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Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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How has Harper Lee used symbolism to contribute to your understanding of the main ideas in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, published in 1960, is a novel set in the context of the 1930s segregated southern United States. In the novel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author examines the main issue of prejudice in the fictional small southern American town of Maycomb, Alabama. This central idea of prejudice is explored through Lee’s use of symbolism in reflecting the innocence of the characters who are treated unfairly by the community. In this process of reflection, racial injustice is conveyed through the false accusation of an African-American raping a white woman. In addition, the use of symbolism represents the community’s …show more content…

In the novel, the flowers are a recurring motif that contrasts the key female characters’ outlooks on the issue of prejudice occurring in Maycomb. For instance, the camellias grown by Mrs Dubose signify her deep-rooted racial prejudice against African-Americans. As the state flower of Alabama, the camellias also represent the Southern state’s inbuilt, stubborn stance in this issue of racial bias. These vigorous, strong-growing flowers also exhibit Mrs Dubose’s discrimination against Atticus whom she venomously criticises for his job in defending African-American Tom Robinson. Her disapproval is portrayed through her ruthless verbal abuse on Atticus and his children including names such as ‘nigger-lover’, which in turn causes Jem to furiously retaliate by cutting off all the tops of her camellias. The difficulty of completely eliminating Mrs Dubose’s racist viewpoint is displayed through the fact that her camellias have regrown after Jem’s act of destruction. Nonetheless, the possible resolution to this issue of prejudice is implied by Mrs Dubose when she sarcastically questions Jem, ‘next time you’ll know how to do it right, won’t you? You’ll pull it up by the roots, won’t you?’ on destroying her camellia bushes. Thus, it is indicated that, the issue of racism can only be significantly improved if the problem is vigilantly …show more content…

One of these characters is Mayella Ewell whose family is considered “poor white thrash” and a “disgrace to Maycomb for three generations”. Besides their extremely low social status and filthy living surroundings, the Ewells are characterised by their lack of moral integrity. The eldest of Bob Ewell’s eight children, Mayella, implies her attempt to create a sense of hope in her harsh living environment by growing geraniums. Her “brilliant red geraniums” are grown in “chipped-enamel slop jars” and “cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie” who is evidently an avid gardener. As seemed to be the only things growing in the Ewells’ yard, the geraniums reflect Mayella’s strong desire to produce something positive amidst the squalor and cruelty in her life. Moreover, the slop jars in which the geraniums are grown are containers intended for collection of human waste. This further emphasises Mayella’s hope and determination to rise against the harsh reality of prejudice with which she is confronted due to her family background. Geraniums are also regarded as a poor man’s rose and reputedly tend to have a smell of cats. Thus, Mayella’s determination to cultivate positivity in her deprived, lonely surroundings is once again highlighted through the symbolism of her geraniums. Additionally, the symbolism of

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