Prejudice vs. Innocence The book To Kill a Mockingbird is an award winning novel written by Harper Lee. The novel is set in the Southern state of Alabama, during the early days of freedom for the African-Americans. There are many symbols that are used by the author in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird to convey themes. The most important symbols in this novel are, the “mockingbird”, prejudice and racism, and Boo Radley. (Themes)
One major symbol is mentioned not only in the novel, but it is in the title of the book. In the title “To Kill a Mockingbird” the mockingbird is a metaphor for harming innocent and vulnerable people. A mockingbird is the long‐tailed songbird, and lives in the southern states of America. To Kill a Mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, a number of characters (Jem, Tom Robinson, Dill, Boo Radley, and Mr. Raymond) can be known as mockingbirds or innocent people who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil. Attius tells the children that “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us …show more content…
Boo is very childlike. Boo is an intelligent child, but he was ruined by his father. In the beginning, the kids all like to pretend to be him or tell scary stories about him. As the novel continues, they begin to discover that he might not be the monster that they think he is. (Themes & Symbols)In the end, they realize that he is a compassionate man who has done them a hero's service. The understanding of Boo Radley shows how Jem and Scout mature over the novel. He is also one of the books most important symbols in the book. All he does is leave Jem and Scout presents and saves their lives while risking his own. Even though Boo Radley's heart is pure, his innocence is still damaged by his abusive father and he is "killed" many times. Scout notices that to hurt Arthur it is "sort of like shootin' a mockingbird
One major symbol is mentioned not only in the novel, but it is in the title of the book. In the title “To Kill a Mockingbird” the mockingbird is a metaphor for harming innocent and vulnerable people. A mockingbird is the long‐tailed songbird, and lives in the southern states of America. To Kill a Mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, a number of characters (Jem, Tom Robinson, Dill, Boo Radley, and Mr. Raymond) can be known as mockingbirds or innocent people who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil. Attius tells the children that “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us …show more content…
Boo is very childlike. Boo is an intelligent child, but he was ruined by his father. In the beginning, the kids all like to pretend to be him or tell scary stories about him. As the novel continues, they begin to discover that he might not be the monster that they think he is. (Themes & Symbols)In the end, they realize that he is a compassionate man who has done them a hero's service. The understanding of Boo Radley shows how Jem and Scout mature over the novel. He is also one of the books most important symbols in the book. All he does is leave Jem and Scout presents and saves their lives while risking his own. Even though Boo Radley's heart is pure, his innocence is still damaged by his abusive father and he is "killed" many times. Scout notices that to hurt Arthur it is "sort of like shootin' a mockingbird