It's a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, a small town 1930's lawyer, tells his son and daughter “Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Scout Finch, Atticus's six year old daughter as well as the narrator and protagonist, doesn't understand what he means so she decides to ask her neighbor Mrs. Maudie Atkinson.
Mrs. Maudie's reply is simply “Your father is right, mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, make nests in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (119). Many people would take Mrs. Maudie's explanation and leave, but if you just dig a little deeper, there's so much to it, …show more content…
Maudie explains why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird, but the thing is, it should be the same precedence for humans, other animals, and even bugs. Tom Robinson, the Negro man that Atticus is defending, has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, whose family represents the scum of the earth and is the epitome of white trash. From the evidence that Atticus provides in court, everyone knows in their hearts that Tom Robinson is innocent. Because Tom is Negro, though, the jury is prejudiced against him. And now because of Mayella and her father's lies, Tom will die. Atticus took this case because he knew in his heart that Tom was not guilty. Atticus stated that his conscience would not let him go along with everyone else. Tom Robinson would most likely be executed for a crime he did not commit. And this, this false accusation is what makes Tom Robinson like a mockingbird. Humans have a tendency to harshly judge what they don't understand. Oddly enough, this is just what they've done to Arthur “Boo”
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, a small town 1930's lawyer, tells his son and daughter “Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Scout Finch, Atticus's six year old daughter as well as the narrator and protagonist, doesn't understand what he means so she decides to ask her neighbor Mrs. Maudie Atkinson.
Mrs. Maudie's reply is simply “Your father is right, mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, make nests in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (119). Many people would take Mrs. Maudie's explanation and leave, but if you just dig a little deeper, there's so much to it, …show more content…
Maudie explains why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird, but the thing is, it should be the same precedence for humans, other animals, and even bugs. Tom Robinson, the Negro man that Atticus is defending, has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, whose family represents the scum of the earth and is the epitome of white trash. From the evidence that Atticus provides in court, everyone knows in their hearts that Tom Robinson is innocent. Because Tom is Negro, though, the jury is prejudiced against him. And now because of Mayella and her father's lies, Tom will die. Atticus took this case because he knew in his heart that Tom was not guilty. Atticus stated that his conscience would not let him go along with everyone else. Tom Robinson would most likely be executed for a crime he did not commit. And this, this false accusation is what makes Tom Robinson like a mockingbird. Humans have a tendency to harshly judge what they don't understand. Oddly enough, this is just what they've done to Arthur “Boo”