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What Does Tom Johnson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

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I believe that the mad dog most obviously symbolizes three things: Tom Robinson, Tom Robinson’s trial, and racism in general. I am aware that you (Ms. Elkjaer) have asked for a response that his approximately one half of a page long. Because I am unable to address all three of these points in that space, I will use the first as my main idea while the final two will be extra, should you choose to read them. The initial similarity that can be seen between Tim Johnson and Tom Robinson is their first names. The mad dog represents Tom Robinson because of the inevitability of their respective circumstances and their respective fates. Ironically, in Tom Robinson’s case, Atticus is trying to prevent him from being shot, while in Tim Johnson’s circumstances, Atticus is the one trying to shoot the dog. With both Tim Johnson …show more content…

Heck Tate places Atticus in a position where he must shoot the dog and Judge Taylor assigns Atticus the defense of Tom Robinson. Tim Johnson's fate is sealed when he causes madness in one of Maycomb’s streets and Atticus is required to shoot him dead. Atticus senses something in the nature of a duty to protect his family and others. Perhaps Atticus even feels that a bullet in the head will end Tim Johnson's misery. Tom Robinson's fate is sealed through the severe racism found within Maycomb. Atticus has been assigned by Judge Taylor to defend him and he feels he is responsible for defending him to the best of his ability. However, with the rifle, Atticus controls Tim Johnson's outcome, while Atticus is not in control of the result of Tom Robinson’s trial given the harsh racism in Maycomb. One of Scout’s

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You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks Tim Johnson was a recognizable dog in Maycomb County, Alabama. Tim Johnson was regarded as “The pet of Maycomb county”(105). This title is very interesting. This means Tim Johnson is the mascot for the people of Maycomb. Tim Johnson’s owner was Mr. Harry Johnson.

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222 Words | 1 Pages

Harper Lee uses the mad dog to symbolize many things. It shows how Atticus is the one that must do the unpleasant jobs. Just like how Atticus gets rid of Tim Johnson, he also had to deal with Tom Robinson. The dog is put as an outcast just as Tom Robinson is. The dog can also be shown as foreshadowing for Tom Robinson’s case.

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To kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Mockingbirds do not cause harm or trouble; in fact their only purpose is to convince others with beautiful music. Tom Robinson’s death can easily be compared to that of a mockingbird; it did no good but also prevented no evil. Mr. Underwood chooses to write an article that basically every citizen of Maycomb can understand, and this proves to the reader the obvious connection between Tom Robinson and the symbol of a mockingbird. Mr. Underwood chooses to ignore the prominent racial barrier that separated Tom Robinson from justice, and chooses to focus on his disability instead.

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534 Words | 3 Pages

In chapter 10 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, an allegory for racism, prejudice, and injustice is created through the mad dog Tim Johnson as he wanders through the Finches’ hometown of Maycomb. Scout’s narration of the mad dog’s appearance, his death by Atticus's gun, and his disposal after death all combine to shape him into a symbol of the injustice and racism prevalent in Scout’s childhood and during the Great Depression. Tim Johnson is a significant literary device in Lee’s narrative that conveys the story’s central themes of how inequality becomes embedded in a community despite its danger and what measures the community needs to take to eliminate it. When every person in Maycomb gets sent indoors to avoid the mad dog, Scout observes

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266 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Robinson --- his full name, is mentioned for the first time. It is consistent with the solemn atmosphere in the court. It is the first appearance of Tom, although the other characters have been talking about him for over 10 chapters. Tom 's appearance becomes a turning point of the case. His genuineness is directly presented to the reader.

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722 Words | 3 Pages

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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436 Words | 2 Pages

Atticus could not live with himself if he failed to give his utmost effort in clearing the accused, Tom Robinson’s, name. The lawyer feels that he has to do it. The people of Maycomb are small minded and hypocritical, Atticus Finch is not. Nothing can be done to make the towns people hear the truth. Tom Robinson, would be a free man, living with his family, if it wasn’t for the people of Maycomb.

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826 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus was given an impossible case to win, but he dedicated a majority of his time on the case. “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” (104). This quote truly portrays Atticus’s character and mindset. During this time period, not many other lawyers would feel this way about that particular case. Atticus’s implies that he would not be able to carry on with his life without helping Tom Robinson and that he wanted to help Tom walk away a free man.

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117 Words | 1 Pages

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is a metaphor for Tom Robinson. While mockingbirds are discussed in the novel as literal birds that harmlessly sing and entertain, Lee clearly uses the mockingbird to symbolize Tom Robinson. One reason that supports this idea is a Robinson is a innocent man who tried to help someone but then was convicted of rape. Another reason that supports the metaphor is Tom, the innocent songbird, was put on trial for his life and was convicted guilty. This inhuman action of murdering an innocent and harmless man who wanted to help is like the killing of a harmless songbird.both are innocent, and both murders are wrong.

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1024 Words | 5 Pages

Mary Sarton explains that,”One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being”. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the more prominent figures in the book is the father of Scout and Jem, Atticus Finch. He serves as the voice of reason for the audience, his children, and himself. He gives life lessons to both Scout and Jem that shape who they are as a person, especially towards the end of the novel with the encounter of Bob Ewell and Boo Radley. Throughout the novel, Atticus symbolizes the virtue of humility.

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1131 Words | 5 Pages

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characterization, symbolism, and irony to express the cloud in judgment prejudice causes when examining the morals of others. Scout is able to understand more about the town folk in Maycomb County through studying her teacher’s ironic and corrupted views of life around her. Lee uses Miss Gates, Scout’s teacher, to allow Scout a chance to understand the complexity of the adult world. While teaching the class about the Holocaust, Gates expresses the injustice being done to the Jews. She teaches the children that the town does not “believe in persecuting anybody” (Lee 329) because of the U.S. democratic government.

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1204 Words | 5 Pages

“Your father does not know how to teach” says Miss Caroline judging Atticus before meeting him. Everyone has judged someone before knowing them, whether in a good way or in a bad way. In the story to kill a mockingbird Jem and Scout try to see people for who they are on the inside, not the color on the outside. Also, not letting others opinions affect theirs.

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1144 Words | 5 Pages

The mockingbird in the title of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," symbolizes a number of characters throughout the novel. In order to fully understand why these characters symbolize killed mockingbirds, one must first understand what the title represents and why it's wrong to kill a mockingbird. The idea that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird was first mentioned by Atticus Finch (the protagonist's, Scout, father) when he saw the children shooting things with BB guns. As he knows that soon they will go after birds, he tells them: "Shoot all the Blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. As Miss Maudie (the Finch's next-door neighbour) explains to Scout, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird because

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466 Words | 2 Pages

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, explores concepts such as social inequality, racism, morals and values, coming of age, and perspective. The story follows two children, Jem and Scout, as they experience being raised in Maycomb County, Alabama. So why did Lee choose the title: To Kill a Mockingbird?

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469 Words | 2 Pages

Lee’s use of elements of style in To Kill a Mockingbird to convey and support the classic’s theme is what makes both the novel and the author so distinguishable. Using the literary devices of setting, symbolization, and characterization, Lee is consistently referencing the theme of racism and inequality in society. Throughout the first chapter of To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee frequently references age and appearance when discussing the town of Maycomb. ” Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it” (Lee 9). The deeper meaning that Lee is successfully conveying through this description of an old and tired town can be used to represent the old and outdated morals and view of Maycomb’s inhabitants.

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