To Kill a Mockingbird
A Response to Literature by Sasha Lambrecht To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a novel about two children, Jem and Scout Finch, coming of age in a southern racist town in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. The children live at home with Atticus Finch, a just and moral man who is their father, and Calpurnia, their black cook who acts as a mother figure. Dill, a friend of the Finch children who visits every summer, Jem, and Scout become fascinated with the Radley Place whose inside contains a recluse named Boo Radley. Jem and Scout participate in the normal activities of children such as going to school. The children's father, a lawyer, was assigned to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, in court who was accused of raping a white woman. This case sparked several difficulties especially because the setting is in a prejudice town. Although Atticus bravely defended Tom Robinson with clear evidence of innocence, he lost the case to the Ewells, a low class white family considered to be “white trash”. After the case, Bob Ewell threatens Atticus and puts Jem and Scout’s life in danger until an unexpected hero, Boo Radley, rescues them. In the end, Lee connects the relationship between Tom and Boo that makes Scout realize why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. …show more content…
I admire the way Lee used symbolism of the mockingbird throughout the whole story. For example, Atticus says “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Throughout the book, Atticus’ wise words are proven to be true with the characters Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Both Tom and Boo are like mockingbirds. It would be a sin to “kill” these mockingbirds, either by finding one guilty or bringing one into the limelight, because both are trying to make someone's life better whether it be Mayella or “his
A Response to Literature by Sasha Lambrecht To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a novel about two children, Jem and Scout Finch, coming of age in a southern racist town in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. The children live at home with Atticus Finch, a just and moral man who is their father, and Calpurnia, their black cook who acts as a mother figure. Dill, a friend of the Finch children who visits every summer, Jem, and Scout become fascinated with the Radley Place whose inside contains a recluse named Boo Radley. Jem and Scout participate in the normal activities of children such as going to school. The children's father, a lawyer, was assigned to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, in court who was accused of raping a white woman. This case sparked several difficulties especially because the setting is in a prejudice town. Although Atticus bravely defended Tom Robinson with clear evidence of innocence, he lost the case to the Ewells, a low class white family considered to be “white trash”. After the case, Bob Ewell threatens Atticus and puts Jem and Scout’s life in danger until an unexpected hero, Boo Radley, rescues them. In the end, Lee connects the relationship between Tom and Boo that makes Scout realize why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. …show more content…
I admire the way Lee used symbolism of the mockingbird throughout the whole story. For example, Atticus says “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Throughout the book, Atticus’ wise words are proven to be true with the characters Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Both Tom and Boo are like mockingbirds. It would be a sin to “kill” these mockingbirds, either by finding one guilty or bringing one into the limelight, because both are trying to make someone's life better whether it be Mayella or “his