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To Kill A Mockingbird Impact On Society

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The Impact of Racism on Society and Children Are young children actually aware of the racial inequalities present in society? The novel To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of how the children Jem and Scout Finch learn the harsh reality of racism. In the novel, in which Jem and Scout witness the trial of Tom Robinson who was wrongly accused of rape due to his race, Harper Lee uses a plot event and symbolism to help develop the theme that prejudice significantly harms society. The use of a plot event in To Kill a Mockingbird shows Scout and Jem learning about the impact of prejudice. The trial of Tom Robinson helps Scout better see how prejudice directly harms certain individuals. Toward the end of the trial, Scout realizes what is going …show more content…

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird represents innocence. After the trial, Scout shows her understanding of prejudice has evolved due to the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial. When talking to Atticus, she states “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (317). This realization from Scout shows how much she has learned. The symbolism of the mockingbird helps the reader understand how aware of prejudice Scout has become. She has learned through the trial and other events after the trial what it truly means to “shoot a mockingbird”. She now fully comprehends the impacts of hurting innocent people. Jem also shows maturity through the symbol of the mockingbird. Jem takes the trial to heart and does not want to wrongfully hurt innocent people anymore. After the trial, Jem sees a bug a refuses to kill it because of its innocence: “‘Why couldn’t I mash him?’ [Scout] asked. ‘Because they don’t bother you’ Jem answered in the darkness” (273). This scene shows how Jem has learned from the trial. Similar to Tom, the bug also symbolizes the mockingbird. Jem now realizes the wrongs of prejudging people and even bugs. Jem no longer wants innocent people and things to be mistreated due to a common belief. The symbolism of the mockingbird helps show how Scout and Jem have matured and learned from the trial about how much prejudice can negatively affect the lives of

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There are many ideas presented throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird. The central idea behind the book is that people should not hurt those who are innocent, there are several examples throughout the book that help represent this main idea such as symbolism, similes, and some of characters from the book. To Kill a Mockingbird shows many examples of symbolism that supports the main idea of the book being people should not hurt those who are innocent. An example of this is the character Tom Robinson. In chapter 10 page 119 Scout repeats something Atticus had previously told Jem and her “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

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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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While one of the main themes of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is understanding another human’s perspective. Scout Finch, the story’s protagonist, shows growth and maturity as she learns to deal with the injustice of a prejudiced society. Scout is a young girl from Alabama whose father, Atticus Finch, is asked to defend an African-American man who is charged with rape. The southern way of life during the Great Depression would not allow Tom Robinson a fair trial, and Scout and her brother Jem are forced to deal with a county’s ignorance and racist attitudes. While in the beginning of the book Scout seems to be an innocent, naive little girl, she matures as time goes on and ultimately learns the lessons her father wants her to understand.

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In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the Mockingbird is the main symbol in the story representing how the loss of innocence influences Scout Finch and the society she sees. With the story, To Kill a Mockingbird is to destroy innocence. This shows how evil and the realization of the truth can truly show society the cruel nature of what they do. Without this realization society will become blind of their actions and negligent.

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In the book , To Kill A Mockingbird, symbolism is used a lot. One of the most important symbols throughout the book is the “mockingbird”. In chapter ten, Atticus tells Scout and Jem that they can not shoot mockingbirds, that it’s a sin. Mrs. Maudie says it’s a sin because , “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.”

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This event shows Scout’s intolerance of people at the beginning of the novel. During Tom Robinson 's trial, Scout learns a great deal more about tolerance. She learns to accept the way other people live. As well, she learns about the intolerance that some other people have. Scout’s perception of tolerance throughout the novel changes her behavior.

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When one witnesses the brutal act of harming someone or something that is innocent it leaves an indelible mark on her coming of age. This is done by overturning her naivement into maturity and encouraging her to form her own opinions on the world around her. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee these ideas are clearly portrayed. The ideas are demonstrated when the readers learn that killing a mockingbird in Maycomb is a crime due to the fact that it is immoral to harm something that is innocent. Tom Robbinson is symbolic of a mockingbird due to his innocence, and he facilitates Scout's coming of age by bringing out her maturity and showing her to formulate her own opinions about the world around her.

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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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Tom says he feels bad for Mayella, and everyone in the courthouse is shocked because African American children were taught not to “feel sorry” for white people. Lee’s novel highlighted the innocence and evils of the world and society throughout it. Scout and Jem learn that every man deserves a fair trial no matter what skin color (Smiley 504). By the end of the

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This shows Scout's growth in understanding others. Also, Scout's experiences with the trial of Tom Robinson help her realize the unfairness inside society. She watches how hate and racism seriously harm the lives of innocent people. She writes of the trial, "It was Jem's turn to cry.

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In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells a poignant coming-of-age story about the loss of innocence in the character of Scout. Three significant events illustrate this fact. The first example portrayed in the novel occurred when Scout went to the jail to find out what Atticus was up to, only to find that a mob had arrived to lynch Tom Robinson. This event left Scout with the notion of a mob mentality. Another event was the turning point of the story, the trial of Tom Robinson; this defining moment taught Scout of prejudice and injustice.

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The Effects of Racism in To Kill a Mocking Bird As illustrated in the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, racism effects the way that people treat others and victimizes them depending on their skin color that can lead to false accusations, irrationality, and poverties. As the town of Maycomb already has hardships, racism makes it harder for the people there to live and function correctly. Three main characters in this writing that are negatively affected by racism are Tom Robinson, Atticus, and Lula.

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Throughout the novel Harper Lee uses symbolism of many things to strengthen the theme of social inequality. The title of the book is the most obvious use of symbolism. The mockingbird is an animal meant for pleasure. It sings a beautiful song and hurts nothing and no one. When she receives an air gun as a gift, Scout is instructed to leave the mockingbirds alone for “its a sin to kill a mockingbird” and they pose no threat.

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Explaining to Jem and Scout that the mockingbird only sings its heart out for us. This also goes into the court case that Atticus is working on. Tom Robinson is convicted of rape when it is proven that he did nothing and it was Bob Ewell that gave Mayella Ewell, his own daughter all the injuries. Tom Robinson was later sentenced guilty and only because of the racism in the town, which is completely unfair in society and the only one that really seems to recognize it is Atticus.

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