How Does Harper Lee Use Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

Symbolism gives a person the ability to communicate something outside the barrier of language. A symbol is a person, place, or an object that is representative of something beyond itself. Symbols are found everywhere and in everything, and can be hard to recognize if a student is not familiar with the context or the situation. For a student to be able to acknowledge the symbols and their meanings is critical for their success in analyzing a literary work. I believe that symbolism is important for students to know because it allows them to gain a deeper understanding of the story. Nature and animals are common types of symbols found in literature that can be easily missed by students. A student may overlook these symbols if they are not critically reading the text. The symbols an author of places in their work can make it easier to understand, and can connect the moment back to the theme. Authors use symbols as a device to add depth to the story, and to emphasize a point they are trying …show more content…
Lee uses symbolism to shed light on many different themes in the novel but a major theme it represents is innocence. Lee employs the use of nature and a phantom character to show the theme most prominently. The mockingbird and Boo Radley are representative of the theme, even though it may seem like they do not have a big role in the overall story. The mockingbird is a major symbol throughout the novel. The mockingbird is first introduced when Atticus tells Jem to “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (103). This introduces the mockingbird as a symbol that is representative of innocence. It is also reiterated when Miss Maudie explains to Scout that “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. . . That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”