How Does Lee Use Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, she uses many symbols to convey the meaning and themes of the book. In my opinion, the main theme in this book is the question: What is good and what is evil? Using symbols in writing creates meaning. In this novel Lee uses the snowman or mud man as a symbol for racism, Aunt Alexandra as a symbol for sexism, and the mockingbird as a symbol of losing innocence. Without using these symbols, and the many symbols that are in the novel, the book might not have been as thought provoking. These symbols help tie the book together and assist the reader to understand the true meaning of this piece of literature. All of these symbols work together to create a negative aurora. The snowman, that is supposed

Her entire role in this book is making Scout feel wrong about the way she is as a person. For example, Lee wrote, “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra’s vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father’s lonely life.” (Lee 81). Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to act like a “girl.” Really, how can you not act like a girl, if you are a girl? What is Scout doing that is not acting like a “girl?” Who/what defines how a girl, boy, or anyone should be acting? Aunt Alexandra definitely is not the person to define that, yet she still insists that Scout needs to act a certain way. Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to be an old-fashioned, “feminine” lady, which is just something that Scout is not. Aunt Alexandra’s entire view on what women should be doing is, in fact, very sexist. She believes that women should be stepping back while the men should be in control. She is very vocal about her beliefs and pushes them on her children and on Scout. How would it feel to you, if someone that is supposed to love you unconditionally, only accepts you for something that you are not? Imagine how it feels to Scout to

The snowman creates a very vivid symbol of how racism is tied into this specific novel and into life in general. It depicts that a diverse society is far richer and functions better than a homogeneous society. Using Aunt Alexandra as a symbol for sexism is also very relevant. Telling Scout that she needs to act more like a “girl” is very ignorant, sexist, and disheartening. Mockingbirds are one of the most important symbols in this book. In fact, this is the symbol that the novel’s title is based upon. The loss of innocence and purity is an overriding part of this novel. The overall use of symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird is a pervasive element in this work of