ipl-logo

What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

679 Words3 Pages

The Mockingbirds in To Kill a Mockingbird A symbol is something that represents or suggests something else. In To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there are many symbols, but the main one is the mockingbird, a thing that does nothing but good. In To Kill a Mockingbird the mockingbird symbol is used to represent the characters of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a Black person living in Maycomb County. We see that he is well-suited for the mockingbird symbol as he is unfairly put on trial and found guilty of a crime that he didn’t commit. During the trial, he explains to the judge that he was just trying to help Mayella without any expectation of being repaid and when questioned by the judge he responded, “No suh, not …show more content…

Although not Black like Tom Robinson was, he was also treated unfairly by Maycomb’s people. Jem told Scout about the rumors of Boo Radley as, “he [Boo Radley] went out at night when the moon was down and peeped in windows,” and “any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work” (Lee 9). We can see here that Boo Radley was thought by many people in Maycomb to be a person that is like a wild animal and is evil-minded and mysterious. Because of these rumors, people do not treat him fairly and he has to stay home the entire time. He isn’t even treated fairly by his father as he tries to block off his communication with the outside world when he was sending gifts to Jem and Scout through the knot-hole in the tree. We find out that Boo Radley isn’t anything like what the rumors depict him as. He turned out to be a very nice person that cares about the people close to him. At the end of the book, Atticus passed by him and said “Thank you for my children'' (Lee 276). Atticus, being an adult and knowing more than Scout and Jem, realizes what he has done and how he saved his children and Maycomb as he did a favor getting rid of Bob Ewell who was already trying to kill Jem and Scout and probably would have done even worse things in the future. There are also many other examples of Bob being exceptionally kind such as when he retrieved and sewed Jem’s ripped pants back together. I think that his virtues of

Show More
Related

What Does Boo Radley Represent In To Kill A Mockingbird

435 Words | 2 Pages

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee). Another symbol that I think symbolises the mockingbird is Tom Robinson. Tom robinson is in trial for his life for something that he did not do. He had to fight for his innocents and Atticus is by his side helping him. The white people though that he was guilty just because his skin color was not the same as them.

Read More

What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

828 Words | 4 Pages

Who is a symbol of a Mockingbird and what does a Mockingbird symbolize? Tom Robinson from Harper Lee's novel To Kill A MockingBird symbolizes a Mockingbird. The bird represents innocents and it does no harm to others. Mr. Robinson symbolized the Mockingbird because he was fated to death even when he was innocent. Also, Tom is disabled and is unable to use his left hand and arm.

Read More

How Does Miss Maudie Use Rumors In To Kill A Mockingbird

653 Words | 3 Pages

He did several things for Scout and Jem and never harmed anyone. He brought unknowing sourced joy to the children. No one can ever see Boo as a mockingbird because of the rumors attached to him. He can’t ever fly high since these rumors are heavy weights holding him back. Boo Radley is depicted as a monster, but he is just a giving man who likes to do good things in the shadows.

Read More

Empathy Quotes In To Kill A Mockingbird

971 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel, the symbol of the Mockingbird is quite an important part of the story and final plot, being brought up, most importantly, in 2 very important scenarios. The first instance is in chapter 10 when Addicus reminded Jem and Scout that “[Its] a sin to kill a mockingbird.”(Lee 103) and later in chapter 30, when Scout compares the mockingbird to Boo Radley and even comments that “it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird”(Lee 317). The introduction of this symbol in chapter 10, foreshadows the future conflicts and plots as again Atticus explains that mockingbirds are innocent and don't hurt us. Later in chapter 30, while the question of whether Boo Radley should be put on trial, Scout uses what she learned from Atticus, and argues that Boo is like a mockingbird, and innocent, making the reader feel empathy for the innocent Boo Radley.

Read More

Tom Robinson Impact On To Kill A Mockingbird

697 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the novel, Scout asks many people who Boo Radley is. Many have responded with horrible stories and negative words towards him. But as she and her older brother, Jem, find little trinkets in a knot hole, it shows how all he is, is a man who was imprisoned by the fear of his own father, just wanting a friend. Many look at Boo Radley as a worse person than Mr. Ewell, a man who was willing to kill two children just to get even. If it wasn’t for Boo, Jem and Scout would have died by the hands of Mr. Ewell.

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Coming Of Age Quotes

386 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More

Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

582 Words | 3 Pages

Therefore Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch all symbolize a mockingbird because they all show innocence in their own way, these characters display their innocence through kindness and the truth.

Read More

Anzalda How To Tame A Wild Tongue Summary

1351 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction and thing Language is a vital communication tool that can shape our thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. Language, according to Anzalda in "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," is a reflection of one's cultural background and identity, and as such, it can be used to assert and preserve cultural heritage, or it can be used to erode and oppress it. The authors of "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" and "The Bullet in the Brain" both use language to communicate their experiences and thoughts. They illustrate the themes of assimilation and self-destruction, as well as the impact of language on one's identity and experiences, through their use of language. Anzalda argues in "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" that ethnic and linguistic adaptations imposed on

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Quotes

790 Words | 4 Pages

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the title itself is significant to the book. The author Harper Lee uses the symbol of the bird to reveal innocence. The symbol of the mockingbird, a bird that is beneficial because it gives pleasure, is reinforced through the characters of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Harper Lee uses Tom to develop her thematic statement that some people only want to help but get hurt by those who misunderstand them.

Read More

What Does Mr Raymond Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

671 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

1915 Words | 8 Pages

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the symbol of the Mockingbird represents how innocence can be misconstructed as being guilty. Harper

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Prejudice Quotes

941 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird to show that prejudice can affect even the most selfless people. The mockingbird symbol is seen through three specific characters which include: Boo Radley, Tom Robinson and, Atticus Finch. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley is one of the first characters to be seen as a mockingbird. He is an outcast and he is judged by all the gossip that speaks differently of him, he is a mockingbird in the midst of evil.

Read More

Social Inequality In To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

1108 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More

Boo Radley Character Traits

507 Words | 3 Pages

Boo Radley represents one of the “mockingbirds” in the book, and a mockingbird is someone that is pure and innocence in the world. He is a good person that is hurt by the evil of mankind. In a lot of ways, Boo Radley might have have wanted to stay shut up in his house after seeing some of the awful acts that the townspeople have committed. But after seeing the Finch kids being attacked by Bob Ewell he had no choice but to leave the comfort of his own home that he has been enclosed in for so long to come out and save them. All though it would have been easier for this man to stay in his house rather than leave and then be drug into court, he did what he knew would be right and rescued the

Read More

Theme Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

1730 Words | 7 Pages

Mockingbirds are an important symbol because they represent goodness and innocence. In this book, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are two innocent men, similar to mockingbirds, who get taken advantage of due to their innocence. Atticus and Miss Maudie teach Scout and Jem that it’s a sin to harm anything innocent by using the example of mockingbirds. Mockingbirds are innocent because they only positively affect people through their singing.

Read More

More about What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

Related Topics

Open Document