How Does Lee Use Symbols 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.

The Mockingbird had become something symbolic in the story. The mockingbird represents innocence and portrays itself through several different characters in the story; such as Scout Finch or Boo Radley. Despite their innocence however, they can be injured with their contact with evil. In the story, it’s explained how Boo Radley’s innocence is tainted because of his abusive father. Thus the extended metaphor or symbolism would explain that killing a mockingbird is tainting innocence. When Scout inquires her, Miss Maudie explains, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but . . . sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This also links the connection of Scout and Jem both having the last name finch, which is another name for a particularly small (and also harmless) bird.

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is ever present toward blacks and the trial of Tom Robinson, an African American, clearly displays this. Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman. The huge detail in this is that it was a white woman. Racial issues are really brought about because of that detail. People during this time would easily take a white man’s word over that of a black man, so nobody would ever trust Tom Robinson, especially since he was a black man being accused of a crime against a white woman. Tom Robinson really can’t do anything to help his case. The only person that can help him is Atticus. While Atticus does not believe that he will win the case, he knows that it is right to do everything he can to help Tom. He knows right from wrong and he will do everything in his power to help people see that, and to help Tom survive this case. Tom Robinson could also be described as a Mockingbird in this story. If proven innocent, he would be

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

Many would agree that Lee demonstrated her motifs extremely well. The motif of a mockingbird shows how innocent people get hurt at the fault of others. Courage is important because it shows the good in people and if you try you may be able to succeed, even if it's hard. Lastly, the motif of walking in someone else’s shoes shows how you can not fully understand someone and their actions until you see if from their point of view. Harper Lee uses these motifs with great skill to help show how human life is valuable and how you should respect

Symbolism is used extensively in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The theme of prejudice in the novel can be best perceived through the symbol of the mockingbird. Atticus advised his children that if they went hunting for birds to "shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (96). Miss Maudie explains this further by saying that "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" (96). Bluejays are considered to be the bullies of the bird world. They are very loud, territorial and

That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’” (Lee 119). Quite a few characters actually embody the concept of innocence, or are the metaphorical mockingbird. First are the children, Jem and Scout, the innocence of the kids are slowly dissipated throughout the novel. Jem and Scout’s “mockingbird” is killed by the end of the novel because of their exposure to their father’s trial. The children went from naïve, innocent children to mature children. In pertaining to Boo Radley the kids believed the rumors about Boo such as, “as Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities,” (Lee 13) to understanding Boo on a mature level as Jem said, “‘…Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand something. I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time…it’s because he wants to stay inside.” (Lee 304). From the beginning to the end of the novel, it is possible to see the “killing of the Mockingbird” or the loss of innocence because of their reasoning in general. Through Tom Robison’s trial Jem and Scout learned that life is not fair and all people are not equal; in the trial, since Tom was black, he was not given a fair and equal trial, and the children finally saw the true nature of the people of Maycomb County. Another “mockingbird” in the novel is Tom

In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee uses irony and symbolism to show that with the more experiences a person has, a better understanding of peoples actions and views comes with it. Giving a deeper understanding of the power of words, racism, and of the misconceptions of the world. Throughout the book Lee uses experiences like these to show the children’s growth during their childhood, and their dealings with discrimination in the world around them.

literary devices to show the loss in innocence throughout Jems life in the story. Harper lee uses symbolism, imagery, and foreshadowing throughout the book.

Furthermore, Miss Maudie tells Scout, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but… sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee 93) Over the course of the story, to kill a mockingbird is associated with pointlessly killing the innocent. Some characters that can be represented by the mockingbird are Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Boo Radley, for example, hasn’t done anything to harm others since the day he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors. He did not mutilate animals or eat them raw, nor did he poison pecans, unlike what the rumors stated to make him appear villainous. Instead, Boo attempted to befriend Jem and Scout, leaving them gifts to show his kindness. Moreover, Tom Robinson is perceived as a mockingbird because he lost his life in attempts to help Mayella Ewell because he felt sorry for her, as he said in court. The jury then interpreted his pity as Tom thinking he is superior to her, which was “prohibited by racism” at the time since he was a black man with condolence towards a white woman.Equally important is the symbolism behind the mad dog. Furthermore, during the beginning of the trial, Scout sees, “...something only a lawyer's child could be expected to see, could be expected to watch for, and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty.” Here,

There are many significant symbols used to represent the different themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the book Harper Lee transmits a message to the reader using examples and symbols to get her point across. Some of these symbols include the dresses, Tim Johnson, and dependencies.

In Conclusion To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee uses a plethora of literary devices. And each device is used in an in particular way to create theme. And even though the book takes place in the 1930’s it can still be applied to our daily lives. While the theme Courage can end discrimination. Still allies and that we can still make a change in our society

'Your father's right,' she [Ms Maudie] 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.”(p. …) This quote from Ms Maudie tells us more about the book’s title, clarifying that the harmless and innocent mockingbird is a metaphor for good, pure hearted people destroyed by evil and injustice. An example of a mockingbird in the book is Boo Radley, and just like a mockingbird he does not hurt anyone, but only sings his hearts out for us by leaving Jem and Scout gifts, wraps Scout in a blanket and saves the siblings lives from Bob Ewell. Ms Maudie puts her said words into action, since she is the only person except for Atticus to treat Boo as human being, as she insists on calling him Arthur instead of Boo. Talking to her, the children receive a new perspective of Boo’s life and childhood. According to Ms Maudie Boo is no demon, but the opposite; the boy she knew was a nice kid who suffered terribly at the hands of his abusive parents. Boo driven mad by his overbearing father illustrates the books title To Kill a Mockingbird; the destruction of an innocent

In To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on the morals of human beings and how the look of one person can change ones mentality completely, especially In To Kill a Mockingbird where it talks about a girl named Scout and how her and her brother Jem see their lawyer dad named Atticus fight for a black man’s innocence in a rape conviction. The story is set place in the 1930s a time when racial equality was still not something a lot of people at the time supported, so it makes sense that they would accuse Tom Robinson (a black man) of raping Mayella Ewell (a white woman). The purpose of the story was to show the narrow mind of people that saw and only cared for the color of ones skin instead of the actual truth and evidence of a human beings life and value.

To Kill A Mockingbird is drenched in different themes and symbols, one must understand these symbols to truly understand the moral. Arguably, the biggest symbols in the book are mockingbirds. The novel takes place in the 1930’s, in a small town called Maycomb. This time period was very racist. The book takes place during a three-year span. Atticus, their father, is a lawyer who is defending a black man accused of raping a 19-year-old woman. Atticus tries to raise his children to not have prejudice. Scout and Jem, his children, are naïve but towards the end, they grow more knowledgeable and start to understand the racism that takes place in their town. Harper Lee’s novel implies that Jem, Scout and Boo’s innocence has been stripped from them and that a mockingbird represents innocence, which therefore represents them.