Symbolism In 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

Section 1- Question 2: Discuss the use of one of the symbols used in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and how it deepens the understanding of the main themes of the text.

The Mockingbird is a dominant symbol within Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The symbolism is applied to several characters due to their innocent quality throughout the novel. Their absence of moral or legal wrong directly aligns with that of a Mockingbird, and its vulnerability to being robbed of innocence. This idea is expressed during Scouts discussion with Miss Maudie on the topic of Mockingbirds “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." – pg. 98. The

The novel was set in the Deep South during the 1930’s, presently facing horrendous economical struggle due to the great depression. People of this time were excessively focused on finding work and making enough money to feed their families, hence increasing their ignorance of large scale issues, as it was easier to follow attitudes and notions rather than challenge them. This resulted in fierce racism, thus Tom Robinson’s case followed the same discriminative tendency based upon racial bias toward coloured people. Consequently, he was wrongfully charged guilty of a crime that was never committed. Through alternative context, the entire trial is likely to have not occurred, but due to financial struggle and social conduct of the time, Mayella Ewell was lead to sacrifice a human life for her own dignity within the current society. Atticus: “She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honoured code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white.” - Pg. 222. After listening to her extremely low evident accusation, the jury concluded a guilty verdict for Tom Robinson on account of their custom to belief of being a superior