Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird
The novella 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, is a very well known book which uses symbolism to further push the issue of racism. The way the ideas of racism and further issues are shown through smaller parts of the book such as the Mad Dog Atticus is forced to shoot and other things are represented by the Mockingbird itself, this essay will explain how some of these important symbols may be interpreted. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the mad dog to represent Prejudice and the Mockingbird to represent racism. The mad dog in To Kill a Mockingbird is symbolic to the "madness" Atticus has to deal with because he is defending Tom Robinson . In other words, the mad dog represents
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An example of this innocence can be seen after Tom Robinson is shot, Mr Underwood expresses that it is comparable to the "senseless shooting of songbirds" (Lee 323). This may be seen as the backbone of the entire novella, the thought of an innocent man dying merely because of his skin color. According to the book, “. . .remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee 119). This quote foreshadows the trial as it tells of how the Mockingbird (Tom Robinson) is an innocent man who doesn't even bother the people in any bad way. However, due to other elements and the camaraderie of the book, he ends up being murdered as an innocent man. The portrayal of the Mockingbird may also be seen as Scout's loss of childhood innocence, as well as being brought out of her little bubble known as Maycomb county. It is said by Scout; ". . . I felt very old, but when I looked at the tip of my nose, I could see fine misty beads. . ." (Lee 374). This quote explains Scout's feeling towards the actions found in the book. She sees many things, from the trial of an innocent black man to her almost being murdered by Bob Ewell. There is an
In the book To KIll A Mockingbird is a book with a lot of symbols. The background of the book is very racists and took place a very long time ago. In her novel,To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee uses Tom,Boo,Atticus as human mockingbirds, and therefore,symbols of innocence.
Harper Lee also represents the themes through key symbolism. The most important symbol and the one that represented innocence and goodness was the mockingbird. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and even Atticus and Scout were the metaphoric mockingbirds in the novel. When Scout asked Miss Maudie about
To Kill a Mockingbird is a book with several examples of symbolism. Although the story is seen through a child’s perspective, it includes multiple instances of symbolism, some more obvious than others. Mockingbirds, Mayella’s geraniums, and the Radley household are all big symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird.
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.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said ,”Words are but symbols for the relations of things to one another and to us; nowhere do they touch upon absolute truth.” In the novel ,”To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, the author uses various different motifs that have a deeper and symbolic meaning. Lee uses motifs such as the snowman, the mad dog, and the tree to represent the deeper meaning of words, these motifs have symbolic meaning and represent certain issues and views on the time set in the novel. In this novel, the snowman represents equality, the mad dog represents the madness that's going to occur over the case, and the tree symbolizes communication and friendship. The snowman in the novel ,”To Kill A Mockingbird” represents the concept of equality and possible justice.
Symbolism is used extensively in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The theme of prejudice in the novel can be best perceived through the symbol of the mockingbird. Atticus advised his children that if they went hunting for birds to "shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (96). Miss Maudie explains this further by saying that "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" (96). Bluejays are considered to be the bullies of the bird world. They are very loud, territorial and
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.
Mockingbirds symbolize innocence and purity, and when one destroys one's innocence, it’s considered “killing a Mockingbird”. The three characters
Throughout the majority of the book, Lee uses a motif related to a mockingbird. This symbolizes how hunting harmless and innocent beings is senseless and the worst crime one can commit against humanity. Mockingbirds are harmless animals who do nothing but bring joy to people with
In Chapter 10 there is a rabid dog, which in the end, Atticus ends up shooting because when he was in his golden days he was known as ‘One-Shot Finch’ as known by Calpurnia who discovers the dog roaming the streets. The dog being shot is a theme of racial inequality as the dog is rabid and diseased, which is quite like those “who believe in being superior”.₁ Metaphors
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.
Symbolism is about as constant throughout the novel as the words on the page. One main symbol was the mockingbird. Throughout Lee’s novel she always relates the story back to the symbolic mockingbird. They “…don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy,” (Lee, 119).
The Mockingbird has a very deep and powerful meaning in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. It represents peacefulness, innocence and kindness which is portrayed through the characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. The mockingbird's influence can also be applied to the relationships between humans. The Mockingbird is a powerful symbol that echoes a strong meaning throughout the novel.
In the book TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is a symbol of fairness and respect for people who do things for you. It symbolizes that people can be righteous even if they have different political and moral views from you. Just like “shootin’ a mockingbird” is a sin because it sings its heart out (pg. #), similarly it is a sin to do something bad to someone who does good. general town
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.