Everyone has been a mockingbird at least once in their life. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characters Arthur “Boo” Radley, Jeremy “Jem” Finch and Tom Robinson all represent mockingbirds in different ways. Boo represents one because he will be judged if he leaves his house. Jem is an example of one also, because he realizes as he grows up that the town he lives in is racist and judgemental. Tom is another example because the Ewells take advantage of his life to get away with their own. The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee uses characters to show that the innocent should be left alone. The first example of a mockingbird is Jem Finch. In this story a mockingbird is something that is weak and is taken advantage of. Jem’s …show more content…
Before the trial Atticus and Tom collaborate to try and save Tom from going to jail. During the trial Jem thinks that Tom is going to win because Bob Ewell gives ambiguous answers but, Reverend Sykes says, ”I ain’t never seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man”(279). Reverend Sykes means that no matter how innocent Tom is, he will not win because he is colored. Tom is found guilty and he is sent to jail. Tom becomes despondent and tries to escape, and is at the zenith of the fence but then gets shot and dies. When Atticus breaks the grievous news to Scout, Aunt Alexandra and Calpurnia he says that, “Tom was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own” (315). This means that Tom was tired of waiting on the white men, because they had not done anything good for him in his life. Being oblivious to the fact that Atticus could set him free he tries to escape because he does not think Atticus can do it. All in all Tom dies for no reason and represents a mockingbird because of that. Overall, Harper Lee uses characterization in To Kill a Mockingbird to show that the innocent should be protected. Jem loses his innocence first when he realizes that Boo Radley in a victim. After that Boo is victimized by the town because he stays inside unlike everyone else. Lastly Tom is taken advantage of by the Ewells and it cost him his life. In conclusion this book can teach people to give