A symbol is when an object, person, or a situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. The major symbol in To Kill a Mockingbird is the mockingbird. The mockingbird symbolizes innocence. The symbol relates to several characters in the book. It relates to Tom Robinson because he was only trying to help Mayella, but was accused of rape and put on trial for it. It also relates to Atticus because he was harassed for doing what was right and defending a black man. Another character that relates to the mockingbird is Boo Radley. Boo is an innocent man who was wrongly kept in the house by his father after a childish prank. One character who symbolizes the mockingbird is Tom Robinson. Tom is like the mockingbird because he was only …show more content…
Atticus is like the mockingbird because he wants to bring good into the world by fighting the injustice. He doesn’t mean anyone any harm. Mockingbirds will fight predators that are much bigger than them. This is a characteristic displayed by Atticus when he decides to defend Tom Robinson. He and his children are harassed and called names just because Atticus is doing the right thing and defending a black man. Boo Radley is another example of a character who symbolizes the mockingbird. Boo Radley is and innocent and harmless man who was accused of things he didn’t do. He did not mutilate animals or eat them raw, and he didn’t poison pecans. In the early chapters of the book he is thought to be a monster by most of Maycomb. Jem and Scout never saw that part of him. Boo gives the children gifts and even save their lives when they are attacked by Bob Ewell.
In conclusion, the mockingbird symbol relates to several characters in the book. Tom Robinson, Atticus, and Boo Radley are all innocent and harmless people. Tom Robinson is like the mockingbird because he only does good by trying to help people. Atticus relates to the mockingbird because he wants to bring good to the world by fighting the injustice. Boo Radley symbolizes the mockingbird because he is innocent, harmless, he gave gifts to the kids, and even saved them when they were
Tom Robinson’s character exemplifies the mockingbird because he is a black man who is denied justice based on racial prejudice. After Mayella Ewell accuses Tom of rape, there is no way for him to be judged fairly because the narrow-minded, white townspeople are unable to get past their prejudices towards blacks. At his trial, Tom’s lawyer, Atticus, argues,
Boo Radley could be the symbolic “mockingbird”. For example, while debating with Atticus, Heck Tate exclaimed, "I never heard tell that it 's against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did, but maybe you 'll say it 's my duty to tell the town all about it and not hush it up. Know what 'd happen then?... To my way
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird symbolizes Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Boo Radley is symbolized by the mockingbird in two different ways. The first reason that he resembles the mockingbird is that throughout the book, he does not harm Jem or Scout, and actually helps them. This is like a mockingbird because mockingbirds provide beautiful music for us to enjoy, and are not a vicious animal. When Jem, Dill, and Scout snuck into the Radley yard, Boo helped cover up their tracks. After Mr. Nathan Radley shot at Jem, Jem lost his pants. When he returned to get his pants, Jem found them hung neatly on the fence, sewn up by Boo. Boo also gave the children gifts through the tree. He placed items, including soap dolls, chewing gum, a medal, a watch,
In Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”, there are various characters who could be analogized to the emblematic mockingbird. While the title may not overtly correlate with the plot, its symbolic significance resonates throughout the narrative, notably in its examination of innocence. Mockingbirds, illustrating innocence, are a reappearing motif, and to kill one is to dismantle that innocence. I believe the most apparent mockingbird is Boo Radley. This is because he is seen as mysterious, then innocent, and subsequently his innocence was killed.
They will encounter many forms of racism, one of the worst being the trial of Tom Robinson. This will be filled with many mysteries about who Boo Radley is. The symbol of the mockingbird represents innocence. How harmless they are and how it is considered a sin if you kill one. In her novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson, Jem, and Boo Radley as human mockingbirds and therefore, symbols of innocence.
Harper Lee also represents the themes through key symbolism. The most important symbol and the one that represented innocence and goodness was the mockingbird. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and even Atticus and Scout were the metaphoric mockingbirds in the novel. When Scout asked Miss Maudie about
Throughout the duration of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many instances where Lee uses symbolism to help deepen our understanding of the text. This successful novel is set to show the racism of the south in the 1930s. One of the more prominent symbols would be that of the ever so famous mockingbird. You can see examples of this throughout the novel, but more specifically when Atticus says “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (page 99) The mockingbird is the symbol of innocence. It is used to link the two main plot points in the novel, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. They are the mockingbirds because they are innocents who have been destroyed by the evil of the world. This helps to deepen the understanding by connecting the importance of their characters with the innocence of the mockingbird.
In To kill a Mockingbird symbolism is developed through many characters showing peoples innocence and prejudice. Two main characters that have developed symbolism throughout the novel are Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.
Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout Finch along with Boo Radley represent a Mockingbird because they were given negative consequences when expressing no harm. First off, Tom Robinson, a black man who provide pleasure to the folks he encounters. Yet the accusation of rape lead fingers pointing towards him. He was no way harming anyone while helping Mayella with chores around the home. During the trial evidence was laid out for Atticus to point out Tom wasn't guilty in the first place.
However, Tom Robinson is not the only mockingbird in the story. Boo Radley is another harmless creature who falls victim of cruelty. He is unjustly regarded as an evil person and used as the scapegoat for all the bad happenings around town. Women are afraid of him and so are children. When the sheriff decided that he would not arrest Boo Radley for killing Bob Ewell and that would present his death as an accident, Atticus asked Scout if she understood the meaning of this decision. Scout replied that she did. Her exact words were: "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?" (282). Boo here is also compared to the gentle bird and again it would be a 'sin' to punish him. The symbol of the mockingbird can be applied to Boo Radley from another point of view as well. The mockingbird has no song of its own. It just imitates other birds. Therefore it makes itself present and is seen through other birds. In the same way, Boo Radley is seen through the eyes of other people. He does not have a character of his own. What the reader knows about him is what other people say. He is believed to " dine on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, his hands were
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.
Lee employs symbolism to illustrate Tom Robinson being falsely accused; as mockingbirds are often mistaken for a bird they are imitating. Symbolism is important because it shows the connection between the title of the book and the storyline. As the reader, we are able to see that just like a mockingbird mistaken for other birds, Tom Robinson was mistakenly seen guilty.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee provides three characters that symbolize the loss of innocence. These symbols are linked to the mockingbird. They are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mayella Ewell.
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 is a symbol of innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird: “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.” (Lee 90). Ms. Maudie is trying to explain to the kids that it is a sin to kill something innocent. The Mockingbird does nothing harmful to them they just sing songs to the humans . There are many connecting symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird. Not only do many things in the book such as mockingbirds there are things in the book that represent these symbols. A mockingbird is innocent, keeps to itself, makes others happy much like Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Scout Finch throughout the novel.