ipl-logo

Examples Of Metaphor In To Kill A Mockingbird

802 Words4 Pages

In the historical fiction novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the main characters Jem and Scout experience and learn a lot in their town. They live in the fictional Maycomb County, Alabama in the 1930’s where most whites tend to be prejudiced against blacks. Throughout the novel, the theme of killing a mockingbird or the Mockingbird Metaphor comes up a lot. It is the idea that you shouldn’t harm those who have not harmed you. The Mockingbird Metaphor is present in the novel as seen in Dolphus Raymond, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson. Dolphus Raymond is a good example of a mockingbird in Maycomb County. Dolphus comes from a wealthy, white family but has to pretend to be a drunk in front of society. He has mixed children and prefers to hang out with the black people of Maycomb. “‘When I come …show more content…

Boo Radley has always been a mystery to the kids since he has stayed in his house for over 30 years and never came out. Later, Boo Radley’s true colors are shown when he kills Bob Ewell to save Jem and Scout. He shows that he is not scary, contrary to the stories told about him, and that he actually cares about the kids. “‘To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight-to me, that’s a sin.’” (pg. 369-370) The sheriff of Maycomb, Heck Tate, knew Boo had killed Bob Ewell but chose to say that Bob had fell on his knife. If Heck chose to tell everyone the full truth, he would have been famous. This would have been like killing a mockingbird because Boo is a timid soul and drawing attention to him would have made him uncomfortable. He was not wrong in killing Bob Ewell because Bob intended to kill Jem and Scout and he saved them. Bringing Boo Radley fame would have been more like a punishment rather than an award for rescuing the kids. He has a pure heart in wanting to help the kids and is genuinely

Open Document