Riley Cusack
Mrs.Geronikolas
ENG1D1-09
05/08/2014
Three Representations of Mockingbirds
Mockingbirds are cheerful birds who mean no harm, and never do one thing but make beautiful music for all to hear. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, those who are innocent and harmless and never show hatefulness can be described as mockingbirds. According miss Maudie, mockingbirds are described as "...[those who] don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us"(Lee103). Harper Lee uses the fictional town of Maycomb to show how judgemental society can be. To Kill a Mockingbird is significant as a title because it becomes a symbol for the characters Tom Robinson, Jean Louise "scout" Finch and Mr. Arthur "Boo" Radley.
Tom Robinson can be perceived as a mockingbird because not only was he completely innocent, but he was arrested and ended up getting killed for no reason whatsoever, and all just because he felt bad for Mayella Ewell and wanted to help her. Tom was proven innocent in court by Atticus saying,
"'The state has not produced one Iota of evidence that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place, it has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious questioning [and] cross examination... the defendant is not guilty, but someone in this courtroom is'"(Lee215).Atticus conclusively proves that Tom is completely innocent and that the two witnesses, Mayella and Bob Ewell are using tom for their gain , as they use him to cover up things that they don't want society to know about. Secondly, Tom is
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like a mocking bird because he decides to help Mayella with her chores expecting nothing in return. the reader realises this when Tom says "'...
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...t, judgemental and unreliable people in the Town of Maycomb. Conclusively, Mr. Arthur "Boo" Radley can be seen as a mockingbird because He risks his life to save the children's lives, he means no harm and he just wants to give them things and help in any way he can. Boo also is like a mockingbird because of his choice to stay in his house for so many years to avoid the irrational racism society has to offer.
So in summary, people can reflect the characteristics of mockingbirds as you can see in the analysis of the three charters Tom Robinson, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch and Mr. Arthur "Boo" Radley. Tom showed the characteristics of innocence, empathy and selflessness, Scout showed immaturity, innocence and loyalty, and Boo showed kindness, innocence and heroism. Throughout this novel, Tom lost his life, Scout lost his innocence and Boo lot his sense of security.
Boo Radley is more subtle in showing how he represents the mockingbird, as he is more of a quiet, shy character. Boo was confined to his home but is still aware of the people around him. The children view him more as a superstition than a person in the beginning of the novel but Scout realizes just how good of a person Boo really is when he saves her and Jem from Mr. Ewell. Tom Robinson represented the killing of the mockingbird. He was looked down upon by most of the community but he was an innocent man who had no intention of harming anyone, yet he was still convicted of the crime and sentenced to
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.
When the children were given toy guns for Christmas from their uncle, Atticus tells them that is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because mockingbirds are innocent creatures that only make pretty music and do not harm anything. Boo Radley is shown throughout the story as a gentile man when he covers Scout up with a blanket the night she was waiting on the sidewalk for the fire burning from Miss Maudie’s house to be put out. He also leaves the children presents in the knothole and saves their lives when Bob Ewell tries to kill them. His bad reputation comes from the idea that all people who isolate themselves from their communities are horrible, violent people who need to be shut off from everyone for their own safety, when in reality we are left to guess that he detaches himself from Maycomb because of some form of social anxiety or dislike of socializing. The comparison of him to a mockingbird is prominent at the end of the book, when Heck Tate is explaining to Atticus that it was Boo who killed Bob Ewell, and not Jem. He tells him that it would be best to pretend that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife because sharing the actual story would bring Boo into the spotlight, which Scout compares to being a sin as bad as killing a mockingbird. Tom Robinson also represents a Mockingbird because he is just as innocent as one. During the time when Mayella and Bob
In the story, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Atticus told Jem and Scout to not kill mockingbirds as Miss Maudie explains that they are innocent and sing their hearts out for Maycomb (10. 90). Atticus also said to his children: “ Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (10.90). Throughout the story, the two characters that portray as the mockingbirds are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. I think that they’re the most important characters because they were completely innocent even though they were falsely accused by the people of Maycomb. That is why we shouldn’t make assumptions and believe in rumors without getting to know that these people are innocent.
...ions show us that he is truly a good person but rumors made him appear like an evil person. The "mockingbird" characteristic is present in Boo; he doesn't hurt anything but instead, he helps people out. Boo fears the outside world because he is injured from the evil of mankind. He learns that people judge people and he is judged by the rumors going around. He knows that if he were to go outside and try to become sociable, he would be shunned so he just decides to stay in his home, safe and protected from the outside world.
Like a mockingbird, Tom Robinson never hurt anyone. He was hardworking and honest man unlike Bob Ewell. Mayella and Bob Ewell accuse Tom Robinson of a crime that he did not commit. The town also accused Tom by assuming that he is guilty just because he is a Negro and his alleged victim is white. After Tom Robinson is killed, the people of Maycomb assume it's "typical of a Negro to cut and run." Tom Robinson was a humble family man with a wife and children. Tom's biggest mistake was setting foot in the Ewell house in the first place. His intent was only to help Mayella and provide some needed assistance in a household that provided Mayella little comfort and support. All Tom Robinson ever did was attempt to help Miss Ewell, by sentencing him to death; the jury "killed a
Atticus once said, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” (Lee 90). Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the mockingbird as, “A common North American bird that is remarkable for its exact imitation of the notes of other birds.” In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee defines the mockingbird as innocent people who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil. Although the mockingbird itself imitates the songs of other birds, in this novel the characters who portray the mockingbird reproduce what they hear- racism and violence, often without fully understanding their implications. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the symbol of the mockingbird is personified through Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Scout Finch.
Boo Radley putting a blanket around Scout shows he has a selfless nature, contrary to the utter demonization his character has endured, moreover, providing evidence that he is another symbol of a mockingbird. Finally, when the prosecution questions Tom Robinson, he explains that his motive for consistently helping Mayella without pay is because, “[he] felt sorry for her, [because] she seemed to try [more than] the rest of [them]” (Lee 124). While the prosecution takes this as him thinking he is better than Mayella, a white woman, in actuality it was Tom’s kind demeanor shining through by sympathizing for another human being, reinforcing his gentle character. His disposition and incontrovertible innocence from those whose perception racial discrimination has not tainted, makes him an undeniable symbol for a mockingbird. As shown, the characters Scout, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson exemplify the theme that it is a wrongdoing to take away or oppress one’s innocence in To Kill A
Tom is a man who has done nothing wrong. Living with his wife and three children, he is a clean man. A man who has nothing to hide. He even went out of his way to help Mayella Ewell. With no obligation to help her, Tom does so out of the kindness of his heart. Despite Tom’s kindhearted nature, others think of him as guilty before the trial. Many people in town believe that Atticus shouldn’t do much about defending Tom. Largely because he is a Negro and to the people of Maycomb “all Negroes lie”(273). Maycomb’s townsfolk takes the word of a white bluejay like Ewell over a black mockingbird like Tom. When several of the Cunninghams attempt to lynch Tom, it demonstrates how the town has already decided the fate of one mockingbird. Even in a court of law, which is where a person “ought to get a square deal”(295), Tom receives the fatal ‘shot’. His jury convicts him on little evidence. In fact, no concrete evidence is provided to prove that Tom does anything to Mayella. The jury sentences Tom to death based off prior prejudices. Because of this decision, Tom Robinson is literally shot. He gives up hope and tries to escape because he has been metaphorically shot one too many times. The jurors are directly responsible for the death of a
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee there are many representations of mockingbirds. A mockingbird in the novel, is an innocent soul. One of the most famous quotes from the novel is “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”( Pg. 103) The reason it’s considered a sin to kill a mockingbird is because they are innocent and do no harm. In the novel there are three main mockingbirds. Boo Radley, Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is an extraordinary story about a girl named Scout and her adventures growing up. At one point in the story, her father, Atticus, tells her not to shoot at a mockingbird, because “Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.”(119) this means that the people who are only nice and kind to the fellow residents of Maycomb, yet they get the unfortunate events that happen in the book, such as Atticus being put on Tom's case, and Boo being stuck inside his house. This becomes a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, and there are many characters in the book that could be classified as “mockingbirds”. In To Kill
See, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens; they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”(119) Boo fits the mold of what a mockingbird is perfectly. He didn’t want to cause any harm, he just wanted to protect the innocent from the evil. It truly would be a sin to kill him. This book helps people look for the inner mockingbird in people. Maybe that is what one of Harper Lee’s writing purposes
There holds a societal obligation to preserve the dignity and uphold the respect for every human individual, with irrelevance to the human condition.Boo Radley’s character greatly contrasts his perceived social image to which, I believe that symbolizes society, into which Lee states that empathy may work wonders.Harper Lee utilizes Boo as a symbol for the outcasts of society, and the Maycomb residents for the socially standard, in which Boo’s actions teach the reader to consider the full breadth of the human individual, and apply empathy to the character’s social deviations.Boo Radley is a complex character consisting of quirks, longings, and above all, bursting with authenticity, compassion, and life. Such a character symbolizes the outcasts in society, not just the socially or mentally impaired, but all of the under recognized and discriminated in society. Such a bold statement is backed up through Boo’s journey from malignant deviant to a hero, as can be seen from the shift in Scout and Jem’s perceptions of him, presumably including Maycomb, under the pretense that his rescue of Scout and Jem did spread.
In the novel, the mockingbird represents several different characters in various ways. For example, Boo Radley is portrayed as losing his innocence in society. He has proven that he is nothing but kind and generous by helping Jem and Scout in various occasions, but him being distant from society has allowed them, especially Jem and Scout, to make up stories about his doings causing him to look like a psychopath and obtaining a negative reputation amongst society. Jem also loses his innocence as well; this occurs when Tom Robinson is found guilty. Jem is well aware of the racial segregation that exists, but he believed that all the prejudice towards blacks did not exist in the courtroom. Jem is almost one-hundred percent sure that Tom will be found innocent because of the evidence his father Atticus has shown to the jury, but when he is declared guilty Jem has a realization that a white man will always win against a black one. In this point is where Jem loses his innocence and goes from a child mindset to an adult mindset where he now understands that prejudice exists everywhere. Another character that is portrayed as a mockingbird and is surely the most important out of the whole novel is Tom Robinson. Tom is an extremely vulnerable character since he is a cripple and black. His experience was different from Boos and Jems experience. The title of the book “To kill a
Boo Radley was a man who was never seen out of his house. Since the people of the town saw that he was different than them they thought he was bad. Boo had no chance to stand up for himself because he always stayed inside. Like Boo Radley, Tom Robinson is characterized by what the people of Maycomb county say about him. After being accused of rape, most of the people see him as an evil man. During the trial when Bob Ewell testifies, he points to Tom Robinson and says, "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella." (pg. 173) The evidence Atticus brought to court proved Tom innocent. But because this story takes place in the south where many people are racist he was accused of the crime. Tom had no chance because of the color of his skin. Both of these characters were seen for things on the outside and not for who they were.