Judgement and Innocence: Unpacking To Kill a Mockingbird

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As a kid you were probably told not to judge a book by its cover. In To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee takes this concept to a new level.This intricate novel tells the story of the Finch family; Atticus, Jem, and Scout. These characters live in Maycomb County, Alabama during the Great Depression. Scout and Jem think they know who Boo Radley is, the mysterious lurker of the neighborhood, but soon start to learn that there is more than what meets the eye. While taking care of his children Atticus takes a case for a black man, Tom Robinson, which brings hard times and teaches life lessons to the Finches. One of those lessons was about the mockingbird, otherwise symbolized as an innocence being wrongfully harmed. This harm can be seriously done with judgement. These pains are brought to life through the characters Scout, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson.

Within the novel Scout symbolizes the mockingbird through her many encounters with this theme. Without really understanding a person you could wrongfully judge or harm them. On her first day of school Scout was wrongfully judged because she
Scout learns lessons about mockingbirds, especially through her father, Atticus, when she got a BB gun for Christmas. Boo Radley is shown as a mockingbird with the way Maycomb people treat him. Tom Robinson also represents the mockingbird, as seen when he was accused guilty for a crime he did not commit. Harper Lee writes a must known message about the horrors of killing a mockingbird. This lesson is still relevant in today’s world and needs to get out to more people of all ages so we can combat this issue. We need to stand up when harm is going on around us. When innocent mockingbirds are being hurt we must stop the damage, before it is too late. Reading this book makes yourself consider if you have ever tried to stop someone from “killing a

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