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Theme Of Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Many view America as a land of opportunity, a land that preaches freedom and has laws put in place in order to assure this freedom. Back in the 1930’s, however, one of the most controversial topics was racism and the fact whites had more freedom. This topic is shown throughout Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird where she uses the tool of symbolism to intensify the meaning of the story. In the classic novel symbolism is used to portray Lee’s thoughts and reflections about society.She uses the characters of Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and a mad dog to show the narrow-mindedness of the citizens of Maycomb, Alabama. A young man trying to do good for his community and help others, Tom Robinson is portrayed as the mockingbird or a symbol of innocence. Unjustly accused of raping a girl he felt sorry for, yet his only true crime is being too nice, Tom Robinson is sent to prison where he slain due to racial injustice within his town. His death symbolizes the killing of the mockingbird or the killing of the innocent. For the first time in their lives, Jem and Scout see snowfall in Maycomb, Alabama and like most children, their first thought was to build a snowman. The snow was not very deep however, so the children began building it with dirt and covering the dirt with snow. The symbol shown by the snowman is the unification of the social classes represented by the lowly mud and innocent snow. On the night after the snow had fallen, a fire erupts in Miss Maudie’s

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