What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

Someone once wrote, “There’s a story behind every person. There’s a reason why they’re the way they are. Think about that before you judge someone”. Everyday people are judged for how they look, speak, and even how they act just because the people who say those things do not know why they are like that. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are judged before they are known. Mockingbirds symbolize the goodness, innocence, and beauty in people. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are considered mockingbirds since they have done nothing wrong and are innocent but are either metaphorically or literally killed. To start off, Tom Robinson is a mockingbird because he did nothing wrong to Miss Mayella Ewell and was convicted of

During the trial, Tom Robinson states that he was helping Miss Mayella with her chores because when he passed by she would ask him to help. For instance, “‘She’d call me in, suh. Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she’d have some little somethin’ for me to do…’” (Lee 256). In other words, Mayella Ewell would call Tom Robinson in her gates on a daily basis for him to do her chores. Mr. Robinson would always do favors for her. However, never once did he receive a cent from his work because he declined Miss Mayella’s offer of paying him a nickel. This shows the goodness in him and how he truly cared for people. Another example that shows how Tom was generous and kind-hearted is that he often helped Mayella since he presumes that Mr. Ewell was not helping her at all. Mr. Robinson is a kind man yet he was always treated poorly due to his skin colour. The one thing Tom said on trial that convinced the jury he is guilty is saying how he has remorse for