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Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Now and then we feel not accepted or feel different than our peers but we learn to love ourselves and all the unique characteristics about us. In the fiction narrative To Kill a Mockingbird written in Maycomb, Alabama around the 1930’s authored by Harper Lee, Scout learns a lot about herself and Aunt Alexandra. In chapter 13 we can clearly see where Scout begins to mature. Aunt Alexandra represents the white privileged society, her erratic opinions coerced Scout to learn that not everyone will accept her differences. Alexandra and Scout bumped heads often because Scout was not meeting the Finch’s reputation.

Behind the words of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper has left us several examples of symbol. Around the time this book was written a “privileged society” existed in this case it was the Anglos.“Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand to a glove.” (Scout 175) Alexandra symbolized this society because of her judgmental opinions against Scout.”Aunt Alexandra managed to smile in a way that conveyed a gentle apology to cousin Lily and firm disapproval of me.” Scout is different from most 7-9 year olds in Maycomb, because of that she was thriving to change Scout into a lady. Going off this we can see why symbol is a literary element in this book. …show more content…

“I had an idea however that Aunt Alexandra’s appearance on the scene was not so much as Atticus’s doing as hers” (Scout 171) What gave impulse to the conflict was Alexandra attempted to change Scout, She would invite her to dress up and have a tea with her cousins. She also felt it was necessary for Jem and Scout to increment family pride “your cousin wrote this said Aunt Alexandra he was a beautiful character” (Alexandra 176) She flaunted the book their cousin had wrote but Jem and Scout were not impressed.The conflict in chapter 13 all grew from Alexandra's

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They would fight over many things and she would even say, “I can't say I approve of everything he does,” (240) which further proves she doesn't agree much. But it will all change once again in just a snap. Now looking at when Tom Robinson death was spoken to her, she not only felt bad not only for Tom, but mainly felt bad for her Brother. She also accepted that he should be able to live his life and raise Jem and Scout the way he wants to without people getting in the way. Speaking of Scout, Alexandra believed that Scout wasn't enough of a women and would tell her that, “It would be best for you to have some feminine influence.”

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“ ​Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat uppeople’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” (Lee 119). Tom Robinson, a minor yet importantcharacter, is indirectly described as a mockingbird throughout the whole book, since he waskilled for entertainment purposes and not because of the crime he was guilty of, when he wastruly innocent. He did not do one thing but be honest, but his skin color made the people thinkotherwise (Gladwell).

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Aunt Alexandra is a conservative woman who is conscious of propriety and class. So she wanted Jem and Scout to live in a certain way especially Scout, She was worried Scout was too much of a tomboy. Aunt Alexandra was also concerned that Atticus was too careless in his parenting. He allowed his kids to do whatever they wanted. She was also concerned that Calpurnia had too much say and authority over the lives of the children with the absence of their mother.

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Throughout Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout Finch intellectually develops from youth into maturity after a specific pivotal moment. Scout is a young tomboy from Maycomb, Alabama living during the Great Depression. Scout, having always punched and reacted violently to those who she does not agree with, develops into a mature lady and learns to thinks before she acts after seeing her Aunt Alexandra’s reaction to the death of Tom Robinson. The pivotal moment in which Scout Finch intellectually matures into a woman comes after seeing her aunt’s reaction to the death of Tom Robinson during a missionary circle meeting between the ladies of Maycomb.

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Harper lee famous author of how to kill a mockingbird uses symbolism all throughout her novel symbolism is a literary device where something or someone has a deeper meaning than is on the surface for example the mockingbird is used as a symbol for innocence she also uses these three people as human mockingbirds Boo Radley Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson we must protect innocence no matter what . Boo Radley is used as an human mockingbird the entire town calls him a monster a killer someone who isn’t even human Scout says “people say he goes out at night when the moon was down and peeped in windows” (9) Scout was spreading the rumors about Boo Radley his is rumered about for no reason at all just too be cruel to someone who dosent deserve it in the end Boo Radley ended up saving Scout and Jem and we found out that he was the one putting random objects in the tree gifts from a nice man

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Jem understands that he has to have the humility while Scout would just want to brag. In addition, when Aunt Alexandra shows up to live with Atticus and the kids. She planned to teach Jem and Scout “about the family and what it’s meant to Maycomb country” (Lee, 133). Aunt Alexandra would take a big part in Scout and Jem’s life. She would be teaching them many things like behaving like a gentleman and lady or their family history.

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Symbolism is used by many authors to convey a specific message that carries a deep meaning. In Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the primary symbol is the Mockingbird. There are numerous references to the mockingbird in the novel, which can be seen through some of the characters. The allusion of the mockingbird is used to represent the idea of innocence.

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There are several symbols in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, but one symbol that stands out the most is the mockingbird. The mockingbird is considered a symbol for a number of reasons. One reason is by hurting the innocent whether it be killing them or accusing them of something they never did. Mockingbirds are birds that do no harm to their community and yet they still get killed. Atticus states “shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember a sin to kill mockingbirds” (Lee 119).

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She was deliberating about how she considered him the most boring child she had ever met. Scout thought back to the unique time that Atticus spoke sharply. Atticus was talking with Aunt Alexandra about Scout because Aunt Alexandra did not think that it was fitting for Scout to wear overalls:”Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches”(108)

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Harper Lee uses symbolism, personification, and irony in the scene where Scout is dropping of Boo Radley at his house and she stands on his porch looking down her street. This reveals the theme people should not judge others until they get to know them. Symbolism is the actions of a character, word or event that have a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Boo Radley is a symbol.

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In the novel, Lee uses Scout to demonstrate how the expectations of society are pushed onto girls at a young age. One of the characters who forces these expectations onto Scout is Aunt Alexandra. Often times she ridicules Atticus for allowing Scout to wear breeches and be “unladylike.” During the Christmas party at Finch’s landing, Scout and Alexandra have a conversation about what is proper to wear.

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Atticus and Aunt Alexandra continue the heated the debate as Scout listens over, but finally Atticus makes the final decision of allowing Calpurnia to stay. This section shows the Aunt Alexandra is a racist because she thinks black women are a bad influence to her niece. However Scout thinks of Calpurnia as a good role model, but hearing the conversation between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra make her view the world differently. She learns about the prejudice and racism against black people in the world. Even though Aunt Alexandra didn’t achieve her plan of making Scout into a lady, Scout still matured from Aunt Alexandra’s conversation with

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