I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The book is very heavily about racism and innocence. In this journal I will be evaluating on how Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are represented by the symbol of the mockingbird.
In the novel, there are two people who are obviously symbolized by the mockingbird. The first man that is symbolized is Tom Robinson. Just like a mockingbird, Tom Robinson is innocent but had everyone trying to shoot him down. Scout thinks, “Jem said Atticus was trying to show the jury that Tom had nothing to hide”(Lee 255). Tom, like the mockingbird, is an innocent creature who just happens to be targeted. From reading the quote, I gather that Tom was a very open and honest man who in all honesty did no wrong. Not only was Tom innocent, but also he was only trying to be of help. As a
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Tom, recalls “She said, ‘I reckon I’ll hafta give you a nickel, won’t I.’ an’ I said, ‘No ma’am, there ain’t no charge’”(Lee 255). From this quote, I can conclude that Tom was only trying to help in this situation. Tom was simply doing good by reaching out his hand and helping Mayella for free, just like a mockingbird makes beautiful music for free. Furthermore, Tom kept his head down and tried to stay out of trouble. Scout believes, “…he would not have dared strike a white woman under any circumstances and expect to live long, so he took the first opportunity to run-a sure sign of guilt”(Lee 260-261). 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,