Metaphors In To Kill A Mockingbird

814 Words2 Pages

Who is the Mockingbird?

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). A sophisticated and wise lawyer named Atticus tells this to his two children, Scout and Jem Finch, just after he gives them both rifles. This happens in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Pulitzer Prize winning author Harper Lee, which has a couple of underlying themes. One of the major themes is conveyed through a metaphor about birds, which is the quote at the beginning of this paper. Atticus tells his children to not shoot any mockingbirds, but why? Well, the answer is simple, for mockingbirds do nothing but make music for others to enjoy, and along with that, they go out of their way to avoid …show more content…

One example where this is proven is when Jem and Scout find a tree knot, in which little random treasures appear recurringly. “The following week the knot-hole yielded a tarnished medal” (Lee 81). Another instance in which Boo’s giving nature was displayed is when he puts a blanket around Scout during a cold night. “‘(Atticus to Jem) Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.’ ‘Thank who?’ I (Scout) asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you” (Lee 96). These two examples present Boo’s characteristic to give without expecting anything anything in return; an aspect he has in common with the mockingbird. They also lead to the next aspect of the …show more content…

Boo Radley’s entire existence is pretty much composed of performing this. Throughout the book he stays inside of his house and earns the reputation of being a recluse, but this status is what also earns him an array of different false rumors. Aside from the rumors, in reality he stays inside of his house, only coming out to give Scout and Jem his treasures. One reason why he might be this way is because his father is an ascetic. A quote precisely framing Boo’s relationship with the world outside of his house is toward the end of the book when Jem starts to finally see Mr. Radley in a new light; "Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside” (Lee 304). This quote leads right into the final characteristic of the

Show More
Related

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Quotes

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the book we watch the narrator, Scout Finch, go from a naive first grader that think Maycomb is the best place out there, to finally maturing and understanding the world around her. Throughout the book Scout is impressioned by so many people that Boo Radley is a monster that should be kept in at all times. Later we learn he isn’t, but one of the first impressions we get from him is a brute

    Read More

  • Examples Of Figurative Language In To Kill A Mockingbird

    509 Words  | 2 Pages

    Figurative language is in most well written novels. It helps develop the overall theme the author is trying to portray. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, I noticed Harper Lee distinctively used two types of figurative language. The first is symbolism, Lee used this twice during the novel with the mockingbird representing beauty innocence and Boo Radley representing the good in people. The second is motifs, Lee used this to emphasize the small town life in Maycomb, Alabama and helps give a better understanding of the people in the town.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mocking Bird

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    “I’d rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after the birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mocking bird.” Atticus Finch recites these lines to his two children, Jem and Scout after he gives them air-rifles for Christmas. Scout is curious, as this is the first time that she has ever heard her father refer to anything as a sin, Scout asks Miss Maude what Atticus meant by this. Miss Maude tells Scout that mocking birds don’t rip up people’s garden’s or annoy them in any way, all they do is play beautiful music for us to listen to.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Boo Radley Essay

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mockingbirds don't do harm, rather they bring pleasure and comfort to people. Atticus even says "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 90). He says this because mockingbirds are so innocent, just like Boo. Miss Maudie even adds to Atticus saying "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird Metaphor Meaning

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    A symbol in literature is an object that stands for a word, cause, belief, or another object. A metaphor is a figure of speech where a word of phrase is applied to something but it should not be taken literally. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird symbolizes innocence. The mockingbird is innocent, singing for people to hear its music. In the book Atticus says to Scout, “Remember it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.” When Scout asked Miss Maudie about it, Miss Maudie tells her, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy… but they sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Killing something so innocent would be a sin because it had never done anything to hurt you.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: Boo and Tom Misunderstood

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the story, Boo represents the unknown. The children wonder about Boo and his strange way of life, but really have no concept of who he is. At first, the children ask questions about Boo with regards to his "weird" living style. When this does not satisfy their curiosities, they make up games and stories about Boo which present him as being a monster. At one point, the children invade the Radley property in hopes of finding some clue which will better explain Boo's character

    Read More

  • Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    2031 Words  | 5 Pages

    Boo Radley is the next door neighbor of the Finch’s. He is an outsider of the community, because he does not leave the house. He got in some trouble as a teenager, so his father locked him up inside the house. After his father died, his brother moved in with him. While Boo was locked up inside is house, the people of Maycomb County made up stories about him. The legend of Boo Radley was well-known to the people of Maycomb. Jem describes Boo, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” (Lee ). Boo is an innocent character because all he does stay inside his own house, and does not bother anybody. Yet the entire town believes that he could be a murderer. Harper Lee is showing that if you do not fit into southern society, they will make you into an outsider and a bad legend. Another example of Boo Radley being an innocent character is when he gives a blanket to Scout. Miss Maudie Atkinson, one of the Finch’s neighbors, had a house fire. Atticus (Scout and Jem’s father) woke up the kids and made them go outside, in case the fire spread to their house. While Scout was not looking someone gave her a blanket, “‘Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.’ ‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.’”(Lee ). Boo Radley is an innocent character because he helped warm up Scout in the cold, yet Scout was still scared that Boo had been near here. Harper Lee is showing us that Boo could do a nice thing, and yet Scout would still be scared because of his reputation. Finally, another

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Use of Symbolism

    1709 Words  | 4 Pages

    "I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This is what Atticus Finch tells his children after they are given air-rifles for Christmas. Uniquely, the title of the classic novel by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, was taken from this passage. At first glance, one may wonder why Harper Lee decided to name her book after what seems to be a rather insignificant excerpt. After careful study, however, one begins to see that this is just another example of symbolism in the novel. Harper Lee uses symbolism rather extensively throughout this story, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism can be seen by studying various examples from the book. This includes the actions of the children, the racist whites, and the actions of Atticus Finch.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Symbolism Essay

    1437 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1960, a novel was written to outline injustices and racism against those who were innocent, though unfairly judged because of social expectations and prejudiced beliefs. This novel not only presented these issues, but is also considered a revolutionary piece of literature, still being read by many people today, more than 50 years later. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, has caused some controversy about the intents of the book and the way certain people or groups are presented. Whether To Kill a Mockingbird as a narrative outshines the issue it presents is a debatable argument. However, I believe that the narrative of the novel supports the concerns exhibited for numerous reasons. In what follows, some of these are presented: the historical

    Read More

  • Theme Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    As Jem and Scout are shooting, Atticus says: “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want. but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird” (90). With this said, mockingbirds are put in a new category of respect and can even be seen as sacred since it is a sin to kill them. This moral law that Atticus presents gives protection to the beautiful creatures.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Character Analysis

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    Boo Radley is thought to be a malevolent, soulless, deceitful person, but he proves to be a caring, good-natured person. In Chapter 1, Jem offers his perception of Boo Radley to Scout and Dill: " ‘Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time’ " (16). Jem perceives Boo Radley as being a “monster” instead of being a man. Jem comes to this conclusion despite having never even seen Boo Radley in person. Jem’s understanding of Boo Radley is based on the rumors that he has heard about him. In Chapter 8, after the fire at Miss Maudie’s house, Scout notices that she was wrapped in a blanket that she did not have with she left the house. Scout asks Atticus who was the person that put the blanket around her. Atticus tells Scout, "Boo Radley. You were so busy watching the fire you didn't know it when he...

    Read More

  • Themes And Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    896 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symbolism. Why is it important in a novel? Why do authors incorporate symbols into their writing? Symbolism aids the reader in understanding what the author wants to portray. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, she writes about the racism in a small town in Alabama named Maycomb set in the 1930’s and about two children growing up and learning that their town is not as perfect as they thought. The theme topic appearance versus reality helps to get a better understanding of the symbols used in the novel and that you should not judge something by their appearance, you should judge by the reality of what it is. “As Atticus once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it.” (Scout page 77) In her novel, there are many symbols throughout the narrative that relate to the theme topic appearance versus reality. Harper Lee writes symbols into her novel, such as the snowman, Mrs. Dubose’s Camellia flower and Dolphus Raymond’s Coca-Cola bottle to help reinforce the theme topic of appearance versus reality throughout the novel.

    Read More

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

    201 Words  | 1 Pages

    the reader into the book with the use of imagery, syntax, and figurative language. Also, the story was good, Atticus was like a modern story about the Prodigal Son Parable. The book was interesting to read and enjoyable. However, the book was all over the place. It started off with Scott coming over and then Scott dying and then finding Scott and then Scott’s point of view of what caused him to fake his death. If the reader was not able to fully understand what was going on throughout each chapter, the reader would have been lost. The shift of point of view confuses the reader for a little bit but then it all starts to click. This book will have a lasting effect on me

    Read More

  • Symbolism and Allegory in To Kill a Mockingbird

    3737 Words  | 8 Pages

    Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch.

    Read More

  • Why Is Boo Radley Misunderstood In To Kill A Mockingbird

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    Other than the fact that he stayed in his house for nearly his whole house, he gives many good examples to follow. Selflessness, bravery, and friendship are only a few qualities that Boo Radley shares that we could learn from. When he gave gifts to Scout and Jem, protected them, and fought his own fears when leaving his house suggests that people have the wrong idea about the man originally named Arthur. Maybe he isn’t a violent monster that everyone claims him to be. On the last page of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout says when telling of a boy who was also misunderstood like Arthur, “An’ they chased him ‘n’ never could catch him’ cause they didn’t know what he looked like, an’ Atticus, when they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things… Atticus, he was real nice…” in which Atticus replies, “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.” (Lee 376). The author puts this dialogue on the last page of To Kill a Mockingbird for a reason. To send a memorable message to the reader. A message to never judge and to always have sympathy like Boo

    Read More

More about Metaphors In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document