What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is best known as a literary classic, telling the tale of a young girl named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch’s childhood in a southern Alabama town during the great depression. While the fate of a black male convicted of rape still looms in the synopsis. To Kill a Mockingbird the title of the novel, refers to a quote on page 119. Both said by Atticus Finch the town of Maycomb's lawyer and Miss Maudie his neighbor, “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. As said by Miss Maudie “ 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” (Lee 119). The title of this novel isn’t only referencing this quote,

The story of Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson, the second of the two main conflicts in this book also represented the sin of killing a mockingbird. Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout was a lawyer, and in a court case, Atticus was assigned a black man, Tom Robinson. Atticus was tasked with defending Tom from a false conviction of rape by the Ewell family. Atticus was given a very hard time,and was even threatened by Bob Ewell, who was angered that Atticus ruined the reputation and respect he thought he’d gain. . Bob even tried to murder Atticus’ kids. Atticus

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,

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

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.

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. Racism is ever present toward blacks and the trial of Tom Robinson, an African American, clearly displays this. Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman. The huge detail in this is that it was a white woman. Racial issues are really brought about because of that detail. People during this time would easily take a white man’s word over that of a black man, so nobody would ever trust Tom Robinson, especially since he was a black man being accused of a crime against a white woman. Tom Robinson really can’t do anything to help his case. The only person that can help him is Atticus. While Atticus does not believe that he will win the case, he knows that it is right to do everything he can to help Tom. He knows right from wrong and he will do everything in his power to help people see that, and to help Tom survive this case. Tom Robinson could also be described as a Mockingbird in this story. If proven innocent, he would be

“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.

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

The nature of humans causes us to harm others, but some of us don't hurt others, instead they get wounded physically or mentally by others, those are mockingbirds. Three peoples are mockingbirds in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.

“To Kill a Mocking Bird” is not only a great book but also a book that portrays a clear and concise message. This book is about the murder, immense persecution, and hatred towards an innocent man, Tom Robinson. This book Written by Harper lee is about a rape case against an African American man during the years of 1932 to 1935 in Maycomb, Alabama. These years were filled with racism, hatred, and segregation. A rape charge against a black man, Tom Robinson, with the victim being a white woman, Mayella Ewell, was ultimately a death sentence during these times no matter the actual truth to the incident or if it even occurred in the first place. This story portrays the truth of racism and the extreme level of tyranny directed towards African Americans. Lee lays out in detail the entirety of Tom Robinson’s case from the

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird (119).” In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird this quote from Atticus Finch alludes to one of the central themes the novel focuses on. The mockingbird is an innocent creature that does not cause harm, it is purely for the enjoyment of others. When killing a mockingbird it symbolises destroying this innocence. There are many incidences in this novel which display this theme, as several characters are unjustly persecuted by the people in Maycomb. The significance of the title To Kill a Mockingbird is a main theme throughout the novel. It shows that in a society that carries prejudice, innocence is easily destroyed and good does not always triumph over evil. This can be supported through the characters of Arthur “Boo” Radley, Jeremy “Jem” Finch, and Tom Robinson.

Atticus Finch the Lawyer in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird once said, "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird." Within the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson represents a mockingbird because he struggles to be seen as if he is innocent because of his skin color. The book was based in the 1930's when there was still segregation, so it was unpleasant for him because he was African American. Unfortunately, Tom gets accused of raping a white woman sending his life even more in a downward spiral. This leads to a series of events and eventually his death because no one would believe that he did not commit the crime. Only because he was black within a white community

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 119). Atticus Finch told his children never to shoot a mockingbird because all they ever do is sing for everyone's enjoyment. In the book Tom Robinson represents a mockingbird, always helping others and not doing any harm; yet he is still treated with no respect and killed at the end of the book. The reason Tom Robinson was treated poorly was just because he was African American. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characterization, point of view, and diction to highlight how African Americans were treated in the south.

It is a Sin to Kill Tom Robinson"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 make music for us to enjoy. That's why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." (90) This quote is stated by Miss Maudie, underscoring the point of view of Atticus, who is a lawyer given an uphill job of substantiating a black man's innocence who is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewells. To Kill a Mockingbird is an inspirational and thought provoking story that is the first and the only novel written by Harper Lee. The basic time setting of the novel is in the 1930s during the Great Depression, in the fictional town of Maycomb Alabama, where prejudice

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. It was a very successful book, winning the Pulitzer Prize and becoming a modern American classic. Ostensibly, the title of To Kill a Mockingbird has scant literary connection to the plot of the story, but the recurring mockingbird motif symbolizes the innocent and good characters in this novel. Miss Maudie explains to Scout why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird: “Your father’s right. 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.” To Kill a Mockingbird likens three characters, Tom Robinson, Arthur “Boo” Radley, and Atticus Finch, to mockingbirds.