Everyone has been a mockingbird at least once in their life. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characters Arthur “Boo” Radley, Jeremy “Jem” Finch and Tom Robinson all represent mockingbirds in different ways. Boo represents one because he will be judged if he leaves his house. Jem is an example of one also, because he realizes as he grows up that the town he lives in is racist and judgemental. Tom is another example because the Ewells take advantage of his life to get away with their own. The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee uses characters to show that the innocent should be left alone. The first example of a mockingbird is Jem Finch. In this story a mockingbird is something that is weak and is taken advantage of. Jem’s …show more content…
Before the trial Atticus and Tom collaborate to try and save Tom from going to jail. During the trial Jem thinks that Tom is going to win because Bob Ewell gives ambiguous answers but, Reverend Sykes says, ”I ain’t never seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man”(279). Reverend Sykes means that no matter how innocent Tom is, he will not win because he is colored. Tom is found guilty and he is sent to jail. Tom becomes despondent and tries to escape, and is at the zenith of the fence but then gets shot and dies. When Atticus breaks the grievous news to Scout, Aunt Alexandra and Calpurnia he says that, “Tom was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own” (315). This means that Tom was tired of waiting on the white men, because they had not done anything good for him in his life. Being oblivious to the fact that Atticus could set him free he tries to escape because he does not think Atticus can do it. All in all Tom dies for no reason and represents a mockingbird because of that. Overall, Harper Lee uses characterization in To Kill a Mockingbird to show that the innocent should be protected. Jem loses his innocence first when he realizes that Boo Radley in a victim. After that Boo is victimized by the town because he stays inside unlike everyone else. Lastly Tom is taken advantage of by the Ewells and it cost him his life. In conclusion this book can teach people to give
The True Meaning of Courage Hall of Fame basketball coach Tony Dungy once said, "Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be.". In other words, to be courageous is to choose your actions based on morality, even if your decision may have negative consequences. The novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee features two characters; Atticus Finch and Boo Radley, who are examples of Dungy's quote. Both characters use courage to do righteous deeds, even though harsh outcomes are bound to happen.
The Pulitzer Prize winning novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee portrays the life of a young girl, Scout, and her family who live together in Maycomb, Alabama circa 1930s. Scout lives next to some fascinating people that have legends and myths made about them because of their back story. One of them being Boo Radley. Boo was locked away in his house by his parents for most of his life after committing crimes that put him away for good. After the news got out about his vanishing into the Radley house forever many stories were made up about him.
Tom Robinson is an example of a “mockingbird,” he is accused of a false accusation, mainly because he is a black man. This can relate back to one of the many themes of the novel, “prejudice.” Atticus, Scout, and Jem are round and dynamic characters that help to progress the theme of “empathy,” as well as many lessons that Scout and Jem will learn. Morality
To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a metaphor that means “to hurt someone who has done no wrong.” In the book there are lots of characters who represent a mockingbird, the one who symbolised the mockingbird the most was Tom Robinson. A mockingbird is a harmless, innocent person. Their purpose is to sing their hearts out for our own enjoyment. Meaning the mockingbird only does good for others.
I believe that this quote refers back to the time when Scout and Jem get new rifles for Christmas and Atticus tells Jem that it would be considered a sin if they shot a mockingbird. Mockingbirds are not predators and they will not harm anything or anyone; the only thing they do is make music with their mouths. Scout is remembering that time and comparing it to what had recently happened in her life. I think that she sees Tom Robinson and Boo Radley as the mockingbirds. Tom Robinson didn’t harm anyone, and the only thing that he did was help those who needed assistance.
animals, or even humans, should not be killed for doing nothing. This also refers to Tom’s innocence. The second example of a mockingbird is Tom Robinson. He was killed after pleading guilty to alleged rape allegations. After his death, Mr. Underwood posted an editorial in the newspaper.
Lastly Nathan Radley is a very bad influence in Boo Radley's life. Nathan is careless, mean, and un trustworthy. A good example of this is when Nathan Radley plugged the knothole in the tree. He lie's to Jem and doesn't tell him the real reason he is plugging it up. He doesn't want Jem to know that he is really doing it because Boo is giving the children gifts and Nathan wants him to have no connection to the outside world.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee many characters are victims of the harsh conditions of Maycomb County. Often those who are seen to be metaphorical mockingbirds are punished the most. A mockingbird is one who only wants and attempts to do good. Characters such as Boo Radley, Jem Finch and Tom Robinson are exemplars of mockingbirds in Maycomb. In the novel it is explained by Atticus that killing a mockingbird is a sin because they do not do anything to harm to us like nesting in corncribs, or eating up the gardens, they only sing for us.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the term mockingbird symbolizes innocence in a person. In the novel it focuses on the fact that innocence, represented by the mockingbird, can be wrongfully harmed. There are two characters: Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley that are supposed to represent the mockingbird. In the novel, Tom Robinson is the best example of a mockingbird because he is prosecuted for a crime he did not commit. Also, he was judged unfairly based on the color of his skin in his trial.
Innocent Mockingbirds Wanted Thesis: Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley all symbolize mockingbirds because of their traits, qualities, and actions. I. Topic Sentence: Tom Robinson symbolizes a mockingbird because he is not harmful, he is misunderstood, and he is killed over a judgmental reason. A. Claim: Behind his skin color, Tom loved to assist others without a reward. 1. Primary Evidence: He claimed that he would Mayella Ewell without being payed by saying, “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time.
After Atticus loses his trial, Jem notices that the Maycomb County justice system is broken and it needs help, “Then it all goes back to the jury, then. We oughta do away with juries. ”(294) This shows that Jem now understands that people are racist in everything and racism needs to be fought. On top of realizing that the justice system is in shambles, Jem realized that Tom Robinson’s case was very good at showing that.
Throughout the whole trial there are multiple times when anyone who reads the novel knows that he is not getting a fair shake. The first time is when Atticus delivers his closing remarks and he says something that is very powerful and also very true about the case and Tom receiving an unfair trial, “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 203). What Atticus explains is that no matter how plain it is to everyone that Tom is innocent and could not have commited the crime, it does not matter because one thing is certain, Tom is black. And the jury being white means he has no chance at winning, it’s truly sad, but during the time of the trial that 's just how society works.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is a metaphor for Tom Robinson. While mockingbirds are discussed in the novel as literal birds that harmlessly sing and entertain, Lee clearly uses the mockingbird to symbolize Tom Robinson. One reason that supports this idea is a Robinson is a innocent man who tried to help someone but then was convicted of rape. Another reason that supports the metaphor is Tom, the innocent songbird, was put on trial for his life and was convicted guilty. This inhuman action of murdering an innocent and harmless man who wanted to help is like the killing of a harmless songbird.both are innocent, and both murders are wrong.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a book mainly about the coexistence of good and evil. The book stresses and emphasizes on the exploration of moral nature in humans. There are many themes in this novel including courage, innocence, racism, femininity, etc. However the most prevalent theme in the book is innocence. Not just innocence in itself but the danger and harm evil poses to the innocent.
Mockingbirds are an important symbol because they represent goodness and innocence. In this book, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are two innocent men, similar to mockingbirds, who get taken advantage of due to their innocence. Atticus and Miss Maudie teach Scout and Jem that it’s a sin to harm anything innocent by using the example of mockingbirds. Mockingbirds are innocent because they only positively affect people through their singing.