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Symbolism to kill a mocking bird
Symbolism to kill a mocking bird
Use of symbolism to kill a mockingbird
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Harper Lee, the author of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, certainly and effectively used symbolism with flowers throughout the story. The first example of symbolism would be how the author used Camellias to describe Mrs.Dubose. The Camellia is the state flower of Alabama which is where To Kill A Mockingbird takes place. It thrives in acidic soil, has fairly deep roots and grows rapidly, up to 20 feet. It grows in Mrs. Duboses's garden and has an alternate meaning of prejudice in Maycomb. As evidence, "he [Jem] . . . cut the tops off every camellia bush [she] owned, until the ground was littered with green buds and leaves" (Lee page 74). Jem does not understand as he acts rashly, and wasn't thinking when he cut all of Mrs.Dubose's flowers. This means that prejudice cannot be dealt with simply. For example, '"Your father's no better than the n*****s and trash he works for!" [said Mrs,Dubose]' (Lee page 73) As Mrs.Dubose is prejudice, much like how the flower, is deep-rooted, especially in Alabama, she is very racist as this quote proved. Looking at the world through the eyes of a morphine addict, Jem forgave Mrs. Dubose for the hurtful things she said later on. To get rid of prejudice, you must attack the root, like Miss Maudie does with nut grass, '"Pull it up, child, pull it up?" She picked up the limp sprout and squeezed her thumb up its tiny stalk.' (Lee page 29) The white camellia shows that Mrs. Dubose was a kind, brave, yet pure lady deep in her heart. All in all, the Camellia represented the very little beauty there was in a seemingly ugly lady's heart. Secondly, Mayella was symbolized by Geraniums as they were thought to be the "poor man's rose". The description of Mayella Ewell's home was that of a small dump, a place tot...
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...re doing the right thing a while back, but all they did was stir 'em up." (Lee page 166). This quote proves how Miss Maudie is her own woman and is tough-natured. She makes up her own mind and is not easily controlled but is cheerful even though she's constantly surrounded by hypocrisy and prejudice in Maycomb. She's beautiful just like the Azalea. As evidence, "she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty" (Lee page 29). Also, when her flowers were destroyed in the fire, Miss Maudie determines to have a smaller house in order to raise more flowers, symbolic of her strength and determination which is another quality in the Azalea. In conclusion, all the characters symbolic flowers can relate by representing a color blind society in that flowers grow and bloom in all colors, much like the individual characters do throughout the story.
In chapter 15 of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the children will do anything to protect Atticus from getting hurt. Lee uses imagery and shift to show that the children are protective of Atticus.
According to Google, symbolism in literature is defined as the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can be seen throughout media and in many pieces of literature, including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the book, the symbol of the mockingbird represents the character Boo Radley, and how his story teaches people to not always believe what others have to say about someone without being able to prove it true for themselves. To start, in the beginning of the book, based on what they have heard from the town, the kids interpret Boo as this mysterious monster. Dill comes from outside of Maycomb from a town named Meridian and knows nothing about his new surroundings, Jem begins to tell him of the legendary Boo Radley.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. You know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was misperceived at first. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, but after he led Santa’s sleigh, they loved him. Misperceptions like this happen all throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. As you read the novel you see original judgments made about characters transform into new conceptions and new understandings. Some characters twist your views of them on purpose, others do it involuntarily. To Kill a Mockingbird shows this happening over and over again. All you have to do is look for it.
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.
To Kill A Mockingbird has many symbols that have a thematic significance. Flowers and “Mockingbird” type characters are the main types of symbols. To begin, the flowers represent the racism and prejudice that lies within the tight community of Maycomb, Alabama. One instance of the flowers being used as symbolism is when Camellias
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.
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.
Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and the innocence that occurs throughout the book. She shows these topics through her strong use of symbolism throughout the story.
The main symbolic image that the flowers provide is that of life; in the first chapter of the novel Offred says “…flowers: these are not to be dismissed. I am alive.” Many of the flowers Offred encounters are in or around the house where she lives; it can be suggested that this array of floral life is a substitute for the lack of human life, birth and social interaction. The entire idea of anything growing can be seen as a substitute for a child growing. The Commander’s house contains many pictures; as they are visual images, “flowers are still allowed.” Later, when Serena is “snipping off the seed pods with a pair of shears… aiming, positioning the blades… The fruiting body,” it seems that all life is being eradicated, even that of the flowers.
"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.
How are birds symbolized to the human mankind society? Eagles are a symbol of bravery and great strength. Parrots are a symbol of intelligence. What about mockingbirds? How do they treat and contribute to the human mankind? Mockingbirds symbolize those who are innocent, helpful, and caring but are punished and treated badly. It is a skin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm us in any way but sings wonderful songs to us. Some of the characters like Boo Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mayella Ewell symbolizes the mockingbirds in Maycomb. Boo Arthur Radley who is innocent is segregated from the outer world and dominated and injured by the evil. Tom Robinson who also is an innocent man is convicted and is found guilty die to the colour of his skin. Mayella who has done nothing wrong is punished severely and forced to lie to convict Tom Robinson.
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.
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
John Steinbeck uses symbolism to give alternate meanings to his short story “Chrysanthemums.'; A symbol is a device used to suggest more than its literary meaning. He uses these symbols to look further into the characters and their situations. The character Elisa has a garden, which is more than just a garden, and the chrysanthemums that she tends are more than just flowers. There are actions that she performs in the story, which also have other meanings.
Throughout much of the Glass Menagerie there is symbolism. Weather the symbolism is in the name Blue roses, which Jim calls Lora, or the unique glass unicorn. The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, consists of a brother. sister, and a nagging mother. “In his drama, the Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses symbolism in order to develop multi-faceted characters and to display the recurring themes of the play. These various symbols appear throughout the entire piece, and they are usually disguised as objects or imagery” Within the story Williams hides many hidden meaning or symbols. Symbols are the used to represent an underline meaning, instead of come out and saying it. There are two main symbols that show up in the play; the glass menagerie, and the fire escape.