Mockingbird, a southern novel, Harper Lee uses the characterization of Atticus and Boo Radley. Lee also uses the symbolism of the mockingbird in her book. Both the characters and the symbolism show that innocence should be defended rather than attacked. To begin with, Atticus develops the theme by defending his children from racism and, also, defending Tom in court despite all the struggles. He shows, through defending Tom, that he believes he might have a chance of winning the court case. Scout says that, “Atticus assured us that nothing would happen to Tom Robinson until the higher court reviewed his case“ (Lee 219). This shows that Atticus believes he has a chance in court showing us his innocence. However, Atticus is still exposed to the depths of racism. He is teased, tantalized, and bullied for defending Tom. Although he has gone through all this, he still defends Tom and believes that the goodness in people will overcome racism and send Tom back to his family. …show more content…
When Boo stabs Mr. Ewell and Atticus wants to expose him the sheriff steps in. Heck Tate orates, “ To my way of thinkin’ [...] taking the one man who’s done […] a great service an’ draggin’ him […] to me, that’s a sin “ (Lee 276). This demonstrates that Boo does things for a greater good and is almost like a protector of some sort. Comparing this to a Mockingbird, Boo stays in and harms nobody for most of his life. However, his service helps the town take a great debt off their shoulders making it a sin to drag him
Boo is unfairly judged because of his actions. He is tied with morality and is upholding his dignity and fighting prejudice. Unlike Boo symbolizing the mockingbird, Atticus is different. He tries to keep Tom Robinson from being killed.
In the fiction novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a young girl learns about her racist community as she grows up and past her childhood and witnessing cruelty due to race. Some characters in the novel represent a mockingbird like Arthur Radley who stays inside all day and is rarely seen by anyone. There is also Tom Robinson who is a laborer and did many kind acts just out of pity, both of these characters made the community better and haven’t disrupted or hurt anyone. They all have moments where it is clear that they represent a mockingbird as their actions show kindness even with no reward. One instance in which Tom Robinson is a mockingbird is when he commonly helps out Mayella Ewell even with no pay and a crippled arm.
He is then offended after atticus inform’s him that he will do his best to defend him. We later find out in the story that the atticus was not orignally suppose to defend tom robinson the case should’ve gone to the new lawyer who needed the experience instead the judge specifaclly appointed tom’s case to atticus because he knew that atticus wasnt racist and would give tom a fair defense despite tom being
The children feel it was unfair, but then again they are naïve to the racism. Atticus appears unmoved at the verdict. Atticus, a lawyer at Maycomb, supports Tom Robinson and feels as if he is innocent. Taking on the job to help defend Tom was an act of courage, seeing how everyone else was so opposed to this man because he was black. "It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.
The poet, Lascelles Abercrombie once said, “There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into unity; and that is, an ability to see in particular human experience some significant symbolism of man 's general destiny.”. He talked about how powerful of a tool symbolism is and how it is the only thing that can truly define a highly complex ‘destiny’ or series of events. Symbolism is something that is found throughout Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee shows the reader that racism is a product of society,she portrays the matter through her symbolism of the mad dog, the birds and the bugs.
“They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions,” declares Atticus, “But before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (Lee 140). Since Atticus has taken the Tom Robinson court case several people in town are calling Atticus names and do not approve of what he is doing. Atticus is taking it upon himself to defend Tom no matter what other people think of him, for this reason Atticus is showing his empathy for Tom through defending him and hearing Tom’s side of the story out. Sometimes it is hard to go against what other people are saying, for the one person they have to stay true to their word and stand by it and let no one change their minds; Atticus is that one person who has sympathy to help Tom out and he doesn't care what other people
Since he raises Scout not to be racist, at one point he says, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash (Lee 23-40).” He says this because of how many whites in Maycomb views blacks, and he wants Scout to see that cheating a black man is never okay. Atticus deals with racism in a socially just way, by using his own morals against the majority. While defending Tom Robinson at the trial, Atticus outsmarts the Ewells and makes Mayella Ewell angry. Outsmarting them and trying his best to win the case is one way he shows his wisdom in an attempt to save Tom.
The title of To Kill a Mockingbird represents how Harper Lee feels about the Southern Society during the 1930s. She uses the term mockingbird to represent the innocent traits, and the loss of innocence that the characters face. In this novel Scout, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson all have the traits and qualities of a mockingbird. We learn early in the novel that a mockingbird symbolizes innocence when Atticus says that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Many of the events and actions that occurred, caused Scout to represent a mockingbird.
Boo had done nothing but stay inside and try to create peace, just as how a mockingbird does nothing but make music for all to hear. To kill a mockingbird was seen as a sin, just as how scaring Boo Radley was also a sin. But as the story continues, the times where Scout sins by bothering Boo lessen, as she begins to understand and see life from Bob's point of view. Scout had ceased to be afraid of the Radley house, even having a “twinge of remorse when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Arthur Radley-” (Lee, 324).
Argumentative Essay “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”. Atticus Finch decided to defend Tom Robinson when he was accused of raping a white woman. I would’ve done the same thing as Atticus because I believe that back then it wasn’t a very fair world. As soon as a white person blamed a black person Police or the Judge would automatically take the word or the white person.
Abbasi 1 Hasan Abbasi Roorda English 1 H Period.6 5 March 2017 The Portrayal of Boo Radley through Figurative Language To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, portrays groups of people rejected from all aspects of society, and their struggles to live a normal life. Boo Radley, a man neglected from society primarily because of his past, is regarded as a social pariah. He is the subject of harassment by the townsfolk, especially by Scout and Jem Finch, the protagonists of the novel.
As Atticus is talking to Scout, he remarks that “every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess” (Lee 101). Atticus knows that accepting the opportunity to defend Tom Robinson in court is dangerous because it will put him and his family in an unforgiving situation. Furthermore, Atticus expresses courage when he frequently states, “it's not time to worry yet” (Lee 139).
Estella Schuetz Vande Guchte Honors English 10B May 16, 2023 Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird What was it like for you to grow up and lose your innocence? For Harper Lee, she has chosen to describe her experience to the world. Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill A Mockingbird has received much praise (and controversy) for its portrayals of racism, childhood, and growing up in the 1930s.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, tells a tale of a small southern town in Alabama during the Great Depression. The book exposes the prejudice attitudes that the townspeople have towards African Americans. The author uses the main character, Scout, to reveal not only the unequal treatment of people with different skin color, but also the influence of the Finch family on the entire town through their courage. Through a difficult court case, Atticus, Scout and a crazy man, Boo, show their unique quality of courage and stand on the side of righteousness as the entire town soaks in bias and prejudice.
To Kill a Mockingbird Final Project In Lee's’ “To Kill a Mockingbird”, symbolism is a literary device where the author uses an object to stand for an idea. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, the mockingbird symbolises innocence. In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Lee uses Atticus, Tom Robinson, and Arthur (Boo) Radley as human mockingbirds to contribute to the overall theme of innocence. First Lee uses Atticus as a mockingbird. Atticus is a non-racist lawyer who is the father of the narrator; other wise known as Scout; and Jem.