Innocence And Justice Symbolized With A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

To kill a mockingbird can mean many things. It’s the title of a book that has been bought 40 million times. But, it also has a definition. To kill a mockingbird means to destroy innocence. The theme of my literary analysis is mockingbirds. Mockingbirds in TKAM are innocent things tainted by the skewed society of Maycomb. Some of these mockingbirds are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and the children. To Kill a Mockingbird is a book set in a small Alabama town in the 1930’s. The main character and narrator is Jean Louise Finch, but is almost always called by her nickname, Scout. Scout, her brother, and her summer friend Dill get into all kinds of mischief while living in the racist society of a 1930’s Alabama town. Scout’s dad, Atticus, is a prominent lawyer in Maycomb and is appointed to a controversial case, and is defending a black man. Scout and her brother, Jem go through many troubles and learn many lessons from the days leading up to, and during the trial. The trail makes their family some friends and a lot of enemies. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story of courage and despair. Throughout TKAM, mockingbirds are used as an example of something innocent being tainted by the skewed society of TKAM. Some great examples of these are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and the children.

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.

Mockingbirds do not do anything but to make music for everyone to enjoy. In a society where people tend to discriminate another; mockingbirds represent the innocent ones who are being victimizes upon. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, emphasizes the fact that lives are not always equal and also to remind people that it is a sin to accuse someone of a crime based on personal opinion. Everyone likes to gossip, and everyone likes to spread rumors for their own entertainment. For this reason, the town of Maycomb insists to degrade Atticus Finch because he chooses to defend Tom Robinson, an African American worker. Atticus symbolizes a mockingbird in multiple ways, including taking the blame for teaching his child, being a disgrace when trying to defend Tom, having difficulties, discipline Scout and Jem, and constantly

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, injustice is a main theme that is reflected towards many characters. To Kill a Mockingbird, is a novel written by Harper Lee and published in the nineteen-sixties. Many characters in the story are treated unfairly in society due to racial or prejudicial attitudes. Overall these characters are innocent victims of injustice. Atticus, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson are considered to be mockingbirds in the novel. A mockingbird was defined as a bird that did nothing wrong, but sang beautiful music for us to hear. These characters did nothing wrong and were treated unfairly in their town. In this different society, there are many factors that have had an influence on people’s perceptions towards others.

Two characters that are portrayed as the mockingbirds of this novel are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. “Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children…” (323) Sadly, Maycomb is a town full of many people who are prejudiced against black people and their lively communities. Helping Mayella, who is an Ewell, with simple chores whenever he could, Tom Robinson was wrongly convicted of raping her, even though all the evidence pointed to her father beating her. The only reason he was proven guilty was because he was black. If the jury had been fair, Tom would have been set free. Everyone knew he was innocent. Apart from doing nothing wrong, Tom was helpful, hardworking, and always provided for his family, while having an more than happy attitude. He was just like a mockingbird, minding his own business and being polite to all, and it was a sin to kill him. “‘Atticus sat looking at the floor for a long time. Finally he raised his head. “Scout,” he said, ‘Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?’ Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I ran to him and hugged him and kissed him with all my might. ‘Yes sir, I understand,’ I reassured him. ‘Mr. Tate was right.’ Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (370) As the other human mockingbird in this book, Boo Radley

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a coming of age story of two young children, Scout and Jem Finch, who learn how to live in the prejudiced society of the fictional town, Maycomb, Alabama. Many characters are involved in helping Scout and Jem learn important lessons and mature, whether it is by mouth or through actions. They learn how to be more gentleman and ladylike, they learn that people are sometimes cruel and ignorant, but most importantly, they learn to look at people with more than one perspective. Harper Lee uses the characters Atticus, Dolphus Raymond, and Boo Radley, to show the idea that one cannot fully understand another person until he or she walks in that person's shoes.

The general topic in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is criticising helpless people that have done no harm, and how it is a terrible deed. In the Novel a Mockingbird is a symbol of one of these helpless people. In part 1 of the novel, characters such as Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are portrayed as “mockingbirds”. The general topic also represents injustice, especially in the south. Atticus Finch is presented as seeker of justice that believes in equality for all, as well as one of the few characters to never rethink an opinion. Furthermore, Atticus is the father of Scout and Jem Finch, who he treats like adults and answeres all questions honestly as he would to any other Maycomb county member. He is portrayed as a decent respecting

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book that shows both moral and physical courage throughout the book. The narrator, Scout, is a six year old girl who lives with her brother Jem and dad, Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer in Maycomb County, who is chosen to defend a black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell the daughter of Tom Ewell. Scout and Jem have a best friend named Dill who visits every summer. They are always daring each other to Boo Radley’s house. Boo Radley is a mysterious man, who never comes out of his house, and in the end is the

In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout narrates the novel by telling the story of how Jem broke his arm. Atticus Finch is the father of two kids, Jem and Scout, who always get into trouble and are the most mischievous and nosy kids around. Atticus is a lawyer who is in a case defending a black man named Tom Robinson, who is harmless and innocent, while the kids are always tormenting and bothering the innocent Boo Radley. Because they are innocent and harmless, but treated with suspicion, both Boo and Tom exemplify the symbol of the mockingbird in this novel. Tom Robinson is represented by a mockingbird in this story by always being innocent and never harming, but always being tormented.

Raymond. Boo Radley symbolizes the mockingbird because he just watches the neighborhood and protect the kids. The night Boo killed Bob Ewell, Scout understands why Atticus and Mr. Tate are not dragging Boo into court. Scout says “Well it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”(66-68). The mockingbird can also symbolize Tom Robinson and his innocence to the rape of Mayella. During Tom Robinson’s testimony, Tom says “he felt sorry for Mayella,” which leaves the jury devastated. The fact that Tom says he feels sorry for Mayella makes the jury and the judge jump to conclusions. Mr. Raymond can also symbolize the mockingbird because he has to pretend to be a drunk just to be with his family. Everyone judges him and verbally abuse him and his family because he is married to a white woman and has mixed children. The city of Maycomb and the citizens in it criticize people based Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the novel, it covered the importance and innocence of the mockingbird.Mockingbirds have been known to be “songbirds”,and they tend to cause no disruptions.“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”(Miss Maudie;Chapter 10;Page 119).In addition,to the marvelous works of the Mockingbird they are an uplift to some that are down.They provide a beneficial comfort.Mockingbirds are innocent creatures that do kind works without the desire to have anything in return.The Mockingbirds of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper E. Lee represents the innocents of the African American people,Tom Robinson,Arthur Radley,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

“Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.” William Shakespeare knew what it meant to be destroyed by evil when all he wanted was to see good be done. Sins are one of the most natural things that human beings do. Some sins are symbolic by killing an innocent animal like a mockingbird. The killing of a mockingbird is a sin because mockingbirds sing songs that people love to listen to. They don’t cause any trouble but give people another joy in their lives. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, demonstrates how innocent people are destroyed by evil and corruption. There are three main characters in this novel that demonstrate what killing a mockingbird means. Those three are Atticus Finch, Arthur (Boo) Radley, and Tom Robinson. Atticus Finch, Arthur (Boo) Radley, and Tom Robinson are considered mockingbirds because as innocent as they were, they were shot out of the sky.

The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about how good and evil can co-exist in the world. The two main characters in the novel are Jean Louise “Scout” Finch and Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch who lives in the small town called Maycomb located in Alabama. The town Maycomb is full of people who contradict themselves. Although Jem and Scout grow up to be more mature throughout the book, the adults in the town are still able to mature and grow also. Although they have been through many more life experiences than Jem and Scout, they still have their faults.

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, includes many themes. One main theme shown consistently in this book is treatment of the innocent, otherwise known as mockingbirds. Many innocent characters such as Scout and Jem, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley, are treated unfairly. Bob Ewell attacks and almost kills Scout and Jem out of anger even though they were not the cause of it. Tom is falsely accused of a crime he did not commit because of his race and Bob’s unwillingness to own up to his mistakes. Boo, who everyone thinks is a killer and psychopath, is the town loner and no one tries to get to know him because they believe the rumors about him. All of these are examples of how many members of Maycomb County are unjustly treated.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a novel about coming of age and racial prejudice in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930’s. This story follows the life of two children named Jem and Scout Finch and their obsession with their neighbor, Boo Radley. Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout go through some good and bad times. The children's father, Atticus, eagerly defends a black man accused of raping a white woman.