Tom Robinson Innocent

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.

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

“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.

During the trial, Mr. Gilmer is questioning Tom and recalling Mayella’s story. “‘I was just tryin’ to help her out, suh.’” (Lee, pg. 263) This quote shows how Tom could be called a mockingbird because all he wanted to do was help out Mayella because he felt that it was the right thing to do. In the trial when Mr Gilmer asks Tom why he helps Mayella out even though he has work to do at home.

Mr. Underwood, editor of The Maycomb Tribune, likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. Tom Robinson does not harm anyone like mockingbirds. In Chapter 19, Link Deas, Tom’s employer, rises from the audience and announces that Tom has been worked for him for eight years, and Tom never causes him any trouble. Tom is always glad to help if someone is needed like mockingbirds are always singing their heart out for everyone. During the trial, Tom states that “Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do----choppin’kindlin’, totin’ water for her.” (Lee 218) When Atticus asks Tom if he is paid for his services, Tom says “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her non, and neither did the chillum.” (Lee 218) Ironically, Mayella is the person who receives Tom’s services, but she is also the one who “kills” him. Accroding to Mr. Underwood, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” (Lee 276) Prison guards shoot Tom down with seventeen bullets on his body, and it is a sin to do

First, Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson as a Mockingbird. The reason Tom is a mockingbird because he was a convicted of rape and accused of beating on Mayella. He was black so they still locked him up after the trial. Tom was also shot in the back 17 times by the cops; they called them warning shots. They said while him and the other inmates were doing exercising session he was trying to run away so they gave him warning shots and killed him. The narrator explains, “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ends in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony; I could see that is was no use to him” (248). This quote shows that Tom is a mockingbird because they accused him of beating and raping Mayella; but we

Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird'" (103). The mockingbird, in this sense, represents the innocence of someone, such as Tom Robinson, who was mutilated for no reason. Atticus is a hero because he knows that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, something that harms no one and innocently sings beautiful melodies for others, something that does not deserve to be affected by the corruption of the world. " Atticus said to Jem one day... ' Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird'" (Lee 103).

I feel so sorry for the poor little beast. TOM raises his voice: Admit you witness a tragedy today otherwise… DAISY (she starts falling to tears): Ohhh Tom. How could I be a fool and

the mockingbird represents Tom Robinson. he is proven innocent and yet is found guilty. This ties into how Atticus mentions the fact that "it is a sin to kill a mockingbird," because they are harmless, respectable creatures who do nothing but provide beautiful music for the people. It is ironic though, that Tom should be sentenced when he is just as guiltless/harmless as a mockingbird. The people agree that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, but don't think twice about killing a human being.

It is evident that Mayella is making up the story when her story about her father’s story is contradicted. It leads to a final point that Mayella’s story is unreliable when she accuses Tom of hitting her with his left arm when Tom’s left arm had been shredded and disabled. Knowing his own fate, he is very hopeless because the whites are favored in the society. Tom can be analyzed as a mockingbird for he is a harmless and innocent African American targeted. All he tried to do was help Mayella with a favor, but ends up going to court with accusations of harassment.

To begin with in the novel Tom Robinson successfully represents the innocence of the mockingbird. Tom Robinson only tried to help Mayella Ewell (Lee 263). Tom is an innocent, and humble man who is killed for his kindness due to the

Tom Robinson is another mockingbird figure. He was a genuinely caring person who is destroyed by his willingness to help Mayella Ewell. Just like a mockingbird, Robinson never hurt anyone. Yet, he was also persecuted by society for his kindness and his race. Tom Robinson was killed because of his kindness and the color of his skin; “ a harmless songbird that was shot down by a senseless hunter.” Lee uses the character of Tom as a mockingbird figure to express the innocence of the mockingbird and exhibit the narrow-mindedness and biased opinions of the towns folk.

Tom Robinson is the most easily identifiable mockingbird in this story. Although he is a peaceful, respectful man who helps Mayella Ewell without asking for anything in return, he is falsely accused and dies tragically as a result. Mr. Underwood, Maycomb’s newspaper editor, likens Tom’s death to the “senseless slaughter of innocent songbirds by hunters and children” in the editorial he writes immediately after the Negro’s death. As shooting a mockingbird results in the loss of a sweet song-maker, the death of Tom brings no good fruit—it only satisfies the destructive racial prejudice of the South. Tom is also targeted for the same reasons that mockingbirds are targeted

Tom Robinson is a mockingbird because he was innocent of the crime that Mayella said he committed. During Tom Robinson's testimony he said, “ …. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more than the rest of em- …” (page 197) This showed us Tom's character , he simply wanted to help her out of the own kindness of his heart. The local journalist reflected on Tom’s death written in his editorial by referring to it as the, “Senseless slaughter of songbirds...Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson ,but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom

It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird “shoot all the bluejays you want, but it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. This quote is said by Atticus who is a lawyer that defends an innocent black man for being accused of raping a white women. To kill a mockingbird is set in the 1930s in Maycomb alabama where there was prejudices. This story is not just about racism but implies a deeper meaning, the mockingbird has a strong message and holds an important metaphorical meaning. The mockingbird is portrayed as a innocent fragile songbird that symbolizes innocence but is killed by men. Tom Robinson symbolizes an innocent fragile songbird because he does no harm to society, his voice is ignored by almost everyone, and he gets shot and killed just like an innocent fragile songbird.