Cole Leighton Mr. Cobean ENG 2 D June 18, 2024.. The Essence of a Human Mockingbird In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the characters Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, and Calpurnia all represent morality and justice, embodying the essence of a mockingbird. A mockingbird, described in the novel, symbolizes innocence and harmlessness, representing those who bring only good to the world yet are harmed by others. Atticus, Jem, and Calpurnia all share the mockingbird trait through their actions and values. Throughout this essay, one can see how Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, and Calpurnia personify the mockingbird by demonstrating courage and honour, despite facing adversity and hate from those around them. The most prominent way Atticus shows his …show more content…
Throughout the novel, Jem grows from an innocent child to a mature young adult who understands the injustice in Maycomb. An example of Jem's mockingbird-like nature is his reaction to Tom Robinson's conviction. After the unjust verdict, Jem is devastated, saying, "It ain’t right, Atticus" (Lee 212). This shows his belief in equality and justice for all. Another example is Jem's protective nature of his sister. During the encounter with Bob Ewell, Jem fights to protect Scout, displaying courage and selflessness despite being in the face of danger. His actions during this attack are where he suffers a broken arm. This selfless act reflects Jem’s mockingbird-like nature. Jem expresses his frustration with Maycomb's racial prejudices when he tells Scout, "If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?" Lee 227). The. The third time Jem shows a mockingbird-like nature is when he starts to understand the prejudices in Maycomb. He questions the community's racist ideas by saying, "I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that's what they seemed like" (Lee 216). This growing awareness and his discomfort with these ideas shows empathy. Through these examples, one could see Jem's character grow not only as a man but as a person, embodying the essence of the …show more content…
Atticus shows this by defending Tom Robinson and confronting danger to protect others. Jem through protecting his sister and having a strong sense of the importance of equality. Calpurnia by putting herself in danger to protect others from the rabid dog and teaching Jem and Scout important values. Like the mockingbird, they all try to bring goodness into the world, even as others attempt to harm them for their efforts. Their unwavering commitment to justice, empathy, and morals not only protects the innocent, but also challenges the racist values of Maycomb. This novel serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, regardless of the personal cost, and shows the importance of Atticus, Jem, and Calpurnia’s characters in fighting against injustice and