Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the 1940s, many that were innocent people would end up being hurt because of their difference from others. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson, an African American who gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit, gets hurt because of his difference from others. The central idea of the book is that people should not hurt those who are innocent, there are several examples throughout the book that help represent this main idea such as symbolism, similes, and characters. To Kill a Mockingbird shows many examples of symbolism that supports the main idea of the book. An example of this, is the character Tom Robinson. During a conversation, Miss Maudie is having with Scout she says, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” Then, “That’s why it’s a sin to Kill a mockingbird” (119). Tom Robinson is a character that symbolizes this mockingbird. He is falsely accused of rape and gets attacked for a crime he did not commit. Atticus defends Tom Robinson from those who want to do harm to him because Atticus knows that he is the mockingbird and it would be a sin to do any harm to him as he has done nothing wrong, even though

When the Finch children told Calpurnia of the mad dog she began making calls to people on the street saying “I know it’s February, Miss Eula May, but I know a mad dog when I see one” (124). Atticus is hesitant to kill the dog when he finally must “I haven’t shot a gun in 30 years” Mr. Tate then says “I’d feel mighty comfortable if you did now” (127). Both Atticus and Mr. Tate were hesitant to shoot the dog, in the quote and a little before the quote he and Mr. Tate are shown to be stalling as neither one of them want to hurt the dog who had previously been innocent. This ties back to the main idea of the book being that you should not cause harm to those that have done nothing