In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird there are many examples of symbolism with a mockingbird being one of the strongest and most prominent of these examples. A mockingbird represents innocence in this novel and can be related to several different characters and situations throughout the novel. Such as, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and the Finch children, Jem and Scout. The mockingbird also represents innocence, the lack of innocence, and how innocence can be lost quickly in a place like Maycomb, Alabama where prejudice and racism are rampant. In addition, a mockingbird is somebody good and harmless who has been influenced by a lot of evil and bad but still retains good qualities. The metaphor of a mockingbird is first introduced in chapter 10, when Atticus says, “Shoot all the bluejays you want.. but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119).
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Boo Radley’s father has kept Boo in the house all these years and been horrible to him. People judge Boo unfairly, such as when Scout says, “Any small stealthy crimes committed in Maycomb were his work” (10). Nobody gave Boo a chance, they just assumed he was evil. However, throughout the novel, Boo is seen performing small good deeds for the children out of the kindness of his heart. An example of this is when he sews up Jem’s pants or leaves the children gifts in the hole in the tree. Scout begins to see the good in Boo near the end of the book when she says, “Well it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird wouldn’t it?” (370). This metaphor was included in the book to show that Boo was a good, innocent person who was destroyed by evil, just like a mockingbird. Boo didn’t do anything to hurt anybody but everyone was always mean to him anyways. Hurting Boo is sin, just like it is to hurt a mockingbird. Boo is a strong example of a mockingbird throughout the
Boo Radley’s father has kept Boo in the house all these years and been horrible to him. People judge Boo unfairly, such as when Scout says, “Any small stealthy crimes committed in Maycomb were his work” (10). Nobody gave Boo a chance, they just assumed he was evil. However, throughout the novel, Boo is seen performing small good deeds for the children out of the kindness of his heart. An example of this is when he sews up Jem’s pants or leaves the children gifts in the hole in the tree. Scout begins to see the good in Boo near the end of the book when she says, “Well it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird wouldn’t it?” (370). This metaphor was included in the book to show that Boo was a good, innocent person who was destroyed by evil, just like a mockingbird. Boo didn’t do anything to hurt anybody but everyone was always mean to him anyways. Hurting Boo is sin, just like it is to hurt a mockingbird. Boo is a strong example of a mockingbird throughout the