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Nut Grass Symbolism

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“The roots of racism lie deep in a man’s nature, wounded and bruised by original sin” Sargent
Shriver. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been read by thousands, and it teaches lessons that everyone can apply to their life. One of the most apparent themes of the story is humanity. The main characters Jem, Scout, and their lawyer father Atticus are followed throughout the story, as he tries to raise them with respect for all people in the small prejudice town of Maycomb. Atticus has been appointed to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman in the racist town. Lee uses symbolism throughout the novel to represent various characters and ideas conveying the theme. To begin, Lee uses symbolism in chapter 5 with Miss Maudie’s Nut Grass. “If she found a Blade of nut grass in her yard it was like a Second Battle of the Marne; she swooped down upon it with a tin tub and subjected it to blasts from beneath with a poisonous substance. She said it was so powerful it’d kill us all if we didn’t stand out of the way” (LEE 42). The nut grass symbolizes racism. Even the smallest amount “can ruin a whole yard” (LEE 42). In Maycomb racism is prevalent throughout the town, and to stop it from spreading it must be uprooted and killed. Even today racism is still prevalent, we …show more content…

The mockingbird represents Boo Radley, Atticus, Tom Robinson, and innocence. “…remember it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (LEE 90). This quote supports the symbolism because the innocent are “killed” and “kept in jail” for no valid reason. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (LEE 90). In the quote Lee gives the reason why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, saying the “mockingbirds” do nothing but good society and the people in it. The mocking bird is the most obvious example of

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