To Kill A Mockingbird Title Analysis

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, explores concepts such as social inequality, racism, morals and values, coming of age, and perspective. The story follows two children, Jem and Scout, as they experience being raised in Maycomb County, Alabama. So why did Lee choose the title: To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout’s father, raises his children with integrity and turns every scenario into a teaching moment. As a man of wisdom, he strives to instill his knowledge into them. The first reference to the book’s title comes from Atticus in chapter ten, when Jem and Scout receive air-rifles. Atticus says: “‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,’” (Lee 119). Through Miss Maudie, Lee writes that mockingbirds “‘don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up peoples

Tom was charged with the rape of a local young girl, Mayella Ewell. Although he did not commit the crime, the town’s racist mindset led them to side with the guilty party, Bob Ewell. Tom Robinson was shot and killed, so in a sense, Maycomb County killed a mockingbird. The second is Boo Radley, a mysterious man that never shows his face, causing him to fall victim to the imaginations of Maycomb residents, especially those of children like Jem and Scout. Although Jem and Scout have their theories and alleged stories about Boo, he ends up saving their lives in a plot twist. However, in the act, he killed Bob Ewell. Due to the fact that he was only trying to protect Jem and Scout, Sheriff Heck Tate decides not to report Boo in the incident, saying Ewell fell on his own knife. Scout understands exactly why he does this. When discussing why he wouldn’t be put on trial, Scout says: “‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?’” (Lee