To Kill A Mockingbird Symbolism Essay

Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch.

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a realistic story that deeply discusses issues involved with the 1930’s that still resonate today. The struggles of life are evident within the believable characters of Maycomb County which is a microcosm, reflective of universal issues. Along with the authentic characters, setting and style also helps to convey Lee’s controversial notions of racial and gender prejudice, and persecution of the innocent, discussing many other ideas within.

First Harper Lee uses the snowman to foreshadow a loss of innocence. Scout narrates, “Jem scooped up an armful of dirt, patted it into a mound on which he added another load, and another until he had constructed a torso. Jem scooped some snow and began plastering it on.” (89). In this quote, Scout describes how Jem made a snowman during their first snowfall. The way Jem constructs the snowman symbolizes blacks inferiority to whites in the South. During the

Mental images are created by the brain from memories, imagination, or a combination of both. Writers use imagery to help create mental images for the reader. Imagery is when words are used to appeal to your five senses, sight, taste, smell, touch, and sound. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird many types of imagery are used. Examples of imagery being used in the book is when the Radley place is being described, Scout’s teacher Miss. Caroline is being described, and when Miss. Caroline’s shriek was described.

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.

Think of the saying, “you are the apple of my eye”. Most of today’s society understands that somebody is referring to someone that they cherish above all else. This phrase is a common metaphor that is used all around the world. Many times authors use a metaphor to convey a message without telling it right out to the reader. This technique is used by Harper Lee in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The title of the novel refers to persecution of the innocent which is highlighted by showcasing Arthur Radley as the mockingbird of the story, and the oppression of refugees relates this metaphor to today’s society.

People always wondered what a mockingbird represents. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the narrator Jean Louise Finch lives in Maycomb, Alabama, with her brother Jeremy Finch, her dad Atticus Finch, and her mother-figure Calpurnia. She learns many lessons in her life including “You never truly understand a person until you put yourself in their shoes ” and “It is a sin to kill mockingbirds.” This ties in that a mockingbird symbolizes innocence, which proves that one should not judge someone else until they truly get to know them because one must truly know another before deeming them as evil or innocent.

I grew up in a home where my parents taught us to serve our country, community and those around us. They taught me through example, my father was a scout leader when I was a child. He often took me camping and to merit badge Pow Wow’s. As a boy I began to dream about becoming a boy scout. When I became old enough I joined the cub scouts. While in Cub scouts I learned about being part of the pack, about working together to accomplish large projects, to work together to accomplish a larger goal. Then when I was older I was able to join the boy scouts they taught me about being a citizen in the community, about being a good neighbor. They taught me about doing a good turn daily, and being prepared. When I was 13, I became a life scout. Being a life scout is not anything special, other than I was able to start working on my eagle project.

Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is recounted by Scout, who at the time was six years old. This book follows her journey in growing up and eventually losing her innocence through realising the evil in the world, mostly portrayed by the racism and prejudice surrounding her. A mockingbird is a metaphor for the destruction of innocence. There are three mockingbirds in the text: Boo Radley, Scout Finch and Tom Robinson. Boo has done nothing wrong except sit in his house and 'mind his own business', and has done nothing to hurt anyone else. All that has happened is he has been accused once again of crimes he did not commit. Scout is a mockingbird because she is thrust in the middle of all of the adults and their prejudices. Tom has done

Why is the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee named such? Much of the symbolism within this novel and the title directly relate to the scuffing and poisoning of the good and innocent people of this world, a.k.a., the slaughter of mockingbirds. As you can tell from the title, one of the major symbols in this novel is mockingbirds. There are several mockingbirds with Tom robinson being the most obvious one, and others being Atticus Finch, Arthur Radley, Mr. Avery, Helen Robinson, and Jean Louise Finch.

First, Lee uses snow to foreshadow a loss of innocence. “The world’s endin, Atticus please do something...it has not showed in Maycomb county since 1885 (86)”. In the book it is showing for the first time in years. This quote symbolizes the change that coming that shocks everyone. “You know the court appointed him to defend this nigger … yeah but Atticus aims to defend him. That's what i don't like about it (218)”. In the book the trial is beginning and the people are discussing how they are shocked that Atticus is actually defending an african american. This quote symbolizes a change because nobody actually defends a black person they are just seen as guilty.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. Discuss this quote from Atticus in relation to 3 characters from the novel.

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird a major theme is the loss of innocence. Whether from emotional abuse, racial prejudice or learning, Boo, Tom, and Scout all lose their innocence in one sense or another. The prejudice that each character endures leads to their loss. Through the responses of Boo, Tom, and Scout, Harper Lee shows how each character responded differently to their loss of innocence.

To begin, both children learn the lesson from the saying “It is a sin to kill a mockingbird”. When the novel begins, the mystery revolves around Boo Radley who is the mysterious neighbor. Although the children are afraid of him, they have not had an interaction with him. Without this interaction, Jem or Scout do not have a justifiable reason as to why they are so afraid of the despicable Boo Radley. The novel states, “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

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a book thick with symbolism and metaphors. It is a debatable fact that Scout, the female protagonist, is a symbol for innocence. Though the validity of her symbol is in doubt, I am certain that the symbol in this novel for injured faith, or broken innocence, is Boo Radley. That puts in question the reason why Boo continues to amble down the same road of apathy while Scout is being led down the path to unbiased maturity. I believe that Atticus, the father figure in the novel, is the subtle influence that raises Scout to be aware of the immoral actions around her but not to accept them. Prejudice corrupts a child’s progression of innocence to maturity, but Atticus keeps his children from assuming the attitudes of the townspeople.