miscegenation; marriage or sexual relations between people of different races.
- Analyzes how the fire, which was the cause for the melting down of the snowman, depicts the prejudice of maycomb, who strongly believe that blacks and whites are not the same.
- Analyzes how the symbolism of the fire overwhelms the humanitarian beliefs of a very small number of people.
- Analyzes how jem's attempt to beat white racism is evident in the incident when he and scout had to contradict the insults of mrs. dubose.
- Analyzes how jem's nursing of the flowers denotes his courage, which he nurses to be able to tolerate criticism of his family.
- Analyzes how mayella ewell's red geraniums symbolise the good that exists in everybody.
- Analyzes how atticus tries to convince his children that this assertion is valid. scout made the mob which attempted to lynch tom robinson to depart.
- Analyzes how atticus's rational approach to life is similar to that of ancient philosophers, especially the stoics.
- Analyzes how atticus didn't expect jem to be affected by the events of the trial. scout's ham costume is a symbol of humor and naivety.
- Analyzes how atticus finch is seen as a hero for he kills racism and prejudice, not allowing it to spread any further.
- Analyzes how the theme of prejudice in the novel can be perceived through the symbol of the mockingbird.
- Analyzes how boo radley's view as a mockingbird emphasizes the universality of human nature.
- Analyzes how the symbol of the mockingbird can be applied to boo radley from another point of view as well.
- Analyzes how symbolism is used extensively in the novel to kill a mockingbird. it reveals prejudice and narrow-mindedness of the citizens of maycomb county, their fears and immoral things.
- Explains sparknotes llc's "to kill a mockingbird." barnes & noble learning network.
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- Analyzes how harper lee communicates a central idea that society has good and bad qualities by using an epigraphic symbol and dynamic characterization of scout.
- Analyzes how john steinbeck conveys the essence of human ethics at times of crisis. he depicts grapes, a turtle, and an infant's death as significant representations of the hardships and oppressions the joad family endured on their way to california.
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1318 wordsRead More - The Mockingbirds of To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Leeanalytical essayThus, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley are all victims of rumour, humiliation, and prejudice. Firstly, Atticus is humiliated by his family and his neighbourhood because he has stood up to an African American man, and then, is nicknamed “nigger-lover” for his decision. By strong evidence, Tom Robinson is proven innocent of rapping a young white woman, but is still convicted, and then shot to death because he is black. Finally, Arthur Radley is greatly misunderstood because of his mysterious background and is forced to isolate from society to escape the awful and untruthful rumours about him in Maycomb. Through the storytelling of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley, the reader understands how the mockingbird symbol is used to represent those who are innocent, and have good intentions at heart.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the term "to kill a mockingbird" symbolizes cruel and improper behavior towards people with good hearts and intentions.
- Analyzes how atticus finch's reputation is shattered when he is faced with a case in court that affects him personally.
- Analyzes how the "mockingbird" tom robinson is a hard-working, well-respected man who rapes mayella ewell. the second evidence proves that he is not guilty.
- Analyzes how arthur "boo" radley is discriminated and misunderstood by society. he is accused for crimes and actions that he has not committed.
- Analyzes how atticus finch, tom robinson, and arthur "boo" radley are all victims of rumour, humiliation and prejudice.
1256 wordsRead More - Mockingbird Symbolismanalytical essayTHE GREY AREA “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” (90). Although the title of the novel has little literal connection to the actual storyline, it holds a huge amount of symbolic weight in this tale of innocents wounded by the evil surrounding them. The ‘mockingbird’ represents various characters in the novel that are harmed one way or another, particularly by the judgmental, prejudiced ways of the Maycomb townsfolk.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the title of the novel has little literal connection to the actual storyline, but it holds a huge amount of symbolic weight in this tale of innocents wounded by the evil surrounding them.
- Analyzes how despite the overwhelming evidence indicating his innocence, a combination of prejudices and pressure from their community led them to the unfair and sadly unsurprising guilty verdict.
- Analyzes how harper lee uses the mockingbird as a key motif to explore the threat that ignorance, prejudice, and hatred pose to the innocent.
- Analyzes how jem and scout are innocent and oblivious to humanity's potential for prejudice. atticus taking on the tom robinson case marks the beginning of a rough awakening for the pair.
877 wordsRead More - Mockingbirds' Songanalytical essayMockingbirds represent Tom Robinson because people look down upon him because he is black. Mr.Ewell accused Tom Robinson of beating and raping Mayella Ewell, his oldest child. In the end, no one had any evidence, so it solely depended on each man’s word. Atticus Finch, Robinson’s lawyer and Scout and Jem’s father, found that the person who beat Mayella’s right eye would have to use their left hand. The jury found Robinson guilty even though he couldn’t have committed the crime because “his left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side”(Lee 211). Later at the prison, guards shot him multiple times after ‘attempting to escape’. In addition to maintaining a full-time job and supporting his family, he had found time to help others in the community, white or black, for free. Despite helping The Ewells with chores, they didn’t return the kindness when Robinson needed it the most, ultimately killing him.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mockingbirds play a small role in the plot, but convey larger meaning. they represent many different characters throughout the book, including tom robinson, scout finch, mr.raymond, and boo radley.
- Analyzes how mockingbirds represent tom robinson because people look down upon him because he is black. mr.ewell accused him of beating and raping mayella ewell.
- Analyzes how mr.raymond is seen as an outcast because he came from an old and rich family, but still decides to socialize with the black community.
- Analyzes how boo radley has hidden in his home for more than fifteen years. maycomb has ostracized him because they see him as a mentally insane person who may or may not be alive.
- Analyzes how atticus visits tom robinson, jem, scout and dill decide to follow him. mr.cunningham and many other white citizens of maycomb gang up and try to pressure him into giving up on robinson. scout decides to speak up.
- Opines that maycomb needs more people like scout, the song, to protect the mockingbirds from harm. tom robinson helped the ewells, but they turned against him.
631 wordsRead More - To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Quotesanalytical essayThis relates back to my topic sentence because it shows courage for Atticus to walk away from Bob Ewell and handle his attack. In conclusion, Atticus is symbolizes justice. Atticus is honest, sincere, respected, courageous, and his morals are important to the story. Without him, Jem and Scout would of most likely grown up just as prejudiced as Maycomb County. In the story, the theme is innocence. All of the main characters can be identified as mockingbirds, innocent people who have been hurt or killed through contact with evil. At the end of the story the children are starting to figure out more about society than they knew before, more negative things like prejudice and hypocrisy. As scout and jem are settling down for bed, a thought crosses Jem’s mind. Jem comments “Scout... he wants to stay inside” (Lee ). This relates back to my topic sentence because Lee is trying to portray that Boo already knows of the horror of reality and that is why he does not want to come out, he does not want his innocence to be taken away. Another example would be when Tom Robinson tried to escape from jail. The text states, “Seventeen bulletholes in him, they didn’t have to
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lee's views on atticus are critical to the plot of to kill a mockingbird by harper lee.
- Analyzes how ms. dubose's words about atticus posed a question for scout, who asked her father what she meant when she said "n-lover".
- Analyzes how atticus's morals teaches scout and jem about him and his sincerity and honesty to his children.
- Concludes that atticus symbolizes justice, sincere, respected, courageous, and his morals are important to the story.
1150 wordsRead More - To Kill a Mockingbirdanalytical essay1. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, there is not one single theme that dominates the entire story. Although racial prejudice and fanaticism may be its central topic, there are other underlying themes that shape the novel to be a well-known classic in American literature. Aside from prejudice, the themes of loss of innocence and needing to walk in another’s shoes are seen in the life of little girl, Jean Louis Finch “Scout.” Prejudice is seen in the many of the main characters such as Bob and Mayella Ewell, Mr. Cunningham, and Lula. However the themes of walking in another’s shoes and loss of innocence are mainly represented in the second part of the novel by Scout. As Scout grows and learns from her father Atticus Finch and her brother “Jem” Finch, one sees the underlying motifs become more prominent and by the end of the novel develop into major themes.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how racial prejudice and fanaticism dominate the story of harper lee's "to kill a mockingbird." the themes of loss of innocence and walking in another’s shoes are represented in the second part of the novel by scout.
- Analyzes how prejudice is demonstrated in bob and mayella ewell as they strive to make tom robinson, a young black man, be found guilty of rape.
- Analyzes how jean louis finch, the narrator of maycomb, begins to understand things better and sees that calamity can even come into her life.
- Analyzes how scout uses atticus finch's quote to help her understand more of the human race. she uses his advice to explain boo radley’s actions.
- Analyzes how the characters scout, jem, atticus, tom robinson, and bob ewell all play a crucial role in displaying these themes. harper lee's to kill a
806 wordsRead More - What Are The Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbirdanalytical essaySymbols are an important attribute of the text, used to portray the extent of racism and the repercussions this has on the characters within the text. For much of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird is an underlying symbol of innocence, which links directly to that of Tom Robinson, who despite Atticus’ best intentions, was ‘dead from the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed’. Tom was the greatest victim of racism and the ‘evil assumption’ that ‘all negroes lie’ and are ‘immoral’. Tom Robinson was a viable candidate for Bob Ewell’s lies, consequently, was a sitting target in the societies game of race. This idea is paralleled by the toilet, a recurring motif that highlights the social status of high ruling whites
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how symbols portray the extent of racism and the repercussions this has on the characters within the text.
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