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What Are The Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Symbolism is the exercise of using objects, people, situations or words to exemplify something else. Many authors frequently use symbolism in their literary works to express moods or emotions in order to give their work deeper meaning. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, she strives to highlight the evil and unjust things that exist in society while simultaneously revealing the good in the world. Atticus, the mockingbird, and Scout are all symbolic vehicles that are used to represent the themes of justice, morality, and ethics. One of the main characters in the novel, Atticus Finch, expresses the themes of justice, morality and ethics. Atticus readily takes on the Tom Robinson case even though he knows this pronouncement will pit him against the biased opinions and attitudes in Maycomb County. He also realizes his decision inherently opens the door for he and his family to be chastised and ridiculed by numerous bigoted people in Maycomb who believe African Americans are of lesser value than white people. While Atticus represents justice, a rabid dog in the novel symbolizes racism. As Jem and Scout watch their father take the …show more content…

This representation is explained when Miss Maudie makes the statement, (Page 90) "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That is why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." As seen in the novel, Tom Robinson is an innocent man whose life has been destroyed by evil, making him a mockingbird. Tom Robinson, in the public’s eye, is an evil rapist who deserves to go to prison. Inside the courtroom, Atticus uncovers the truth of the Tom Robinson case. All eyes in the courtroom are able to see Tom Robinson's innocence, but are unable to overcome their prejudice whims. Throughout the case, Atticus's morality, ethics and justice shine above all the evil that taints

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Atticus takes the trial knowing the consequence that him and his family will be harrassed by the town because it is the right thing to do. Atticus finch decides to defend Tom Robinson to be a good role model for his children and prove that the “Golden Rule” is a rule to

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Not to mention, he takes the case without outwardly pleading it is a hopeless cause. To show, Atticus defends Tom Robinson as he would defend any white man, and makes it his civil duty to do this man right. Coupled with Atticus’s personal beliefs, he never shows regret in his obligation to Tom Robinson and his family. In another instance, Atticus respected these citizens even before the case. Though the residents of Maycomb did not agree with him, Atticus stuck to his belief all men are created equal.

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Atticus tries his hardest to get Tom the justice he deserves but despite his best efforts the verdict made by the judge is that Tom is guilty of the charges. Then Tom is taken to jail where he tries to escape and dies doing so. The novel teaches the reader why it is wrong to treat others unfairly, unequally and with prejudice.

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Alliteration- the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. “...Miss Rachel’s cook’s son" ( To Kill a Mockingbird 100). I think that Lee put this in, to show that Scout did not want to go to school at all. Personification- Giving human characteristics to nonhuman objects.

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The mockingbird in To Kill A Mockingbird is symbolic of innocence. Early in the novel, Atticus, the father tells the children Scout and Jem that it is a "sin to kill a mockingbird". Later Scout asks Miss Maudie what he meant by that because she has never heard her father say anything was a sin. Miss Maudie explains his reasoning by saying that all mockingbirds do is provide beautiful music. They do not harm anyone, they don't bother anyone, and they "sing their hearts out for us."

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807 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus Finch becomes a victim of prejudice when he helps defend a innocent black man in court; Tom Robinson. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are prejudged; do to the fact that prejudice is so inclusive, the people who help the "mockingbirds", like Atticus,easily become victims of prejudice. Many of the people who live in Maycomb gossip and spread rumors about Boo Radley because he chooses to always stay in his domicile, while Tom Robinson is stereotyped by

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Despite racial inequalities in the South, Atticus sticks to his own morals and agrees to be the defending lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man being accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus’ defense in court was thorough and clearly proved Tom’s innocence, the jury was prejudiced towards black folks and convicted Tom as guilty. Nonetheless, Atticus is still a hero despite losing the case. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, fights with reason rather than guns, and has utmost determination, making him a hero despite being just an average human being. Ultimately, his thoughts and actions set the stage for major changes in the meaning of equality throughout Maycomb County, changing lives of numerous people.

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After Tom Robinson, a Black man, was accused of a terrible crime against a white woman, Atticus is the only one who believes that he deserves to have a fair trial. He chose to defend Tom Robinson, even though he knew that a Black man would have no chance of winning. Atticus was criticized for taking on this case, and the whites were very angry that Tom Robinson was not immediately killed. They did not think that he even deserved a trial. One day, an angry mob led by Mr. Cunningingham, one of the townspeople, arrived at the jail to take justice into their own hands.

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Atticus knows that the case is a matter of he-said, she-said, with a jury unlikely to acquit simply based on the color of Tom Robinson’s skin. Yet, despite this, Atticus took the case. He follows his conscience saying, “ This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience–Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.” (Lee 120) Even in the face of racism in the town of Maycomb, Atticus stands up for what he believes in.

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To Kill A Mockingbird Themes “‘You never really understand a person until you consider his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it’” (Lee 39). This quote from the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee includes many characters who suffer from the Great Depression and other conflicts that break out in the town of Maycomb. Racism, poverty, and domestic violence attend in the book and continue their way through to create rising conflict between the people of Maycomb county. Atticus Finch is a lawyer of Maycomb and a father of two children, Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout, and Jem Finch.

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He was a very good person; he never misbehaved or did anything to harass others. He often helped Maella Ewell, but always refused to get paid for it. Likewise the real mockingbird does not do anything bad. It never steals from the fields, it does not nest in corncribs; all it does is sing and bring beauty in the lives of those it encounters. And as the mockingbird can not defend itself when it gets shot, a black man like Tom Robinson is completely defenceless in such a racist town and time, when he gets accused of rape by a white woman.

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830 Words | 4 Pages

Tom Robinson is a young African-American who's been accused of raping and abusing Mayella Ewell, a young and closeted white woman. Racial discrimination is hinted throughout Tom’s trial as Atticus Finch explains to Jem that a white man’s word will always win over that of a black man’s - "... In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life" (220). Atticus explains to Jem that in the courts of Maycomb, a black man’s state of innocence or guilt is truly determined by a white man’s testimony.

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This novel is mostly centered on Tom Robinson’s case and the final judgment. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella, daughter of Bob Ewell. Atticus, being a symbol of good moral, dug his own grave when he decided to defend Tom. Since Tom Robinson was an African-American, all the odds were against him, so Atticus’s decision to defend Tom was the cause of the enmity between society and his family.

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Art is way of expression. People can use actions and art or express themselves in ways other than speaking. In the book Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, symbolism holds a big significance. The trees mentioned throughout the book symbolize Melinda’s changing “seasons” (her “growing” as a person). People, like trees, go through phases, they freeze in the winter, becoming nothing but lonely limbs without leaves covered with white slush.

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It is a sin to kill a Mockingbird. It is a sin because they are innocent, good, protective animals that mind their own business and don 't do anything but good for their community. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird there are three mockingbirds in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. When there was a problem they could solve, they would solve it.

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