Tom Robinson: Harmless And Innocent

Mockingbirds bring beauty and happiness into the world. Miss. Maudie said, "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."(119). This is referring to Tom Robinson and Boo Radley who are both portrayed as mockingbirds in the book. They both brought happiness into the world and did nothing wrong, but were punished and in Tom’s case, killed.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, mockingbirds are a bird that has a remarkable ability to “exact imitations of the notes of other birds”. In addition, they are known to have up to 200 songs in their “playlists’, which they will sing all through the day and evening, usually when there is a full moon. Based on this description, mockingbirds are innocent, beautiful birds that can bring a sense of calmness to people around them with their smooth melodies. Therefore, they are a creature that brings no harm to others, just joy. Like the mockingbird, today’s society consists of many innocent people around the world who are hardworking and treats others with respect no matter of their socio economic status; as well as, race and religion. On the other hand, there are some people in our world who judge others based on their evil beliefs they learned from others instead of listening to their conscience.

Raymond. Boo Radley symbolizes the mockingbird because he just watches the neighborhood and protect the kids. The night Boo killed Bob Ewell, Scout understands why Atticus and Mr. Tate are not dragging Boo into court. Scout says “Well it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”(66-68). The mockingbird can also symbolize Tom Robinson and his innocence to the rape of Mayella. During Tom Robinson’s testimony, Tom says “he felt sorry for Mayella,” which leaves the jury devastated. The fact that Tom says he feels sorry for Mayella makes the jury and the judge jump to conclusions. Mr. Raymond can also symbolize the mockingbird because he has to pretend to be a drunk just to be with his family. Everyone judges him and verbally abuse him and his family because he is married to a white woman and has mixed children. The city of Maycomb and the citizens in it criticize people based Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the novel, it covered the importance and innocence of the mockingbird.Mockingbirds have been known to be “songbirds”,and they tend to cause no disruptions.“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”(Miss Maudie;Chapter 10;Page 119).In addition,to the marvelous works of the Mockingbird they are an uplift to some that are down.They provide a beneficial comfort.Mockingbirds are innocent creatures that do kind works without the desire to have anything in return.The Mockingbirds of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper E. Lee represents the innocents of the African American people,Tom Robinson,Arthur Radley,and

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

To begin with, mockingbirds show a significant symbol of loyalty and victimization. Mockingbirds are considered loyal and harmless therefore no reason to harm them. Mrs. Maudie says “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” (Lee 119) This shows how its considered a sin to kill a mockingbird because they only make music for enjoyment. This also shows what a mockingbird does to receive its recognition as a harmless animal.

Even though this innocent would most likely represent Tom Robinson, another good person to represent a mockingbird would be Boo Radley. Boo Radley was found out to be an innocent person as the story continued, even though thought to be a crazy person at the beginning. This character Boo Radley, appearing only in some situations, helps develop the theme in this novel of not judging a book by its cover. Boo helps develop this theme because of the rumors that sound very odd and silly about him that were said by some of the people in the town of Maycomb. He also shows that since his name has a negative connotation, it is assumed he is a bad person, but in reality, it’s the opposite. After saving the children from the murderous Bob Ewell, they realized Boo wasn’t crazy and looked like a monster, but he was actually a kind, innocent, and friendly

The story "To Kill a Mockingbird" metaphorically portrays characters as mockingbirds in several ways. Each character in its own way portrays traits of a mockingbird. For example, Atticus is like a mockingbird since he does not harm anyone with his hands or words. Tom Robinson only does good deeds for others in the story just like a mockingbird. Boo Radley is like a mockingbird because he is very kind and innocent. These characters illustrate mockingbirds by having the same characteristics of a real mockingbird.

“It is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). Most of the foreshadowing in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, comes in the form of references. Most often foreshadowing is referenced through Atticus talking to his children about how killing a mockingbird is a sin. Though many characters fit the characteristics of a mockingbird, Tom Robinson, who the story revolves around, is accused of something he did not do. Throughout the novel, multiple passages, including the title, indicate the innocence of Tom Robinson, and the outcome of his case.

Tom Robinson is an example of a mockingbird in To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson was a black man in 1930, therefor it was unfair from the start. Tom Robinson was nothing but a kind man, he never harmed anyone. Tom saw Mayella struggling around the house. Her father was a drunk that left her to fend for her and the children. She did her best but once in awhile when Tom was passing by the EWell house Mayella would invite him inside the fence to see if her would help her with little tasks. One day she invited him inside to fix a door. When he got inside to fix the door her found there was nothing wrong with the door. That is when Mayella kissed Tom, however Tom is wrongfully charged with rape.

On the other hand, Tom Robinson could also be the symbolic “mockingbird”. For instance, while examining Toms behavior, Scout realizes that, “Tom Robinson 's manners were as good as Atticus 's.” and say’s, “Until my father explained it to me later, I did not understand the subtlety of Tom 's predicament: he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run” (Lee 197) This belief indicates that Tom is a very polite gentleman who is innocent. Being a man of color, he ran that night as self defence, not because he did something wrong. He did not want to hurt Mayella, as the gentleman he is, but in such circumstances he was forced to do so. Therefore, during the trial, he does not claim that mayella is a liar, instead he says, “I say she’s mistaken in her mind”. (Lee 167) He is a gentleman and an innocent man who doesn 't mean any harm. Also, while explaining about Tom’s death, ‘They shot him,’ said Atticus. ‘He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them...”(Lee

Tom Robinson’s character exemplifies the mockingbird because he is a black man who is denied justice based on racial prejudice. After Mayella Ewell accuses Tom of rape, there is no way for him to be judged fairly because the narrow-minded, white townspeople are unable to get past their prejudices towards blacks. At his trial, Tom’s lawyer, Atticus, argues,

In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson, the black man falsely convicted of rape, had absolutely no chance of a fair trial. There is proof of this in the time period in which it occurred as well as evidence from the novel itself. Tom Robinson had an unfair trial because it was his word against the Ewell’s, a white, trashy family.

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.

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson is a dark colored man who is framed for doing something bad to Mayella Ewell. He was claimed as guilty even though the possibility of him doing what they said he did was unlikely due to one of his arms being paralyzed. The story took place around the time of the great depression and most likely when blacks and whites were still separated also.

At the beginning of the book when Scout and Jem get their new air rifles Atticus says-“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Later on when Scout and Jem are at Mrs. Maudie’s house she explains to them that it is a sin to kill mockingbirds because they are songbirds that do nothing but give pleasure to people. The mockingbirds are the innocent people in the novel who are killed or injured. The title TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD foreshadows that the mockingbirds in the story are killed or injured by the evil behavior of mankind.