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Use of symbolism in to kill a mockingbird
To kill a mockingbird social differences
Symbolism in to kill mockingbird
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“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.”(Lee 119 ) To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee about two young kids named Scout and Jem who live in the town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. Maycomb is a town infected with racism like much of the south in that time, but it is also a quiet town where nothing really happens. That is until Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused by the Ewell’s, a white family, of raping their daughter. As Tom’s trial occurs, a chain of events is set into place that teaches Scout and Jem about the harsh reality of innocent people who fall victim to circumstance. That is why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because mockingbirds symbolize innocent people who are hurt by evil, and it is a sin to hurt innocent people.
“There’s something in our world that make men lose their heads – they couldn’t be fair if they tried the white men always win” (pg. 220) in the 1930s racism at the time was powerful and strong the connection it had with people made a hatred emotion towards Tom, the white men will always win. Despite all the evidence that prove Tom is innocent, people still view him as guilty. Tom Robinson never committed a crime he is as innocent as a mockingbird, if racism was not a big deal as it was Tom would be a free man. Secondly, even when Tom is on trial at a chance he might die, he still shows kindness and compassion like a mockingbird. During the trial, Tom was called up by Atticus to give his side of the story.
“ Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat uppeople’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). Tom Robinson, a minor yet importantcharacter, is indirectly described as a mockingbird throughout the whole book, since he waskilled for entertainment purposes and not because of the crime he was guilty of, when he wastruly innocent. He did not do one thing but be honest, but his skin color made the people thinkotherwise (Gladwell).
A Mockingbird is a powerful symbol of goodness. A mockingbird is a type of bird that mimics other types of birds songs and sings beautiful songs that are peaceful, the mockingbird is a peaceful animal that doesn't cause harm or trouble and is not to be harmed, because it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, thus killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird the two characters that are most related to being a mockingbird would be Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a innocent negro accused of raping Mayella Ewell towards the end of the book, we don't see much of Tom until he is accused of rape. Tom was declared guilty and sentenced to jail, although the real problem about the case is that Tom Robinson
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson represents the mockingbird because he is killed for just trying to live his life. In the trial where a white woman, Mayella Ewell, accused a black man, Tom Robinson, of rape, Tom Robinson is found guilty, although it seems to be clear that he did not do it. He then gets sentenced to death and while he waits for the death penalty, put into jail.
To Be A Mockingbird “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit em, but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird”(Lee 119). This is showing that Atticus values Mockingbirds because of their innocence and it would be a sin because they cause no harm and only make good songs for people to enjoy. This connects to my thesis because Tom Robinson and Arthur Radley are both Mockingbirds. In the story To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson and Arthur Radley both symbolize the mockingbird because they both showed innocence.
When Atticus Finch gives Scout and Jem air rifles, he advises Jem and Scout not to shoot mockingbirds because "it's a sin" (Lee 119). This recommendation is explained by Miss Maudie, who states, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 119 ). Here, the mockingbird symbolizes innocence, goodness, and harmony. Atticus's warning reflects the theme of damaging the innocent, which foreshadows the unfair treatment of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson testifies his innocence, explaining that he felt sorry for Mayella and tried to help her by doing odd jobs around her property.
The quote “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Is a good way to symbolize Tom Robinson and the court case. Tom Robinson is similar to a mockingbird in that he is an innocent victim of prejudice and injustice. Despite being innocent, he is falsely accused of a crime and is unable to defend himself against the unfairness of the court system. Like a mockingbird, he was then killed for doing nothing but trying to live his life and mind his own business like a mockingbird.
And as a result Tom Robinson was shot and killed in jail, which is compared to "the senseless slaughter of songbirds,". It not only shows that Tom Robinson did not get a fair
Tom Robinson is portrayed by a Mockingbird because Mockingbirds do not harm others, they only sing for us. Tom is wrongly accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, when in actuality he is a helpful, hardworking, and honest man who was helping Mayella with her chores around the house. Tom Robinson does not hurt Mayella Ewell in any way but he does dare to feel sorry for her because of her loneliness and financial state which is why he was willing to help her around the house. Tom Robinson’s pity on Mayella Ewell is seen as unfathomable and is not accepted by the court. As shown on page 197, ”’
Tom Robinson was a man who didn't want to cause any throuble except for trying to help a girl who seemed desperatley lonely. Later in the novel, it has been concluded that Scout has understood the important concept of mocking birds when she tells Atticus about Boo Radley would be "Sort of like shooti a mocking bird". Boo has never done anything besides act with kindness to others like the Finch children.
or anyone that does nothing to harm others. Tom Robinson does nothing to bring harm to anyone, but he is convicted of rape despite only showing generosity towards Mayella Ewell. These accusations are made by Bob Ewell and with each lie he makes it’s the same as shooting Tom like a mockingbird. Bob, Mayella’s father displays a high level of prejudice towards Tom, rejecting the idea that it could be possible that his daughter tried to kiss Tom. Reader’s know, Tom did not rape Mayella and he is too of a kind hearted man to directly blame Mayella for falsely accusing him.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is a metaphor for Tom Robinson. While mockingbirds are discussed in the novel as literal birds that harmlessly sing and entertain, Lee clearly uses the mockingbird to symbolize Tom Robinson. One reason that supports this idea is a Robinson is a innocent man who tried to help someone but then was convicted of rape. Another reason that supports the metaphor is Tom, the innocent songbird, was put on trial for his life and was convicted guilty. This inhuman action of murdering an innocent and harmless man who wanted to help is like the killing of a harmless songbird.both are innocent, and both murders are wrong.
And it is sad to think people couldn't stop themselves from accusing Tom Robinson who was honest and clear with his story, due to the color of his skin. And there is part of the symbolism in the story, the title itself. Atticus told Scout and her brother Jem one day, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Mockingbirds are harmless, innocent creatures, and killing them would be wrong, because they don't hurt anyone. The same could be said for Tom Robinson.
Tom Robinson was an innocent man falsely accused and convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and despite the evidence supporting him he was still found and guilty and was sentenced to the death penalty. He is one of if
