How Did Arthur Radley Sin To Kill A Mockingbird

The Reclusive Mockingbird In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the mockingbird is human. To quote Atticus Finch and Miss Maudie, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” because they, “Don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy,” (Lee 90). Scout, the narrator, learns this lesson while she is exposed to the faults in Maycomb County. Arthur Radley is a neighbor who takes interest in Scout and her brother, Jem, and leaves gifts for them to discover. In the end, Arthur Radley even rescues the children from the drunken and loathsome Bob Ewell. The mockingbird of the novel is Arthur Radley because of his heroism and how Harper Lee regards him, despite the crimes he was acquainted with in his youth. Arthur Radley’s kindness makes him fit for the mockingbird role. Scout observed this kindness in the gifts Arthur left for her, “He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good luck pennies, and our lives” (Lee 278). Arthur Radley didn’t do any damage to anybody or thing, instead he executed acts of kindness to Scout and Jem, and even saved their lives. This aspect of Arthur Radley’s personality is shared by the description of a mockingbird.

Reader’s ascertain this through Sheriff Heck Tate’s conversation with Atticus in the end, “Taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great favor and dragging him into the limelight with his shy ways, to me that’s a sin,” (Lee 276). Although Heck Tate is explaining why Arthur Radley should not be credited for saving Jem and Scout’s lives, he is simultaneously explaining why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. In a nutshell, Heck Tate says to harm someone that hasn’t done anything but help others, is sin, and to force Arthur Radley to face up to the praises he’d receive would do more harm than good. Even Scout understands this, “Well it’d be sorta like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (Lee