Pacifism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” traces the story of Arthur Radley’s subtle change from the beginning of the book to the end. He goes from being viewed as a horrible monster who comes out at night, to finally being understood as a recluse who encases himself to escape the ever present racism and hostility in MayComb. As the story commences Arthur is akin to a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis, even though he does not really change much, yet he is viewed and perceived as something-or someone-else. As a result of many outside factors, Arthur both opens up and is finally understood by the children, Jem and Scout, for what he really is, that being a diehard pacifist. But more than that, being what Atticus considers to be a “Mockingbird” …show more content…
Atticus alludes to this by telling Jem “It 's a sin to kill a mockingbird” after he received a pellet gun, listing the answer “Because all they do is make beautiful music, and don 't bother nobody”. Killing a mockingbird is not always literal killing, and simply corrupting a Mocking, or in the case of Tom Robinson, portraying one as a “friend” or someone who only attempts to cause harm is enough to signify “Killing a Mockingbird”. Likewise in the case of Arthur, being held inside his house and not being able to see friends caused him to lash out and stab his father in the thigh, acts like the latter ones are what are considered “Killing a Mockingbird” and sometimes it can be undone (such as with Arthur) while sometimes it cannot (events leading upto and including the death of Tom Robinson). After Arthur stabbed his father, he did not become a mockingbird again until after the children took an interest in him, and over the course of the book reconciled with what he did and eventually reclaimed his spot as a …show more content…
The first time Arthur would have taken large notice in the children is when Dill made Jem run up and hit the door, without a doubt attracting Arthur 's attention, after that event, Mainly Dill and Jem attempted many half baked schemes to lure him out, one of which involved sending a letter through the window to arthur; Though these events may seem annoying and petty, to Arthur Radley, someone who is even ignored by his own family, must have made him to think, and as such Arthur decided to take interest in these children and he continued to watch and pay attention to them throughout the book. Once school started, Arthur began to leave presents inside a nook in a tree, visible to Jem and Scout, this is the beginning of Arthur becoming a Mockingbird, but sadly as soon as Jem and Scout decided to leave a gift of their own-a thank you note written by them-Arthur 's brother, Nathan now owner of the house, fills the hole with cement stating that the tree is sick and the hole needed to be filled. The influence the children had on