Essay To Kill A Mockingbird

It’s interesting to see the ways different authors depict how a character matures. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird we can easily see how she chose to do it. The novel is set in Alabama in the 1930’s, while black vs. white racism was a big issue and problem for many. Atticus is the father of Scout and Jem, young children who witness the discrimination first hand when their father, a white man, defends a black man in court. Lee does a great job developing the characters; especially the narrator, Jean Louise Finch (Scout). Scout’s thoughts, conversations, and actions, illustrate that she’s emotionally maturing from the innocent child that she was.

Tom Robinson is wrongfully convicted of rape and eventually killed in prison, whereas Boo Radley is killed emotionally because he is not accepted by society. Since it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, it is also a sin to kill innocent souls like Tom and Boo. When Scout tries to understand why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, Miss Maudie elucidates Atticus’s opinion more clearly by stating, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (103). Mockingbirds sing and make beautiful music; however they mimic the songs of other birds, so they are seen through others. Tom and Boo are like mockingbirds because they are subject to the perceptions of the people of Maycomb. The townspeople knew these characters based on what others said about them. Consequently, Tom and Boo do not have their own “song” and are portrayed by others’ views of them. The mockingbird emerges as a metaphor for the wrong in harming innocent and defenseless people.

Understanding perspective is essential to understanding people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird presents this idea in multiple passages of her writing. It can be seen in the rough, unknown troubles that people face despite their wrongful actions. As well as the rumours that are untrue and give complete false impressions of people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird uses these topics to illustrate the dangers of judging others before getting to know them.

Tom Robinson, a familiar name in the MAycomb community, and not for the good reasons unfortunatley. Mayella Ewells is charginng Tom of rape and beating her, which are false accusations. He was completely innocent and not gulity. Tom was found guilty simply because of the color of his skin. He was later taken to prison were Tom was shot to death seventeentimes “ I guess Tom was tired of white mens chances and preferred to take his own. “ Atticus knew and understood that Tom would have no more hope left after all he has been through. All he was trying to do was help someone whom was inneed of help. While mockingbirds do nothing to bother others, Tom tries to escape the bird cage he is blindsided by seventeen bullets realizing that there is no way out.

Throughout most novels, characters encounter obstacles or events that once faced change their lives for the better or worse. In this book, that obstacle is racism. This is evident in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird when ... ____________________. Due to... ____________________. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Dolphus Raymond, Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell each encounter racism in different ways; however, they all suffer as a result.

The idea of mockingbirds in this text carries great symbolic weight, mockingbirds are considered the innocents in the novel. It is considered a sin to kill a mockingbird, which symbolizes the destruction innocence. Tom Robinson, Arthur “Boo” Radley, Jem and Mr. Raymond can all be identified as mockingbirds - innocents who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil.

The Mockingbird has a very deep and powerful meaning in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. It represents peacefulness, innocence and kindness which is portrayed through the characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. The mockingbird's influence can also be applied to the relationships between humans. The Mockingbird is a powerful symbol that echoes a strong meaning throughout the novel.

Perspectives can change beliefs in many ways. In Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, Bob Ewell hears and sees Atticus defending Tom Robinson who is black, therefore, he believes Atticus ‘loves niggers’. Jem, Scout, and Dill have never seen Boo Radley come out at day and they hear rumors that Boo only comes out at night. People believe rumors and their perspectives until they get the truth and change their beliefs.

The title is symbolic to the plot of the novel. The title, comes from a proverb that tells that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. (Literature and Theology, 436-457). The metaphor in this novel serves as an admonition for people to judge their own selves, rather than what is seen by the eyes. A mockingbird is considered to be innocuous. Therefore, it is used to symbolize innocence and the good and innocent people who are harmless, but are harmed by others. Initially, Harper writes, “to kill a mockingbird is a sin”, and as the story moves on, there is no scene where a mockingbird was actually killed, but Tom Robinson, an innocent person, was brutally struck down due to bigotry and

References to the title in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird suggest that both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are “mockingbirds.” The reader is lead to understand that the term suggests an innocent, harmless creature who should not be made to suffer. To Kill a Mockingbird is a sin. This book shows Tom Robinson and Boo Radley as mockingbirds. Boo Radley was the victim of harsh parenting and prejudgement. Tom Robinson was the victim of racism.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. Discuss this quote from Atticus in relation to 3 characters from the novel.

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird a major theme is the loss of innocence. Whether from emotional abuse, racial prejudice or learning, Boo, Tom, and Scout all lose their innocence in one sense or another. The prejudice that each character endures leads to their loss. Through the responses of Boo, Tom, and Scout, Harper Lee shows how each character responded differently to their loss of innocence.

Tom represents a Mockingbird through his benevolence and willingness to help others. His generosity is shown when he’s walking home from work and he repeatedly stops and help Mayella Ewell with household work and chores. While Tom Robinson is in court being falsely tried for rape, he was asked if when he stopped to help Mayella, if he received money for what he had done to help her, which he responded with “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel for the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help none and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn’t have no nickels to spare” (Lee 195). During the court case, when Atticus describes Tom to the jury, he says that Tom is “a quiet, respectable, humble, Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman who had to put his word against two white people’s”

The books title itself has a very controversial topic hidden within it. On page 92 in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus says to Jem, ““Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”. This is important because it comes back at the end of the book when Arthur kills Bob. Later on Scout received an explanation from Miss Maudie. This was their conversation, “That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,” she said. “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 (Lee 92-94). This is key to the controversial topic of the Justice system in To Kill a Mockingbird. I think that in To Kill a Mockingbird the Mockingbird was referring to Tom Robinson, and Arthur Radley. Both of these men are the Mockingbirds in this story. Mockingbirds are weak, they are helpless, they don’t hurt anyone, they are very soothing and calm. Both Mr. Robinson and Mr. Radley have the traits of a mockingbird in this story and out of both of them the true mockingbird is Arthur Radley.

The title To Kill a Mockingbird is very significant to the novel as it portrays many forms of mockingbirds throughout it. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are the true Mockingbirds of the story. They both are innocent from the accusations claimed upon them.