ipl-logo

What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

647 Words3 Pages

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee uses a Mockingbird as a symbol, the bird brings happiness, but is bothered and shot by the people of Maycomb. Lee shows this when Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell but he did not rape her and he was still convicted. Tom is getting killed like a Mockingbird because of society's prejudice. Tom Robinson represents a Mockingbird being killed by racial bias and unfairness. Tom is a friendly black man who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell and was also convicted for the crime he did not commit. He was a generous man who cared about Mayella even though she is white. The people of Maycomb wanted Tom to be killed even though he did not rape Mayella, they did not care because Tom was African American. Killing an African American for raping a white women would be a normal thing for the people of Maycomb. In Maycomb things are never fair even the courtrooms, it was the principle that “when it’s a white man’s …show more content…

Boo is helpless man who is mocked by his neighbors. Scout describes Boo as a shy and helpless man and is similar to to a Mockingbird because of his vulnerability. His neighbors viewed him as someone that was isolated and does not meet the town's standards. The neighborhood never even bothered to talk to him, because they could not accept that he was different than everybody in the community. Rumors were made about him and he was known as a “malevolent phantom”(pg.8). Even though he faced rejection, Boo stilled cared about Scout and Jem even when he was getting teased by them. Boo saved children and he also gave them gift in a knothole so that they could collect. The things that Boo does shows that he is actually a good man and Maycomb is wrong for what they think of him. Maycomb’s society killed a Mockingbird which was Boo Radley, Boo was a good man, but Maycomb thought of him a bad man and he failed to blend into their

Show More
Related

  • How Does Lee Present Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1231 Words  | 5 Pages

    The melting pot is a failed value of american society, broken by racial segregation. Race-related discrimination hit especially hard in the south during the 1930s. Coloured people were considered insignificant to their privileged peers and nearly all whites accepted this unfair treatment. Published in 1960, Harper Lee’s american novel To Kill a Mockingbird implements bigotry through the use of the metaphor and symbolism regarding mockingbirds ; a bird representing innocence. Throughout the plot, characters such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley reveal themselves to be mockingbirds as they are victimized by the town of Maycomb despite their harmless nature.

    Read More

  • How Does Lee Use Societal Judgment In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1009 Words  | 5 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, was released during the Civil Rights movement. Lee grew up in the racist South during the Great Depression which greatly influenced her novel. The story takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the 1930s and is told through the eyes of a young tomboyish girl named Scout. Atticus Finch, her father, is the defense lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white women. In Maycomb, opinions rumors spread like fire and the town is quick to construct opinions about those who are different.

    Read More

  • How Does Lee Show Moral Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

    767 Words  | 4 Pages

    His character in the book represented one of the mockingbirds in the story, a good person injured by the evil of mankind. Boo was one of the characters that the reader would not expect to save Scout and Jem due to the analysis of his character, throughout the whole book. The children always engaged in ways too see Radley and they were a little obsessed with the idea of getting to see him.

    Read More

  • What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

    828 Words  | 4 Pages

    Who is a symbol of a Mockingbird and what does a Mockingbird symbolize? Tom Robinson from Harper Lee's novel To Kill A MockingBird symbolizes a Mockingbird. The bird represents innocents and it does no harm to others. Mr. Robinson symbolized the Mockingbird because he was fated to death even when he was innocent. Also, Tom is disabled and is unable to use his left hand and arm.

    Read More

  • How Is Boo Radley Portrayed In To Kill A Mockingbird

    822 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • How Does Lee Use Figurative Language In To Kill A Mockingbird

    781 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main character and narrator Scout recalls the events leading up to her brother Jem’s broken arm. Throughout the story, the two children come upon several mysterious acts of kindness. Little do they know that they are from the one person the childrenthey would least expect: Boo Radley. Boo is mentally challenged and stays away from the public. Though he scares many of his neighbors, he never does anything to cause other people harm.

    Read More

  • Tom Robinson Innocent Mockingbird Analysis

    704 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • What Does Miss Maudie Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

    885 Words  | 4 Pages

    Atticus is giving his final testimony to the jury, he says, "There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing”(Lee 232). Atticus is telling the whole courtroom that everyone makes this assumption that all African American people are bad. That statement is a simple lie because everyone has done something bad in their life whether they are black or white. Tom may have made a bad decision by talking to mayella but he certainly did her no harm. Tom Robinson is characterized as a mockingbird because he has not caused anyone or anything harm.

    Read More

  • Tom Robinson's Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    170 Words  | 1 Pages

    To kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Mockingbirds do not cause harm or trouble; in fact their only purpose is to convince others with beautiful music. Tom Robinson’s death can easily be compared to that of a mockingbird; it did no good but also prevented no evil. Mr. Underwood chooses to write an article that basically every citizen of Maycomb can understand, and this proves to the reader the obvious connection between Tom Robinson and the symbol of a mockingbird. Mr. Underwood chooses to ignore the prominent racial barrier that separated Tom Robinson from justice, and chooses to focus on his disability instead.

    Read More

  • What Does Atticus Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

    539 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Tom Robinson Innocent In To Kill A Mockingbird

    560 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tom Robinson was a faultless man who represented the innocent mockingbirds. Mr. Tom Robinson was only helpful and did favors and chores for Miss Mayella Ewell. The only problem is that Tom Robinson is black and Maycomb county is very prejudice, so the instant Miss Mayella Ewell yelled, the case was practically over and, "Tom was dead man". We know Mr. Robinson was wrongly accused for raping Mayella Ewell, due to the overwhelming evidence that supports Mr. Robinson. In spite of all this, the people of Maycomb believe that he is the rapist, which is absurd.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Boo Radley In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    586 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rumors swept through the town, ruining a man’s reputation and giving him no reason to step outside of his own home. In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Arthur “Boo” Radley is the most complex of Maycomb’s residents. Many say Boo is a killer that should not be trusted near children. However, Scout thinks otherwise as she tries to understand Boo herself. She learns more than she figured, as Boo teaches her numerous lessons without even meeting her.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Racial Inequality In To Kill A Mockingbird

    754 Words  | 4 Pages

    Tom Robinson is a black man who is wrongfully convicted of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell. This novel goes through Scout's life from when she was 6, till she is 9. She lives in the town of Maycomb Alabama, and lives an innocent life until about halfway through the story, where she begins to ask questions. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout shows the readers that racial inequality creates an unjust society through the African American community, through the people surrounding colored folks, and through Tom Robinson’s Case. The first example of the consequences of racial inequality is the African American community in Maycomb.

    Read More

  • Tom Robinson Metaphor

    117 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Bully In To Kill A Mockingbird

    830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Blue Jays and Mockingbirds Who are the blue jays and mockingbirds of To Kill A Mockingbird? Set in the early 1930’s of America, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is a coming-of-age book that tells the story of an innocent, naive child becoming an adult through the experience and intake of racism, discrimination, and social injustice throughout the book. Harper Lee’s development, usage and characterization of her characters throughout To Kill A Mockingbird help establish two of her most important themes of the book, which are the presence of social injustice and the coexistence of good and evil. Social injustice is consistently seen throughout To Kill A Mockingbird.

    Read More

More about What Does Tom Robinson Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document