In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird symbol is used to describe people in the book and the events that have taken place in the county of Maycomb. The mockingbird symbolizes peace and people’s horrific behavior towards the Tom Robinson case. The symbol helps create a theme that you should stick up for what you believe in and to not judge a book by its cover. Two characters that could be considered mockingbirds are Boo Radley and Atticus Finch. The major theme of To Kill A Mockingbird is that all you should stick up for what you believe in. In the book a mockingbird is symbolized as peace and Miss Maudie saying that “ mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…” (119). Miss Maudie explains that it is a sin the kill a mockingbird because it does not do anything but play music. The music represents peace and the mockingbird is trying to create peace in Maycomb. That is why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. …show more content…
He stood up for Tom Robinson for his case because the believed it was the right thing to do. Atticus tried to prove that Tom was guilty by “ quietly building up before the jury a picture of the Ewell’s home life” (244). Atticus tried to make peace with the blacks and white and saying that everyone is created equal and that “you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (375). Atticus was referring the Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, saying that no one knows anything about the two people and you can not judge someone by the stories that you hear around
“Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird...mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. “ In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the title itself is symbolic. Atticus Finche tells his children that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they are innocent, navie, and mind their own busniess to all, which is why it is a sin to kill them for no reason. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird is symobloized in four specific characters in the novel representing innocence of being a mockingbird.
In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus defending Tom Robinson is an act of standing against racism. Today there are so many protest about racism that end in violence that solve nothing. If people went about things like this everybody would end up with a better outcome. That is another problem using hate and violence to try to force change will never work. Atticus stood up for what he believed in because he saw injustice in what was happening. He is only one person, but he was hoping to influence the community and have everyone believe, people are equal no matter what skin color. Mr. Robinson was
After hearing about how Atticus is going to defend Tom Robinson he had to deal with a lot of hate and people questioning why he is defending him. Atticus is courageous and doesn’t let the hate get to him. He goes up against the majority and fights for what he believes is right, and doesn’t listen to what anyone else think. In this time period blacks were discriminated against. Atticus took a courageous step to decide to defend tom Robinson.
His morality on believing that “there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution gentlemen, is a court. It can be the Supreme Court of the United States or the humblest JP court in the land, or this honourable court which you serve. Our courts have their faults as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal” (205). This cause him to take on the role because he could not live with himself. If he did not try to save Tom Robinson. It took a lot of bravery to stand up for him because everybody in the whole county went against him and started threating him. Such as Mr. Cunningham and a group of man trying hurt him for protecting Tom Robinson. Also his fellow neighbors has started bad mouthing him and calling him a “nigger-lover”. Atticus stood up for this trail because he believes that everyone deserves a fair trial. That is why he acts courageously since it was the right thing to do to help Tom
Beliefs are important to Atticus and many of his beliefs include of kindness, equal rights, and having courage. Doing what he believes in is highly important to Atticus, which is a reason that standing up for Tom Robinson was the right thing for Atticus to do. “ “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” “(Lee, CH.9). This quote shows us that Atticus had the courage and beliefs to stand up for Tom Robinson, and by defending him he stuck to his beliefs. Atticus’s courage to stand up for Tom was honorable not only for Tom and his community but also to the people against racism. Atticus always believed that being kind was the best thing to do and he shows this by standing up for Tom “ “...I do my best to love everybody…” “(Lee, CH. 11). This quote shows that Atticus is kind-hearted and that standing up for Tom was just another one of his acts of kindness. Since Atticus does his best to love everybody he felt it was a necessity for him to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus not only is kind for his benefits but also for his kids. He teaches his kids to be kind and to treat everyone equal and if he wouldn't have taken Tom’s case he would have been setting a bad example to his children. “ “I wanted you to see what real courage is…” “(Lee, CH. 9). This shows that Atticus is trying to be a good example to his
They will encounter many forms of racism, one of the worst being the trial of Tom Robinson. This will be filled with many mysteries about who Boo Radley is. The symbol of the mockingbird represents innocence. How harmless they are and how it is considered a sin if you kill one. In her novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson, Jem, and Boo Radley as human mockingbirds and therefore, symbols of innocence.
The characters Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are both symbolized as mockingbirds. Boo Radley can be a symbol for two reasons. Mockingbirds are symbols for the innocent being cast down by evil. The first reason Boo Radley can be considered as a mockingbird is that, while being conspicuous, he watches over the kids and does little favors for them. One of these favors being when Jem lost his pants while running through the Radley yard in the night, he returned to find them neatly folded, and crudely sewn.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, it shows that because of prejudice, innocent mockingbirds can be harmed. Tom Robinson and his trial is a major part of the mockingbird symbol. The kids hero, Boo, also shows this by staying in his house, but coming out when it is
Reason one, Atticus defends Tom Robinson because he is helpful. In chapter 23, When Atticus told Jem that he will be alright and after he tells how Bob Ewell says he meant it when he said it, then he says. “ So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take,”(Lee 292). This shows that Atticus will do anything to help anyone.
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
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, ‘To Kill A MockingBird’, a novel written by Harper Lee, the use of symbols plays an important role in the unfolding of the main themes and central ideas of the novel. The symbolism within the title and Scout’s overalls are two symbols out of many symbols which Lee uses to represent the theme of inequality and prejudice. MockingBird’s are known to be sweet, tender little creatures, they are put on this Earth in the sense to enlighten beauty, according to Miss Maudie, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they are such innocent creatures, Lee uses this analogy of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley as mockingbirds, “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. ”(Lee 241) Tom Robinson is a friendly gentleman
The theme of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is to destroy innocence. Atticus says to Scout, “Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie said, your father's right, mockingbirds don’t do one thing ,but make music for us to enjoy…. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
12. The major symbols in the book are mockingbirds. These mockingbirds symbolize innocent people that are harmed by discrimination. Examples of mockingbirds in the book include Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Boo Radley is actually a very caring man but rumors that went out of proportion made him a victim of discrimination.
The Mockingbird is a symbol of innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird: “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.” (Lee 90). Ms. Maudie is trying to explain to the kids that it is a sin to kill something innocent. The Mockingbird does nothing harmful to them they just sing songs to the humans . There are many connecting symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird. Not only do many things in the book such as mockingbirds there are things in the book that represent these symbols. A mockingbird is innocent, keeps to itself, makes others happy much like Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Scout Finch throughout the novel.