Purity and innocence can be symbolized and destroyed in a plethora of ways. The novel takes place in a small town in Alabama in the early 1930’s, where racism, injustice and gossip are fairly common things. Even though society has developed and evolved greatly, this can still be seen in everyday life. Hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan still exist to this day, despite what they stand for. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, three men who are as innocent as it gets are all shunned by their community and mocked. The most important symbol for innocence in Lee’s novel is the mockingbird, and three of the main characters can be easily identified as one. The way Harper Lee connects the three characters to the mockingbird is through symbolism, …show more content…
characterization, and motif. Tom Robinson, a man as faultless as a newborn child, was killed by the Maycomb community. Although Atticus proved Tom to be innocent, the verdict came out to be guilty. Tom proved that he had nothing to hide by revealing his past in court, and it is quite obvious that he has never done anything sinful in his life. Miss Maudie explains to Jem and 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.” (Lee, p. 119). What she is trying to explain is that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm nor destroy. All they do is make life more pleasureable by humming their blissful tunes. Tom Robinson has not done anything wrong: he has never hurt or been rude to anyone. The only thing he has done was make life a little bit easier for some folks by helping them out. The Maycomb community sinned because they “killed” Tom Robinson, a mockingbird. The author describes Tom as kind, respectful, and helpful. When Mayella accused him of raping her, Tom was very courteous towards her in court. Scout took notice of that and felt some pity for Mayella because she could tell that “Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her.” (Lee, p. 257). If Mayella asked Tom to assist her, he would abet in a heartbeat. He would fix and cut things for her with no charge. Along with the Maycomb community, Mayella “killed” a mockingbird. Another example of a mockingbird is Tom Robinson’s lawyer, Atticus Finch, who was the most respectful and fair man Maycomb had ever seen.
Although this is true, he was still brought down by his community, because he defends Black people in court, which is viewed as unacceptable in Maycomb. When it is revealed that Tom Robinson will be Atticus’ defendant, Atticus receives even more negative reactions than before. It is clear that Atticus feels uneasy about the case, and the reason why he agreed to defend Tom is because “If I didn’t I couldn't hold my head up in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” (Lee, p. 100). Atticus’ whole life has been spent trying to do the morally correct thing. If he did not defend Tom then he would be embarrassed of himself, and so would the Black community of Maycomb. Atticus strives to be a good example for his children, and not defending a man of a racist and false accusation would be immoral. As the Tom Robinson case itches closer every day, Atticus feels more and more pressure. He continues to get ridiculed, and now, even in front of his children. At school, Scout and Jem both receive racist comments about their father. While speaking to Jem, Miss Maudie says to him, “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.” (Lee, p. 288). Atticus does the job that no one wants to …show more content…
do: defend Blacks. Miss Maudie tries to get Jem and Scout to understand the difficult situation their father is in. Atticus saves lives, and yet he is still brought down by his community. Lastly, there is Atticus’ neighbor, Boo Radley.
Boo was never seen by anyone who lived in Maycomb, and little was known about him. It was as if he were a myth. Rumors about his personality and past built up, destroying his innocence. In the first part of the novel, Jem and Scout are initially afraid of him by hearing all of the rumors and never seeing him in real life. Boo tries to become friends with them by sending them gifts through the tree hollow in front of his house, even though Jem and Scout are still scared of him. When Atticus gives Jem and Scout rifles as Christmas gifts, he tells them “I’d rather you shot 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, p. 119). Boo tries to come off as friendly to Jem and Scout, even though they “shoot” at him by continuing on spreading new rumors about him. Atticus always prompts Scout to stop speculating Boo, so the rumors that rot his innocence away can cease to exist. Atticus prompting his children to stop gossiping about Boo is the same as him reminding them to not shoot at mockingbirds. Boo Radley, once again, shows his affection towards Jem and Scout later on in the novel when he kills Bob Ewell. He does so because Bob tries to murder Scout and Jem, due to his unrelenting grudge against Atticus for ruining his reputation. When the news that Bob died reached Atticus; Heck Tate, Maycomb’s sheriff,
discusses that it is best to not reveal that Boo killed him, “It’d sorta be like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (Lee, p. 370). Keeping it a secret that Boo murdered Bob is crucial for Boo, because his reputation is already bad as is. It is noticeable that Boo considers Jem and Scout his children, since he watched them grow up. That is the reason why he committed the crime, it was out of passion and protection for Jem and Scout. Boo is the most innocent soul in Maycomb, and putting him in jail for saving the lives of his “children” would be like shooting a mockingbird. Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley are all main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird who are shown to be pure and moral in their own way. All of their stories are different, yet they are all lampooned by more than one person. They each tie the novel all together, and most importantly are each represented as mockingbirds, which is done through the use of symbolism, motif, and characterization.
Protecting the innocent is a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. It is shown in many ways. Some ways include how Atticus tries to protect Tom Robinson, how Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout, and how Heck Tate tries to protect Boo. Harper Lee may be trying to show how society should protect the innocent through her characters and their actions.
Innocence evidently comes with birth and is kept through existence as time moves forward, but it soon becomes corrupted with specific life changing occurrences. In the film To Kill a Mockingbird directed by Robert Mulligan, which is based upon the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, there are three prominent characters in which innocence is rendered within. The three characters are Jem Finch, his sister Scout or Jean Louise Finch, and their neighbor Boo Radley or Arthur Radley. They each possess a different form of innocence because of the diverse personalities and consequently have their innocence obliterated in distinct ways. The
Loss of Innocence in Killing a Mockingbird Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather, the streets turned red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. " (Lee 9). This environment, as Scout Finch accurately describes, is not conducive to young children, loud noises, and games. But, the Finch children and Dill must occupy themselves in order to avoid boredom.
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Atticus should not give up his character, parental authority, and position in town to please the racist beliefs of others in Maycomb. Atticus cannot stand racism and says, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash. " Atticus should take a stand and defend Tom Robinson, to treat his children with valuable lessons and to keep his conscience clean. For these reasons, it does make sense for Atticus Finch to defend Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
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
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was
The illusion of innocence is deeply instilled in the outlook of children. Reality soon takes its grip as kids begin to grow and mature, and they lose their pure qualities that they have once possessed. Their father Atticus shelters Jem and Scout from the town’s disease, teaching them the act of sympathy and how to distinguish the good aspects over glaring at the imperfections of people. The loss of innocence portrayed in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is exposed as the lives of Jem, Scout, and Dill go through their racist and prejudice society, learning how the worlds dreamlike qualities is nothing more than just a childhood fable. The children’s judgment of people and society quickly sheds as Lee displays the harsh realities to Jem, Dill,
Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.
In a society surrounded by corruption, racism, and cruelty it is rare to find purity. Innocence is constantly being destroyed. For this reason, the harmless citizens need to be treasured and protected. Harper Lee 's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird portrays the injustices of the 1930 's that expose the innocent to the mal of the society’s intentions. Some characters in the novel are characterized as harmless and pure and are symbolized by mockingbirds. It is then stated that killing a mockingbird is a sin, therefore meaning that killing innocent people is also sin. Lee’s eye-opening novel reminds the reader that one should protect the beauty of the innocence by not allowing
Boo is also important to the work of literature due to him being misunderstood. At the beginning of the novel, the kids, and the reader is brought into believing that Boo looks and acts like a Monster due to the rumors from the townspeople. Toward the end of the novel the reader, Scout and Jem are led to believe that the rumors are not exactly true like when Boo puts the blanket on Scout and when he gives the gifts to the kids via the tree. But at the very end of the novel, Scout, and the reader finds out that Boo isn't a monster and is just a normal guy. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo is is a common scapegoat for mishaps in Maycomb and is his intentions are
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the prevalent symbol is innocence. The general idea of innocence is seen in many characters, including Scout, Jem, and Atticus. The attribute of innocence is mainly directed at the mockingbird, which is mentioned several times in the story, including when Atticus tell Jem and Scout, “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. The mockingbird is also referenced in the title. This is very symbolic, mainly due to the fact that throughout the novel, innocence is “killed”.
To Kill a Mockingbird was published by author Harper Lee, in the year of 1960; during the period of The Great Depression. The plot takes place in southern Alabama, where racism and hatred is shown throughout this literature piece. The book is told from the perspective of a child named Jean Louise, also known as Scout. She lives with her older brother named Jem, along with her father Atticus, whom is a well known lawyer in the county. Throughout the story, the author builds up the events that add up into the occurrence of the trial, the trial of Tom Robinson against Bob Ewell and his daughter Mayella Ewell. Robinson is put on trial because he is accused of raping his daughter. The main focus of this piece is the vanishment of innocence. As
When one loses their innocence, it changes their outlook on life and causes them to have a sudden realization that the world is not as peaceful and bubbly as it seems. Throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout learns many lessons about the reality from the adults in her life that cause her innocence to fade away as she matures. Scout witnesses prejudice, racism and hypocrisy in her small town of Maycomb, causing the tree of her innocence to lose its leaves and grow back into understanding.
Simple distinction are made when one is innocent, innocence allows ones to make decisions or judge others by simple distinctions. However, as ones grow up, simple distinctions may not exist or makes sense at all, subsequently, causes the loss of innocence and maturity. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, two children- Jem and Scout- starts off as innocent children. As the story transitions from the peaceful town life to the intense court battle, more and more aspect from different people starts to display in front of these children. One of the kids, Jem thought the court was always a fair place when he discovers that it is full of prejudice towards people of different races. People such as Tom Robinson has no chance to win after the accusation.