To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is an extraordinary story about a girl named Scout and her adventures growing up. At one point in the story, her father, Atticus, tells her not to shoot at a mockingbird, because “Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.”(119) this means that the people who are only nice and kind to the fellow residents of Maycomb, yet they get the unfortunate events that happen in the book, such as Atticus being put on Tom's case, and Boo being stuck inside his house. This becomes a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, and there are many characters in the book that could be classified as “mockingbirds”. In To Kill …show more content…
When I went back-” Jem took a deep breath. “When I went back, they were folded across the fence… like they were expectin’ me” (78). Jem later goes on to say that they were mended as well. Since nobody dared go in the Radleys yard, the only person who could have done this was one of the Radleys. Also, since Nathan Radley would never be so thoughtful, the only person who could have done this was Boo. This is the first time that Scout and Jem can think of Boo as the mockingbird he is. He had been made out to be this evil, eerie man who was unkind and didn't have human feelings. But in actuality, he just wants to have friends, and he doesn't know how. Another example of Boo being a mockingbird is when he had saved Scout, and he wanted to go home. “Will you take me home?” (372). Boo is scared of what's out in the dark, and what Macomb would do if they saw him. Boo also shows a side of himself to Scout, that he is a just a man. This statement erases whatever thoughts Scout could have had that he was a monster by the fact he is scared to cross the yard. This shows a part of Boo that most men would not have shown back in that time, weakness. Boo Radley is a mockingbird because he was …show more content…
Ewell’s crimes because he was black and the Ewells didn't want to get in trouble. In the story Tom Robinson is put on trial for raping Mayella Ewell. And in this very southern community, he is blamed for it because he is black. But in reality, Tom is a sweet and generous man who just wanted to be helpful. In the trial, Tom is asked if He was paid for helping Mayella with her chores. And he responds as such: “Were you paid for your services?” “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn't seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn't have no nickels to spare” (256). Tom was thinking about helping the entire time, not even thinking of who he was helping. He didn't bother to notice she was white, he was just being helpful. Tom also never asks for anything in return, he just knows when people need help. Tom was thoughtful enough to know her financial situation, and didn't mind helping her out. This is something a mockingbird would do. A mockingbird would be helpful even though they didn't need to be. Even the residents of macomb have proof that Tom is a mockingbird. During the trial, Mr. Link Deas says, “I just wanted the lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy’s worked for me eight years an’ I ain't had a speck o’ trouble outa him not a speck” (261). In this time period, if a white
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee there are many representations of mockingbirds. A mockingbird in the novel, is an innocent soul. One of the most famous quotes from the novel is “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”( Pg. 103) The reason it’s considered a sin to kill a mockingbird is because they are innocent and do no harm. In the novel there are three main mockingbirds. Boo Radley, Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson
First, Tom, formally known as Thomas Robinson was a black man who worked for a man named Link Deas. Tom was 25 years old, had three children and a wife named Helen. When he was 11 years old Tom’s left arm was caught in a cotton gin and he lost feeling in his left arm. Tom was accused of rape by a white woman named Mayella. Everyone hated him because it didn’t look good for a black man to be accused of raping a white woman. During his trial he had a white lawyer named Atticus, who did his best to prove that Tom was innocent and Mayella and her dad Bob Ewell were lying. Atticus says,”Did you resist her advances?, Mr.Finch, I tried to ‘thout bein ugly to her. I didn’t wanta push her or nothin.” stated Tom(Lee 195). Tom did not want to kiss her but he didn’t
Boo Radley, also known as Arthur Radley, is the scary, evil creature that lives in the creepy old house down the street from Jem and Scout, and is misjudged at first. Jem and Scout, two main characters, first see Boo as some sort of scary monster. Jem described him in the first chapter as “...six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks...” and said “...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...” Jem also mentioned Boo had 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.” Scout and Jem also call Boo a “...malevolent phantom...” As if that isn't bad enough, the kids hear and tell horrible stories about Boo. One is of how he stabbed his dad with a pair of scissors; another tells how he was locked up in the courthouse basement. Even with such a grisly initial perception at the beginning of...
A Major Role in The Novel "To Kill a Mockingbird": Boo Radley A person that was stuck behind bars for most of his life escapes and saves the lives of two innocent children. Boo Radley, whose real name is Mr. Arthur, is like a prisoner in his own home because he is afraid to face the real world. Boo Radley plays a major role in the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" because he acts like a second father to the children. He does this by creating a strong bond with the children, he saves Jem and Scout's lives and he is like a mockingbird to the children. Boo Radley shows us how a complete stranger can become your best friend in a single moment.
Despite what people say about him, he shows that he is kind, reclusive, and courageous. He is kind by folding Jem’s pants. He is reclusive by staying inside his house. He is also courageous by saving Jem and Scout. Boo is a important person in To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The reason he is, is because without him Jem wouldn’t have his pants and Jem and Scout would be dead and Bob Ewell would be alive. That shows that Boo Radley is a kind, reclusive, and a courageous person, also is
Think you know Boo Radley? Not many people do. Boo Radley is a shy, mysterious character from Harper Lee’s: To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the book, Boo is thought of as a monster within the book’s setting of Maycomb County. He’s also known to be mentally ill and violent due to many stories about his past. However, I believe he’s just misunderstood. Boo Radley is actually a caring and courageous human being. Examples that benefit this idea include: Boo Radley giving gifts to Scout and Jem and saving Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell. Furthermore, throughout To Kill a Mockingbird; Boo Radley is shown to be misunderstood, caring, and courageous.
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...
Mockingbirds do no harm to anything they just sing. The two characters in this book that represents this symbol is Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a “mockingbird” because he is wrongfully accused of raping a white girl. Through the prejudice of the people in Macomb he later convicted and killed, even when he never did anything to Mayella Ewell. Boo Radley is also another great example of a “mockingbird” because no accepts him throughout the town which forces him to hide in his home. He had rumors spread about him how that he was a bad guy. But he was nothing but kind to the children and even saved their lives (Dave).
...l along Boo just wanted to have someone to call a friend because of suffering from lonesome. Even though he may have been involved in the fires and other acts he did in Maycomb he was not like what anyone said a bout being a nocturnal monster or a heartless person. Boo was a normal human being living in his own world for the longest time till he broke out of his shell when Scout and him met on Halloween night. The Change that happens in the Radley house is dramatic Boo goes for being the towns "night phantom" to being a Hero in the end. Lastly how did Scout have the courage to walk up to the Radley's porch was because Scout believed Boo to be a big hero for what he had done. Another reason Scout had walked with Boo home was to go see Jem who was there from when Boo carried him from the fight that night back home. Scout saw Boo as a positive at the end of the story.
“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.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Mockingbirds play a small role in the plot, but convey a larger meaning. They represent many different characters throughout the book, including Tom Robinson, Scout Finch, Mr.Raymond and Boo Radley. The citizens of Maycomb saw these characters as outcasts and persecuted them. Harper Lee titled her book To Kill A Mockingbird because Tom, Mr.Raymond and Boo represent the mockingbird itself, while Scout, as the innocent character, represents the mockingbird’s song.
It teaches them to not be prejudice and get to know a person before making a judgement. Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, was frowned upon by many people in the Maycomb community. He was rumoured to have been locked in the basement by his father and older brother after an incident involving scissors. Though never seen stepping outside his house, he intrigues yet also frightens Scout, Jem and their friend Dill. After different events in the novel, the children come to find that Boo Radley is not intimidating, but a man who due to his father, is emotionally damaged. Miss Maudie, a neighbour of the Finch’s, explains to Scout that "Mockingbirds don 't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don 't eat up people 's gardens, don 't nest in corncribs, they don 't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That 's why it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” The mockingbird is a symbol for innocent people, who are judged for no reason. Like the mockingbird, Boo Radley has people prejudiced against him when he is an innocent man. By using this metaphor, the reader is able to understand the link between Boo Radley and the innocence and morality. As well as the mockingbird, he also symbolises goodness. By secretly watching over Scout and Jem, he protects them from later being attacked by Bob Ewell, a symbol of evil. When Jem and Scout begin to trust Boo, they are paying the highest tribute they could pay him.
In the beginning of the story, Scout is introduced to the character of Boo Radley from the rumors and gossip that her brother, Jem tells her. He tells her, “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”
Another example of a figurative mockingbird in the story is Boo radley. Boo Radley was always the one lurking in the shadow, people thought of him as a bad person because of the rumors of him “stabbing” his dad and never coming out of the house after that. People thought he was crazy and dangerous, and every kid who passed by the Radley house would run in fear. They people of Maycomb even nicknamed him “boo” because they looked at him as a ghost, but in reality his name is Arthur and he the main sign of innocence in the book. Arthur never came out until the end of the book but he always found a way to show people he was there. He would leave Jem and scout presents under their special tree like string, dolls, gum, and things they enjoy.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus tells his children that it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird and in the story many characters are portrayed as mockingbirds.