What Does Tom Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

The Mockingbird had become something symbolic in the story. The mockingbird represents innocence and portrays itself through several different characters in the story; such as Scout Finch or Boo Radley. Despite their innocence however, they can be injured with their contact with evil. In the story, it’s explained how Boo Radley’s innocence is tainted because of his abusive father. Thus the extended metaphor or symbolism would explain that killing a mockingbird is tainting innocence. When Scout inquires her, Miss Maudie explains, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but . . . sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This also links the connection of Scout and Jem both having the last name finch, which is another name for a particularly small (and also harmless) bird.

The idea of mockingbirds in this text carries great symbolic weight, mockingbirds are considered the innocents in the novel. It is considered a sin to kill a mockingbird, which symbolizes the destruction innocence. Tom Robinson, Arthur “Boo” Radley, Jem and Mr. Raymond can all be identified as mockingbirds - innocents who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil.

Two characters that are portrayed as the mockingbirds of this novel are Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. “Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children…” (323) Sadly, Maycomb is a town full of many people who are prejudiced against black people and their lively communities. Helping Mayella, who is an Ewell, with simple chores whenever he could, Tom Robinson was wrongly convicted of raping her, even though all the evidence pointed to her father beating her. The only reason he was proven guilty was because he was black. If the jury had been fair, Tom would have been set free. Everyone knew he was innocent. Apart from doing nothing wrong, Tom was helpful, hardworking, and always provided for his family, while having an more than happy attitude. He was just like a mockingbird, minding his own business and being polite to all, and it was a sin to kill him. “‘Atticus sat looking at the floor for a long time. Finally he raised his head. “Scout,” he said, ‘Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?’ Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I ran to him and hugged him and kissed him with all my might. ‘Yes sir, I understand,’ I reassured him. ‘Mr. Tate was right.’ Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (370) As the other human mockingbird in this book, Boo Radley

According to the book, “Atticus said to Jem one day, ‘I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). Also in the book Tom, Boo, and Jem represents the mockingbird because it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, so hurting or killing them would be a sin. In chapter 24 Aunt Alexandra tells Atticus that Tom is dead and she says “the guards called him to stop. They fired a few shots in the air, then to kill. They got him just as he went over the fence. They said if he’d had two good arms he’d have made it, he was moving that fast. Seventeen bullet holes in him” (Lee 315). In addition to Miss Maudie, she says “your father is right,” she 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” (Lee 119). According to the book, Boo is represented as mockingbird for his kindness and offering for his friendship to Jem and Scout by putting all of those gifts in the tree. In conclusion, when Jem sits down to write Boo the letter, he says “we appreciate everything which you have put into the tree for us” (Lee

I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I am on page 208. The book is about a family living in the time of racism. In this journal I will be explaining and telling you about Atticus finch.

I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I am on page 254. This book is about the Finch family which consist of Scout, her older brother, and their father. Calpurnia is the family cook, and she also helps take care of the children. Aunt Alexandra comes and stays with the finch’s. The story takes place during the Great Depression in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama. In this journal I will be explaining the theme and evaluating.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee shows that innocence needs protecting.  Killing a mockingbird symbolizes a sin because mockingbirds represent innocence.  Tom Robinson’s fate and ultimately guilty verdict during came about because of the words of a white man. In reality, the color of his skin caused this verdict.. Boo Radley did a harmless prank and looked like a monster because his family kept him locked up.  Towards the end, Boo saved the kids from Bob Ewell and risked getting caught in the open.  Disrupting his life represents  killing a mockingbird because his life represents innocence.

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

Harper Lee once brilliantly said, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” This quote accurately describes a character in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr. Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson, although a minute character, brings significant influence in the other character's lives. He brings symbolism, eminent character traits, surprising color representation, and a powerful tie to the plot.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the characters Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Arthur “Boo” Radley are all portrayed as the aforementioned “mockingbird”. Though at first this comparison may seem vague and unprecedented as the book goes on it becomes clear what the mockingbird represents. Mockingbirds, as characterized in the book, cause no damage to humans and only want to sing shown here in chapter ten "Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy.” , it is even voiced as a sin to kill one also shown in chapter ten “I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.". If mockingbirds were put in the place of humans they would want nothing more than to serve everyone.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses various forms of symbolism throughout the story. One of the biggest uses of symbolism was the mockingbird. This makes the reader think about what that could mean, and if it’ll be referenced later in the story. Later in the beginning, Atticus tells Scout that she could kill all the blue jays she wanted when they went out to shoot cans, but to never kill a

These were the top three most important “mockingbirds” to me in the story. The reason I think a mockingbird symbolized was because he was proven to be an innocent man. In the beginning of the novel, Boo is only known as a childhood fairytale or superstition, but as the novel progresses, he proves other wise. In the beginning, Scout, Jem and Dill heard about the rumors making Boo Radley seem like such a monstrous, bone-chilling man, who has never left his house.

Another character that shows the characteristics of being a mockingbird, is Boo Radley. Boo saves Jem and Scout from Mr. Ewell, who attacks the kids. Mr. Tate is worried about exposing Boo to the town, because Boo didn’t want to be in the limelight. Later that night, Atticus asked Scout if she understood what Mr. Tate has told them. She said that she understood and that “it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird” (317).

The various symbolism throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, allowed the readers to have a deeper understanding of the book's themes and meaning. The most important symbol in the book is the mockingbird. The mockingbird represents good and is often associated with and represents Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. The wrongfulness of harming a mockingbird, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson is frequently stressed throughout the book due to their non harmful, peaceful ways. Boo Radley not only is the symbol of the mockingbird and good in society, but represents the unknowing and common misconceptions of colored people and himself in society. As the book progresses, so does their knowledge and interest of their childhood enigma and the ignorance of their

In the story, Tom Robinson is symbolized as a mockingbird because he is an innocent man that has done nothing but help people. “She gave me the hatchet and I broke up the chiffarobe. She said, ‘I reckon I’ll hafta give you a nickel, won’t I?’ I said, ‘No ma’am, there ain’t no charge.” Also, in the book it says, “ Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her.” “Were you ever paid for your services?’ ‘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 none.”