Examples Of Metaphors In To Kill A Mockingbird

“’remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’” (119) These famous words Atticus Finch said in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, portrays that because the mockingbird doesn’t hurt anyone, and because it only helps people, it is a sin to kill it. To be a mockingbird, you can’t hurt people, you can’t infringe on other people’s property, and you can’t be a bad person. People who are like mockingbirds only help others in their endeavors. This is why I believe that Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Arthur “Boo” Radley are all portrayed as metaphorical mockingbirds.

Atticus’s respectful disposition, and his need to advocate for people who are being prejudiced makes him a mockingbird. When Jem, Scout, and Dill went to give a note to Arthur Radley,

In the courthouse, Atticus asked Tom if he got paid for helping Mayella with her chores. Tom said that he “’was glad to do it’”(256). He wants to help Mayella because he knows that the Ewells are in a bad position economically, so he wanted to do the chores for no money. Also, another reason why Tom is like a mockingbird, is because he spoke very respectfully when he was in the trial. When he was put under pressure, he still was able to keep his cool. He still addresses everyone “suh”(263) even though no one else was treating him like a human being except for Atticus. Tom’s respectfulness, and his helpfulness reveals that he is a

Because Arthur wanted to interact with Jem and Scout, he put presents into a knot on the tree near his house. This way he could be with Jem and Scout without actually being present. Arthur gave Jem and Scout “Two Indian-head pennies, chewing gum, soap dolls, a rusty medal, a broken watch and chain. (324 - 325)”He really does care about Jem and Scout, because if he didn’t care about them then he wouldn’t have taken the time to give something to Jem and Scout. Another reason why Arthur is a mockingbird is because he saves Jem and Scout when they are being attacked by Bob Ewell. When Jem and Scout are walking home after the Halloween play, they encounter Bob Ewell who wants to murder them. Then Arthur seeing Jem and Scout in danger takes his knife and kills Bob. Then Heck Tate botches the evidence to uncover that Bob Ewell died by falling on his knife. Scout explains this by saying “‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin‘ a mockingbird’…”(370) Scout knows that Arthur is like a mockingbird, because of all the things he did for her and Scout. She knows that convicting Arthur of murder would be like killing a mockingbird, because Arthur is very reclusive. Because Arthur gives presents to Jem and Scout, he helped Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell, and Scout says that Arthur is like a mockingbird, he exhibits the characteristics of a