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To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

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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”. At the beginning of the book, he is just the town gossip due to his being arrested for the alleged attack on Mayella Ewell. But when we first meet him, he is quiet and respectful, unlike Bob. Tom was always respectful, helping the Ewells when they needed it, showing just how respectful he was to the Ewell family. The event that killed the “mockingbird” was when Tom gave up on the case at the end of his case and became hopeless. In the end, Tom tried to run away when he was in prison but he was then …show more content…

They thought Maycomb was the safest place on earth, hidden away from danger and evil. But after the case and the events leading up to the case, he and the two other kids start to change, but Scout doesn't as dramatically as Jem and Dill. Jem is completely changed by the verdict of the court. The event that kills the mockingbird is when Jem, Scout, and Dill are in the courthouse during the trial. Jem kept on saying that they had it in the bag, that they were gonna prove that Tom was not guilty and prove they were right. But when the verdict came, it shocked Jem right to the core. In the end, Jem concludes that Maycomb isn't some safe heaven and nothing can hurt him and his family. The case forces him to grow and become a young adult to keep Scout safe. The growth of Jem is very important in the story, showing how maturity may not come smoothly. I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury. “Guilty.guilty.guilty.Guilty.” I peeked at Jem. His hands were white from gripping the balcony rail. Ch

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From this excerpt, I can understand that Tom was trying to stay away from trouble, but instead it got him into more. The way this relates to the mockingbird symbol is, mockingbirds do not ruin anybody's garden or nest in corn cribs they just make beautiful music. Tom was not trying to hurt anyone; instead, he was helping his neighbor out. In the novel, Boo Radley is also symbolized as the mockingbird. Like a mockingbird, Boo Radley never hurt anyone,

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jem grows from a little boy to an intelligent young man. Throughout the book, he discerns many things that shape his personality. As Jem grows, he learns how bad society is and that not everyone is perfect. Fortunately for Jem, this ends up helping him and he finds out that Atticus is a hero and that he should look up to Atticus. Through Atticus and the trial, Jem loses his innocence by learning about prejudice, bravery, and that the justice system is crippled.

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Jem's realization that the outcome of the trial

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He struggles to control his emotions as Tom’s conviction consumes his thoughts. It hurts Jem so badly that he can not even participate in a conversation: “I [Scout] stole a glance at Jem, but he was not listening. He would look up at Atticus, then down at the floor…” (242). This minor detail shows that the unfair outcome of the trial impacts Jem’s actions for the rest of the night. Eventually, Jem gathers the courage to ask Atticus how the jury could possibly convict Tom.

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In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird to portray a key coming of age scene where Scout and Jem learn that innocence should not be disrupted by preconceived notions and depravity. After receiving air-rifles as Christmas presents, Scout and Jem are taught by Atticus that “‘it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (Lee 119). Scout later confirms the validity of this statement with Miss Maudie. She assures Scout that the statement is true, for mockingbirds do nothing but sing for everyone to hear.

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After this verdict Jem’s point of view on the world shifts, and Jem is slowly realizing that racism lives in the hearts of people in Maycomb. When Jem heard the word guilty he gives up a little bit of his innocent childhood because he is starting to notice how racist people are. When Atticus walks out of the courthouse to meet up with Jem and Scout, Jem is in total disbelief of what the verdict because he thought that evidence could win a case alone, “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face streaked with angry tears as we made our way through a cheerful crowd. ‘It ain’t right’ he muttered all the way to the corner of the square where we found Atticus waiting.

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This trial being added to what he is concerned about is truly a rough situation for this young boy to be in. Atticus tells Jem that he must find the time to grow from what he has learned and mature from it. Jem shows to have learned from the trial about the racial unfairness that is still present in their community. He explains to his sister the morals behind not killing the roly bug because it would be the same as killing a mockingbird, a lesson Scout could not have understood when Atticus at the time taught Jem. Jem wants to protect all things that have done no harm to him after seeing the unfairness of the incrimination that resulted in the

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When the guilty verdict was returned, the severe injustice destroyed his childhood naivety. Obviously, the adversity in this scene is the extreme racial prejudice against Tom. Jem’s individual identity is shaped from this whole trial because of the unfairness of the racial prejudice of the jury in court, as it leaves him disillusioned and his childhood innocence lost. His faith in the Alabama justice system is diminished because he realises it’s very flawed. “It was Jem’s turn to cry” (p.284) “It ain’t Atticus.

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Jem and Scout learn many valuable life lessons throughout the novel and although they “grow up” at a much faster rate than other children in Maycomb, they will become people that have lots of wisdom and have been exposed to the real world. The experiences that the children have throughout their childhood help them solve problems, think wisely, and shape their

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The childhood and innocence of Scout and Jem die during the trial. Whether it’s people yelling racial slurs at Scout or even their own family members looking down upon Atticus, the kids are affected a lot by the trial. The book begins with Scout and Jem playing together in the yard and as the trial goes on, they grow up and start to realize the crudeness and ignorance of the real world. After the conclusion of the trial, Jem leaves the courtroom in tears due to his realization of the unjust, racist, final decision. Throughout the book, Jem stops playing outside with Scout and begins to have his own responsibilities.

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So, he did not do anything wrong he was truly innocent, even though the jury decided he was guilty, and went to jail to die. Tom was a great man had kids and a wife and could not afford to do anything wrong. Still, the town said that he was guilty. Also, said that he raped Mayella Ewell and sent him to jail to get the electric chair. Finally, Tom Robinson never did anything to hurt anyone and just helped people even when Mayella wanted to pay Tom he even refused any payment proving even more that he is a mockingbird because just like the mockingbird Tom was only there to make other people's lives easier and better with no

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Jem’s confession completely blows Scout’s mind because she does not understand yet that Mr.Radley is trying to keep Aurthur locked up. Jem’s deeper understanding of events in Maycomb creates a mental gap between him and Scout, thereby making her confused and

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He is a respectable man who is torn down because of the prejudice towards his race. Tom is an innocent mockingbird who does nothing but go out of the way to help others. In the book, Tom is accused of raping a white woman, when he was only helping her with some of her chores. During Tom’s trial he was asked many questions as to why he helped Mayella Ewell in the first place, he responded “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em -” (197).

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Tom's willingness to do so highlights his good-natured and unassuming character. Tom is always helping others and not doing any harm; yet he was still treated with no respect and killed at the end of the book, ““Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” (Lee) “Tom was prosecuted for a crime he did not commit, he was judged unfairly based on the color of his skin in his trial, proving him to be deprived of innocence. By the end of the book Tom recognizes that in his community racism blinds people's judgment, and there was no way for him to come out innocent no matter what he had to say.

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Despite the fact that he was helpful and kind especially towards Mayella Ewell, who later accused him of raping her. Tom was sent to court and found guilty even after Atticus Finch had undisputedly proved Toms innocence. Yet he was found guilty simply because he was a coloured African-American man. Harper Lee portrays Tom as a kind-hearted and respectful man, who took time out of his day to help other people, people who were underprivileged (even thought they were white). Lee's portrayal of this outstanding character and his Chivalrous acts highlights why he is the main reference to the image of the mockingbird in the title.

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