In to Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the symbol of a mockingbird to represent innocence and people who only serve as a benefit, or at the very least have little to no negative effect on our society. Just as mockingbirds only exist to make music in the context of their affect on us, the characters in the story that are “mockingbirds” (Scout, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley) do not exist in the societal structure of Maycomb to any negative extent. Boo has almost no actual place in the societal structure of Maycomb, aside from being an urban legend, but still holds the symbolism of a mockingbird as he poses no real threat to anyone but he was still ostracized and stigmatized for no good reason. Scout is a mockingbird due to her obliviousness of
The mockingbird in To Kill A Mockingbird is symbolic of innocence. Early in the novel, Atticus, the father tells the children Scout and Jem that it is a "sin to kill a mockingbird". Later Scout asks Miss Maudie what he meant by that because she has never heard her father say anything was a sin. Miss Maudie explains his reasoning by saying that all mockingbirds do is provide beautiful music. They do not harm anyone, they don't bother anyone, and they "sing their hearts out for us."
When Atticus is telling Jem and Scout no to kill mocking birds with their Christmas gifts, air rifles, he is teaching them not to harm the innocent. He wants them to understand that mockingbirds bring nothing but song and joy to humans, so they should not be shot at. They can kill other birds that cause damage, but not the innocent ones. Atticus is trying to impart this message to his kids about how they should treat other people. Lee uses symbolism to convey that people should be treated fairly, and the innocent should not be killed simply because someone is looking for somebody to blame.
Not only does it serve as a symbol of innocence, it also serves as a symbol of injustice. In the characters Boo Radley and Tom Robinson it is shown. Atticus Finch stated "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the symbol of the Mockingbird represents how innocence can be misconstructed as being guilty. Harper
The poet, Lascelles Abercrombie once said, “There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into unity; and that is, an ability to see in particular human experience some significant symbolism of man 's general destiny.”. He talked about how powerful of a tool symbolism is and how it is the only thing that can truly define a highly complex ‘destiny’ or series of events. Symbolism is something that is found throughout Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee shows the reader that racism is a product of society,she portrays the matter through her symbolism of the mad dog, the birds and the bugs.
There are many symbols in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, but the most evident one is the mockingbird. Harper Lee signals this to the reader in one particular quote, “Shoot all the bluejays you want if you can hit‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Throughout the book, certain characters can be characterized as having the qualities of mockingbirds. Mockingbirds are songbirds, that sing and do not pester people like other birds; they are the embodiment of innocence in the book.
The significance in use of the symbol of a mockingbird in quoting “Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds . . . don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” later becomes apparent that it is primarily used to represent protection of innocence. The children live in a world of innocence, which mirrors the life of a mockingbird.
In the historical fiction novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the symbol of the mockingbird is shown throughout the novel. Atticus states “‘It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (Lee 103). He says this because they don’t bother anyone and are very peaceful animals. The metaphor “to kill a mockingbird” means to take away a person’s innocence.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird , the mockingbird symbol plays a tremendous role in the story. Although there are multiple themes covered, the mockingbird’s symbolism is clear and evident in the most two crucial plots of the story. To kill a mockingbird is considered a sin because they do not pest in any way and represent true purity that should always be protected. Therefore, Atticus explains to his children not to kill a mockingbird while shooting rather they should practice shooting tin cans.
They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin To Kill a Mockingbird.” (Chapter 10). The symbol is prominent throughout the novel, Lee constantly uses it as a way of approaching the readers emotions and positioning them to understand the innocence that is found and how quickly it can be stripped away by the systematic racism that surrounded the County at the time, such as when Tom Robinson is found guilty of raping a young white woman. His innocence is stripped even with the overwhelming evidence by his side, inexplicitly ‘killing the mockingbird’.
In the historical fiction novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the symbol of the mockingbird is shown throughout the novel. It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird because they don’t bother anyone and their peaceful beautiful creatures. It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird because they don’t bother anyone and their peaceful beautiful creatures. In the novel, Tom Robinson, Arthur Boo, Radley, and Jem Finch can be viewed as “mockingbirds”.
Dictionary states The birds which mimicry of the calls and songs of other birds are mockingbirds (Oxforddictionaries). However, in this novel, the mockingbird is not simply interpreted as definition of it. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus said that “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 86). Furthermore, when Scout asked Miss Maudie about it, she said mockingbird make music for people to enjoy instead of eating people’s gardens and nest in the corn crib which are blue jays do (Lee 86). To be specific, blue jays do people harm by eating people’s agriculture crops because grains are part of blue jays’ diet.
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, mockingbirds symbolize innocence, as they are peaceful, sing beautiful songs and cause no harm. In chapter 10 of the book Harper Lee mentions something that is very eye catching which is “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something.” This caught my eye as that it even mentions that it was the only thing that Atticus ever said was a sin. What made this even more interesting was Miss Maudie’s response to scout asking why it a sin to kill mockingbirds “‘Your father’s right,’ she said.
That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee 103). Harper Lee is using the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence. The characters of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout, and Boo Radley are tied with the symbol of a mockingbird because they are innocent. Additionally, these characters were destroyed in some way as a mockingbird would be killed.
