To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

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

The mockingbird is referred to commonly in this novel. The town of Maycomb seem to believe that the mockingbird is peaceful, pure, and innocent. "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up peoples gardens, nest in corn ribs. They don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us, that's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Lee 90). This quote from miss Maudie describes the nature of the mockingbird, showing its kindness and innocence. The mocking bird can be portrayed as Tom Robinson, Atticus, and Boo Radley. Though these three figures are innocent without doubt, they still receive criticism of prejudice throughout the town, though they still hold courage. "It's when you know your liked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." (Lee 112). Atticus gets ridiculed by the town of Maycomb just for defending a black man in court, the place where each man should have as much as a chance as the other. Atticus still follows through with what he believes in, what he thinks is right throughout the story, in his own definition he held his

Because mockingbirds do no harm to you, it is sinful to harm them. Miss Maudie says, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). Tom is an innocent figure, and therefore represents a mockingbird or vice versa. As the plot thickens and Tom is inevitably killed, a loss of innocence occurs due to his symbol as a mockingbird. Furthermore, with the conviction of Tom, Atticus says, “They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it - seems that only children weep” (285). This shows how the children, whom are innocent, are the only ones affected by this injustice. They’re the only ones who haven’t yet been exposed to the evil of their society and therefore are the most affected. The conviction and subsequent murder of Tom Robinson, a mockingbird, an innocent man, embodies the innocence being taken from the children as well as

Mockingbirds symbolize innocence and purity, and when one destroys one's innocence, it’s considered “killing a Mockingbird”. The three characters

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents how the mockingbird represents Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. The mockingbird represents Tom Robinson throughout the novel by showing his innocence and how the racist people of the town harm him. Despite the many people that take joy in hurting the innocent, there are some people who protect the innocent such as Atticus. For example, Atticus says, “‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”’(Lee 119). Harper Lee uses this line to introduce us to the symbolization of the mockingbird and how it represents innocence. This line gives readers the first interpretation of the mockingbird which is that it sinful to cause mental or physical harm to someone whom has been generous to others and has not caused harm to anyone. Children such as Dill, Jem, and Scout do not understand the trial and how unfair it is towards Tom Robinson The children do not understand the grown-up world and visibly lose their innocence through questions that no child should have to ask or understand. While the

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.

In the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, there are many characters that can be seen as being truthful and wholesome, but only a few characters could be seen as a coherent comparison to a “mockingbird”. Throughout this book, numerous characters talk about the innocence and goodness of mockingbirds. When the main characters Scout and Jem received guns for Christmas, their dad told them not to kill mockingbirds because they do nothing wrong. “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (93, Lee)

Aticus does not want his kids to become ignorant so that they can change Maycomb. Atticus teaches his children a lesson by using a mockingbird: “‘I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (Lee 90). The mockingbird symbolizes innocence which is directed towards the innocent people of Maycomb. Through this quote, Harper Lee conveys that it is a sin to kill, discriminate, or hurt innocence. Mockingbirds to not feed of of other people’s gardens while bluejays do. They do not harm anyone else. This is similar to Boo and the African Americans in Maycomb. They are constantly being hurt yet they do not hurt anyone back. That is what makes it a sin. In Maycomb, the innocent people always seem to be the ones who are hurt. Boo loses his connection to the outside world because of the ignorance of Mr. Radley and Tom is charged with a crime because of the prejudice Mr. Ewell. Overall, the ignorance and prejudice in Maycomb takes over the town and hurts those who are innocent the

To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960), an insightful and gripping novel composed by Harper Lee in 1960. Originating in Alabama South America, based during The Great Depression. This didactic novel highlights the controversy of racism, dominant discourses and social inequality through the storyline of young ‘Scout’ who has grown up with these prominent social issues in her everyday life. Scout finds herself having to find a new perspective as her father takes on the risky case of defending a wrongly accused African American man of rape.

In “To Kill A Mockingbird” the mockingbird is more than just a little bird. It is a symbol of innocence. Mockingbirds are very innocent birds in which do no harm to the people around them. Throughout the story, many characters lose innocence and are harmed for no valid reason. Jem is affected by this the most.

“Its a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 103). This familiar statement expresses the meaning of the word mockingbird that is in the title of the novel. Arousingly touching the hearts of others, Harper Lee displays the innocence of a mockingbird and people who compare to a mockingbird. Maycomb county, a fictional setting in the book where innocent people were accused of wrongdoings and sometimes punished for crimes they did not commit or things they could not help. In To Kill a Mocking, Harper Lee used symbolism to compare Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Jem Finch to a mockingbird.

Mayella Ewell is an abused young woman in Maycomb, Alabama who accused an African American man Tom Robinson of rape during the Great Depression in the early 1930’s. Mayella took advantage of the Jim Crow laws so she could end the mental and physical abuse her father caused. Since Mayella is white and female, she has power. Although she lives behind a dumpster this still provides a significant amount of power for her. In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird” Harper Lee shows Mayella’s power for class during the trial.

In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, the mockingbird represents innocence and purity. Throughout the story, Atticus stands firm in his beliefs and urges his children to not harm mockingbirds, both figuratively and literally. The citizens of Maycomb were known to be prejudice, and convict innocent people without even knowing their backgrounds. For the duration of the story, the two most important “mockingbirds” were Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Each of them have been unfairly persecuted without any reasonable cause.

The story, in the eyes of two innocent children Scout and her brother Jem, of the discrimination and hypocrisy throughout the town. Maycomb County, Alabama, faces an African American’s injustice while the children learn valuable lessons from their father, Atticus and their housemaid Calpurnia, during the Great Depression. All the while, we are learning from it. To Kill a Mockingbird teaches us the lessons of morale, justice and equality.