To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis Essay

In ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee, the author has used numerous different methods to portray the themes of innocence, maturity and growing up. These themes were put in so that the audience could become more empathetic towards the characters, especially the protagonists. She depicts these themes through characters, events, using symbolism, imagery and contrast located throughout the book.

As Stephen King once said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” In the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, Jean Louise Finch, a young girl who also goes by Scout, experiences many things such as racism, friends, and family. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who is sacrificing his reputation to defend a black man, Tom Robinson. Scout and her friends take it upon themselves to uncover the mystery of Boo Radley. In this book the mockingbirds represent innocence. Many characters take on the role of the “mockingbird". Exploring Lee’s title, to kill a mockingbird is to kill innocence.

Lee implies that people learn lessons through life experiences that school can ever teach. Throughout this novel, Atticus taught his kids many lessons that was hard for them to hear at times, but it later on helped them in the story. Or it helped them grow up and mature. On page 40 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was explaining to Scout that Miss.Caroline was new and didn’t know anyone, and she especially didn’t know the Cunningham’s story, Atticus states, “Atticus said… but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part” (40). This quote by Atticus is meant to explain to Scout that Miss. Caroline just made an honest human mistake. He tried to get Scout to realize that if he put herself in Miss.Caroline’s shoes then she might better understand the confusion. Obviously you can’t really be in her shoes, but he said it figuratively to show her why it was important to give her another chance, or at least try to be nice and listen. Atticus taught this to Scout at home later on that night. At her school after that she tried to just get by in her class. Lee also shows mainly throughout that the school system doesn’t help when it comes to teaching children life lessons. As shown in the earlier quote Atticus, had told Scout to jump in Walter’s shoes, and walk around in it. This other quote shows how Scout actually takes into consideration of Atticus’ words, and chooses to not bother Jem because she tried to imagine what it had

"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" (pg. 119.) Miss Maudie spoke the previous quote with deep thought going into each and every word. She wasn't just trying to teach Scout a lesson, but she wanted there to be a powerful meaning behind it. Miss Maudie's main purpose was to stress that you shouldn't kill something that is doing no harm. Everyday "mockingbirds" are killed, broke down, and mistreated by society.

To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alabama in the 1990’s.

The ambition of oneself to pursue justice and righteousness may result in prosecution. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, and movie "A Time to Kill" by Joel Schumacher, each demonstrate one’s open-mindedness and forward thinking leads to penalization through protagonists Atticus Finch and Jake Brigance. Both egalitarians take the position as an attorney for an African American and are prosecuted in the process.

Mockingbirds will only sing their hearts, not cause any damage or give their lives to pleasing others. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird great examples are shown of different types of mockingbirds. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur (Boo) Radley are great examples of representing a mockingbird.

Symbols can have many powers with helping the novel contain a more structured story. The story suggest the mockingbird, the mad dog, and Boo Radley all have a key part to do with innocence, prejudice, and courage. To Kill a Mockingbird uses these symbols as the foundation of the story. It describes the people of Maycomb using objects that can't represent people

“It's right hard to say," she said. "Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks' talk at home it'd be out of place, wouldn't it? Now what if I talked white-folks' talk at church, and with my neighbors? They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses, "But Cal, you know better," I said. “It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike—in the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. It aggravates 'em. You're not gonna change

Throughout Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader surveys multiple personalities of different characters mentioned. These personalities vary greatly in meaning. In the novel, Lee has emphasized the importance of Atticus. The reader can deduce Atticus’ significance from the emphasis of his loyalty to his work and his family. Furthermore, with evidence of Atticus’ perseverance and experience, the audience can come to the conclusion that Atticus plays a crucial role in clarifying the meaning of the novel.

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is used to symbolize innocent people damaged by unjust, evil actions, revealing that prejudice against those who are different causes injustice and isolation of people within communities. Lee uses the mockingbird expose the strength of prejudice and its harmful effects. In the novel, the mockingbird is represented by Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley.

It can compare two things and set the story in a path. An example of this is “We could see him shiver like a horse shedding flies”(95). This refers to the behavior of the dog. Not only does simile is used but also a major symbol of the mockingbird. The first and most important time it was mentioned was when Atticus states “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(90). This begins to set the serious tone of the story. Mockingbirds are harmless, innocent creatures, and killing them is wrong, due to the fact that they don't hurt anyone. Tom Robinson represents a mockingbird for the reason that he was innocent and did not deserve to die. Killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. The bluejay represents Bob Ewell and how he did not get caught for the crime he committed. Another symbol used was the “mad dog”(94). The dog represented the madness and Atticus's strength. His desire to protect his family is portrayed. When the mad dog threatens his family, he immediately grabs a rifle and shoots the dog. The children are surprised by this because normally, Atticus is very relaxed and laid back. This scene shows that Atticus will do anything to protect his family from the madness around them. The syntax that is present within the piece varies greatly from beginning to

First, Harper Lee uses metaphors to create a theme of good and evil. When Jem and Scout get rifles Atticus says one of the most recognized quotes in the book. On page 119 Atticus says ,“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. The mockingbirds in this quote and throughout the book represent innocence and innocent people, so to kill a mockingbird would be like killing innocence. Examples of mockingbirds are Jem, Tom Robinson, and Boo. The blue jays represent people who embrace the darker traits within them. Examples of Bluejays are the jury of the trial, and Bob Ewell.

Harper Lee’s Novel To Kill a Mockingbird details the life of young Scout Finch and brother Jem Finch, who is growing up in a time of racial uniqueness. Jem and Scout Finch are what most would call a typical family growing up in the small Alabama town of Maycomb. They encounter many different obstacles during their childhood missions with many characters making the novel an interesting read. Throughout the book, Lee is showing Jem and Scout grow up and become mature young adults. This novel, written by Harper Lee, demonstrates the themes of growing up, Innocence and most importantly, racism.

The mockingbird symbolises the novel by being used as sympathy for the suffering of others and being unwilling to help. When the Mockingbird is referred to in the novel Atticus says "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." This is true because the novel uses this to give the reader an image of innocence and peace.