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What Does Tkam Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

Satisfactory Essays

The Symbol of The Mockingbird In TKAM In the book To Kill A Mockingbird the idea of the mockingbird reoccurs throughout the story. The mockingbird symbol plays an important role in the book and has multiple underlying meanings and connection in the book. The title of the book does not connect to what happens in the book as much as the actual mockingbird itself and what it stands for. The mockingbird os extremely symbolic to the story and plays an important role in having a better understanding to the book. The theme first obviously appears in the book when Scout and Jem are learning how to use their rifles. Their father refuses to teach them how to shoot but tells them “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. This is connecting that mockingbirds are harmless and innocent. Atticus is saying shouldn't be killed because they …show more content…

Some of these people are, Dill, Boo Radley, Jem, and Mr. Raymond. All of these people have been hurt and did not deserve it because they were innocent, like the mockingbird. At the end of the book Jem also says that to kill Boo Radley would be like “shootin’ and a mockingbird”. When Tom Robinson was shot Miss Maudie said his death was like “the senseless slaughter of songbirds”. She was comparing his innocent death to the death of an innocent mockingbird. Ms. Maudie also explains to Scout why she should not shoot a mockingbird. She says “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but . . . sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. The connection was to the people in Maycomb who are like the mockingbirds and do nothing but help or bring them happiness. The last name of Jem, Atticus and Scout is also another type of small bird. So maybe Harper Lee was trying to show that they were also innocent and fragile. The town of Maycomb might have thought they would be an easy

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