Walt Whitman’s 1859 poem “Out of the Cradle Rocking Endlessly” depicts the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence that chants or sings of fond memories from the past. By contrast, Harper Lee’s famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, written almost a century after Whitman’s poem, portrays the mockingbird as an innocent but fragile creature with horrific memories – memories of discrimination, isolation, and violence. Taking place in the Deep South town of Maycomb, Alabama, To Kill A Mockingbird is set during a time of segregation and discrimination. The title of the novel is a little deceiving since the mockingbird only appears once, but it carries a great deal of symbolic weight throughout the story. In this story of innocents destroyed
They first appear when Jem and Scout are learning how to use their shiny new air rifles. Atticus won 't teach them how to shoot, but he does give them one rule to follow.
"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, if you can hit 'em, but remember it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about
This connection between the novel’s title and its main theme is made explicit several times in the novel. One of the more obvious characters to be likened to a mockingbird is Tom Robinson. Tom is an innocent man who did nothing wrong, and he is screwed over by the legal system twice. He is convicted in court simply because he is black, and then he is shot in prison. He was harmless, because he was a cripple, and it was completely unnecessary. After Tom Robinson is shot, Mr. Underwood compares his death to “the senseless slaughter of songbirds” (323). Killing Tom brought about no good and prevented no evil, just like shooting a
It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, mockingbirds are innocent birds that do not do one harm thing, but makes music for ones to enjoy. Tom Robinson is one of the novel’s “mockingbirds”, he is innocent but he was falsely convicted of rape and got killed. In a court, black man had never won over a white person. Tom Robinson, a black man was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Mr. Ewell’s daughter. Atticus defends Tom Robinson because he had been appointed to defend for him, but it is also because of his morals. “Mr. Finch, I tried. I tried to 'thout bein' ugly to her. I didn't wanta be ugly, I didn't wanta push her or nothing” (Lee 260). During...
? When he gave us our air rifles Atticus wouldn?t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in rudiments thereof, he said Atticus wasn?t interested in guns*. Atticus said to Jem one day, ?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, if you can hit ?em, but remember it?s a sin to kill a mocking-bird.??
In the book, Atticus tells Scout and Jem, "I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds.
In the novel, the mockingbird represents several different characters in various ways. For example, Boo Radley is portrayed as losing his innocence in society. He has proven that he is nothing but kind and generous by helping Jem and Scout in various occasions, but him being distant from society has allowed them, especially Jem and Scout, to make up stories about his doings causing him to look like a psychopath and obtaining a negative reputation amongst society. Jem also loses his innocence as well; this occurs when Tom Robinson is found guilty. Jem is well aware of the racial segregation that exists, but he believed that all the prejudice towards blacks did not exist in the courtroom. Jem is almost one-hundred percent sure that Tom will be found innocent because of the evidence his father Atticus has shown to the jury, but when he is declared guilty Jem has a realization that a white man will always win against a black one. In this point is where Jem loses his innocence and goes from a child mindset to an adult mindset where he now understands that prejudice exists everywhere. Another character that is portrayed as a mockingbird and is surely the most important out of the whole novel is Tom Robinson. Tom is an extremely vulnerable character since he is a cripple and black. His experience was different from Boos and Jems experience. The title of the book “To kill a
father, Atticus, tells Scout and Jem, "I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the
"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.
Atticus is always guiding Jem and Scout with advice so that they will become more compassionate people. Atticus sets a good example for the children when Mr Ewell confronts him. Even though he is provoked and insulted, Atticus simply has a “peaceful reaction”. This shows the children never to get into fights with people when they are upset about something. Atticus shows children about courage and all the forms it appears in. When Jem is told to read for Ms Dubose and she dies, Atticus explains to Jem about her morphine addiction, and how she died “free”. This shows Jem that courage isn’t always where you expect to find it, and that if you have some compassion, you see people for who they really are. The most important piece of advice he gives his children is that “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This is important for the children to know, because it helps them to be more caring people, and they use this advice throughout the novel.
As portrayed in the interaction in Miss Maudie’s backyard on a summer afternoon, during which she is explaining to Scout why she sprays poison on her nut grass plant instead of simply pulling up the weed. “‘Why, one sprig of nut grass can ruin a whole yard. Look here. When it comes fall this dries up and the wind blows it all over Maycomb County!’” (Lee 42). The nut grass symbolizes rumors, because just a small one can completely ruin a whole yard, which represents the town of Maycomb. Maycomb is plagued by ignorance and rumors like a garden ruined by a sprig of nut grass, and the county believes any rumor about Boo Radley and the Radley house that they hear, like that he is a monster or stabbed his father in the leg or even that he kills and eats animals. It is difficult to persuade those clouded by ignorance to open themselves to a different understanding and acceptance of knowledge. Intent with teaching his children about the value of life, after Uncle Jack gives Jem and Scout air rifles for Christmas, Atticus will not teach the two kids how to shoot them, and later says what Scout describes as ‘the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something.’ “‘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’” (Lee 90). The mockingbird
Atticus implies that it isn’t worth it to harm anyone unless it is worth it
While Jem was young in his childhood, Atticus influenced Jem through multiple ways. For instance, when Jem and Scout received there airsoft gun, Jem was determined to shoot all the birds he saw however Atticus denied that and stated, “Shoot all the Blue Jays you want if you can hit’ em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee, 90). This quote portrays how Atticus is teaching Jem a life lesson, and through this, he explains to Jem the importance of never harming an innocent thing, especially one that does not negatively impact others. Another incident where Atticus influenced Jem for his future is when Walter Cunningham’s father brought the Lynch Mob to the jail cell where Tom Robinson was. The day he was talking to Jem and Scout, he states, “I don’t want either of you bearing a grudge about this thing no matter what happens” (Lee, 158). Atticus tells Jem and Scout to always keep a fresh mind and forgive other people when they hurt you. This displays how Atticus advise...
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (p.90) Miss. Maudie, one of the main protagonists in To Kill a Mockingbird, warns the young girl Scout that mockingbirds should not to be killed or hunted down because they represent those who are kind and innocent. So, on a broader spectrum, the term “to kill a mockingbird” symbolizes cruel and improper behavior towards people with good hearts and intentions. In the town of Maycomb, unethical behaviors, such as prejudice and gossip, are most commonly used against the “mockingbirds”. Three of those “mockingbirds” that are featured in this novel are Arthur “Boo” Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch. Due to the depiction of the mockingbird symbol in the novel, the reader understands the consequences that immoral attitudes have towards those who are innocent and kindhearted.
The mocking bird was important enough to be in the title of the book, giving it extra meaning and extra importance. The title To Kill a Mockingbird carries the same meaning that you should never harm something that is innocent even it is easy, and it carries throughout the story and into the trial. Although Tom Robinson was innocent but still got convicted, it shows that it was wrong to do so. In the trial, Tom Robinson would be the mockingbird and the jury would be the wielder of the gun.
gives Jem and Scout air-rifles and tells them the following, "I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the
Also the most significant symbol in this novel is the mockingbird symbol which represents innocent people victims of a cruel society. There were two mockingbirds that were killed because one was black and the other was creepy. This was a case of injustice because two people’s lives were taken away from them because of one’s race and one being different from others. Even in a court of law some people do not get a fare trial. Only in the end when we all stand before God he will give us all a fare trial. Mockingbirds and Finches are type of song birds. Harper Lee gave the main characters’ the last name “Finch”, because the family was innocent and accepted all their neighbors.
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