In literature symbols are used all the time. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the author Harper Lee uses many symbols. One of the symbols Harper Lee uses in this novel is a mockingbird. The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence and purity. When Scout and Jem get air rifles for Christmas Atticus explains that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Throughout the novel many of the characters can be identified as mockingbirds. One of the characters that can be described as a mockingbird is Tom Robinson; this is because he is innocent of the charges brought against him. Boo Radley is another character that can be identified as a mockingbird. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the mockingbird represents true goodness and innocence that should always
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Tom Robinson was an innocent black man who helped a woman out of the goodness of his heart. When he would walk past the Ewells house Mayella would have chores that she would ask Tom to do. Tom would help her with her chores because he felt sorry for Mayella and in return he asked nothing. One day as he walked past the Ewell house Mayella invited him inside the house. While inside the house Mayella tried to kiss Tom Robinson and Mr. Ewell saw them through the window. Mr. Ewell then accused Tom of raping and beating Mayella. He was innocent of this accusation but the jury still found him guilty. Along with this guilty verdict came a sentence to death. Atticus says, “’In our courts, when it’s white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are facts of life’” (251-252). Atticus explains that in their society a black man’s word would never win against a white man’s. The facts clearly prove that he is innocent, but the jury chose to believe the white man over the black man. The town commits the greatest sin by finding him guilty and sentencing him to death. In effect, they have killed a …show more content…
He is accused of doing many wrongful actions, all of which are rumors and things towns people made up. One rumor that was started about Boo was that he stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors, but this was completely false. Boo lives a solitary life and doesn’t leave his house because of the negative attention he will receive. The town of Maycomb thinks Boo is a monster, when he is actually a nice man that does the right thing. Scout and Jem were walking home one night Bob Ewell attacked them, but Boo Radley saved the Finch children from being stabbed by Bob Ewell. Then Boo carries Jem home after Bob Ewell hurt him. When Boo arrives at the Finch’s house Atticus calls Mr. Tate to come and investigate what happened. Mr. Tate is determined that Bob Ewell killed himself by falling on his own knife, but Atticus is not pleased with saying this because he wants the truth told. Mr. Tate tells Atticus that it would not be right to tell everyone that Boo has saved his children because it would cause Boo to receive unwanted attention that he is not used to. Boo Radley did the right thing, saving Scout and Jem, and Heck Tate thinks he deserves to have his privacy. Mr. Tate decides to hide that Boo saves the children to prevent him from becoming the center of attention in town. Boo is symbolized as a mockingbird that has been wrongfully hurt by the people in town. Throughout the book, Boo is
Tom Robinson was an innocent black man who helped a woman out of the goodness of his heart. When he would walk past the Ewells house Mayella would have chores that she would ask Tom to do. Tom would help her with her chores because he felt sorry for Mayella and in return he asked nothing. One day as he walked past the Ewell house Mayella invited him inside the house. While inside the house Mayella tried to kiss Tom Robinson and Mr. Ewell saw them through the window. Mr. Ewell then accused Tom of raping and beating Mayella. He was innocent of this accusation but the jury still found him guilty. Along with this guilty verdict came a sentence to death. Atticus says, “’In our courts, when it’s white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are facts of life’” (251-252). Atticus explains that in their society a black man’s word would never win against a white man’s. The facts clearly prove that he is innocent, but the jury chose to believe the white man over the black man. The town commits the greatest sin by finding him guilty and sentencing him to death. In effect, they have killed a …show more content…
He is accused of doing many wrongful actions, all of which are rumors and things towns people made up. One rumor that was started about Boo was that he stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors, but this was completely false. Boo lives a solitary life and doesn’t leave his house because of the negative attention he will receive. The town of Maycomb thinks Boo is a monster, when he is actually a nice man that does the right thing. Scout and Jem were walking home one night Bob Ewell attacked them, but Boo Radley saved the Finch children from being stabbed by Bob Ewell. Then Boo carries Jem home after Bob Ewell hurt him. When Boo arrives at the Finch’s house Atticus calls Mr. Tate to come and investigate what happened. Mr. Tate is determined that Bob Ewell killed himself by falling on his own knife, but Atticus is not pleased with saying this because he wants the truth told. Mr. Tate tells Atticus that it would not be right to tell everyone that Boo has saved his children because it would cause Boo to receive unwanted attention that he is not used to. Boo Radley did the right thing, saving Scout and Jem, and Heck Tate thinks he deserves to have his privacy. Mr. Tate decides to hide that Boo saves the children to prevent him from becoming the center of attention in town. Boo is symbolized as a mockingbird that has been wrongfully hurt by the people in town. Throughout the book, Boo is