Freedom In To Kill A Mockingbird

Freedom plays an important role in our nation, for people have and use their right to it daily. Freedom defines itself as the ability of an individual to live their life however they want, as long as they do not harm or limit the rights of others. Freedom is guaranteed in american culture because of the first amendment in the Constitution. To many foreigners, freedom stands as an important aspect of the American Dream. To Kill a Mockingbird explores the idea of freedom in America during the 1930s, while using bird motifs as various symbols, specifically for freedom. Throughout the novel, bird metaphors show the freedom of the three Finch siblings and also describe the physical appearance of Bob Ewell as he walks up to the stand. Birds are

The following passage about Bob Ewell is used to describe him while he is being called up to the court. “In answer to the clerk’s booming voice, a little bantam cock of a man rose and strutted to the stand, the back of his neck reddening at the sound of his name.When he turned around to take the oath, we saw that his face was as red as his neck…‘-so help me God,’ he crowed.” (Lee 193). The “bantam cock” compares Bob Ewell to a bird, specifically a rooster. His action when he “strutted to the stand” describes his the way he walked, like a rooster. The idea of a rooster strutting shows his pride and arrogance. “His neck reddened” shows his similarity to a rooster, in the fact that roosters also display a red chin. When “he crowed”, his speech resembles the sound of a bird. Through the passage, Harper Lee utilizes a metaphor to compare Bob Ewell to a bantam rooster. A bantam rooster stands out for a comedic reputation and aggressive disposition. Roosters also lack the ability to fly. They also never try to fly, for they know they will not succeed. Their lack of effort suggests a lack of freedom, for most birds fly to their content. The ability of most birds to fly symbolizes freedom. However, like a rooster, Bob Ewell has no freedom, no matter how hard he tries. He lives in squalor, without any education or any money. He ranks the lowest amongst all whites, and his race is the only quality that makes him feel superior to African Americans in the community. Although his race may suggest an access to freedom, his character and living conditions suggest otherwise. Like a bantam rooster, he is also exceedingly aggressive and like to pick fights, as shown in the his court trial against Tom Robinson. Roosters also “cock-a-doodle-doo” at the same time every morning, showing a monotonous, never-changing life. The sameness of a rooster’s behavior symbolizes Bob Ewell’s character,