How Does Boo Radley House Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates symbolism throughout Scout’s childhood. Three examples of symbolism include the mad dog, the Radley house, and of course the Mockingbird. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tim Johnson, the local judge’s dog, catches rabies and roams the streets of Maycomb. The only option to prevent the dog from hurting someone is to shoot him. Atticus Finch has the best shot in town and is given a gun to shoot Tim. “The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap. He didn’t know what hit him,” (Lee, 127). Tim symbolizes Tom Robinson’s innocence because the innocent dog caught a horrible disease. The disease represents Maycomb’s racism and accusations. The

Another example of symbolism is the Radley House. The house is described with “Rain-rotted shingles,” and had “a deep front porch,” with “oak trees that kept the sun away,” (10). The house symbolizes how not everything is what it seems, and one should not judge a book by its cover. Boo Radley was portrayed as a scary character in the book, but later on in the book, Boo Radley becomes a heroic figure. The house also symbolizes isolation and sorrow. Boo Radley was always in the house and never socialized. He rarely saw daylight, and he had no friends. The third and most prominent symbol is the mockingbird. “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” Atticus says reminding Jem that the birds were peaceful (119). Mockingbirds didn’t do anything to anyone. They were benign animals with singing as their only purpose. The mockingbird symbolizes Tom Robinson. Tom did not not harm anyone or do anything to disturb Maycomb. Due to social views, Mayella Ewell decided to blame Tom for a crime he did not commit. Mayella Ewell killed a mockingbird. A harmless man died because of the racist lifestyle in Maycomb. Tom Robinson lost his life for no apparent