What does it mean to be a mockingbird? Mockingbirds are known for “making music” they don’t have many predators. Mockingbirds are innocent. So what does a mockingbird have to do with anything? Mockingbirds are innocent just like Mayella Ewell, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. All three of these characters are just like mockingbirds, innocent. At first you wonder why these characters are mockingbirds especially Mayella, who put a man’s life at risk just to save herself. Yet, when you go more in-depth and look at things closer you see why all three of these characters are innocent.
Mayella Ewell is considered to be a mockingbird for many different reasons. For example,in the book Atticus asked “Except when he’s drinking?” asked so gently that Mayella
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nodded.” (pg 245). We know that Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell drinks and abuses her.Mayella lives in an environment where she lives in literal trash and she is exposed to horrific manners my her father. Her brothers are products of their father,they are just as bad and as him. Mayella is the only person in the entire family that tries to be better than what her family has become. When Mayella and Atticus had to enter the courtroom, she looked like she had kept herself clean while her father, looked like he had just that day cleaned up. Mayella was not the typical Ewell. The typical Ewell was very dirty, bad mannered, and often looked down upon. They were liars and cheaters, the children only went to school on the first day. The Ewells were known for being the worst white family in Maycomb. Mayella was born into a disaster of a family. She only knew how to be a liar because that’s how she was raised. She was never taught the values that a normal family was taught. Mayella was a bad person but she was trying to change that but she could never throw away everything she learned up until that point,she was nineteen. Tom Robinson is also a mockingbird.
In the novel, Tom was accused of raping Mayella Ewell but he had done no such thing. He had simply done as he was told to, to come inside and take a look at the door. He did not expect to be kissed by her. He was caught by Bob Ewell and he had to flee because if he did not, he would be shot. She tried to cover up her story by trying to blame it on rape,and sadly it worked. Tom knew he would be found guilty before he stepped into the courtroom. “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.”(pg 323) Months later he would be tormented by people in the town and found guilty of something he did not do. He knew he wouldn’t be found any other way but guilty because of the color of his skin. Everyone in the courtroom knew Mayella was lying but it was no discussion when it came to a white person’s word against a black person’s word. He had no hope left and he made the choice to end his life. He was not only innocent of raping Mayella Ewell, he was innocent of the way he was treated. Tom’s death was treated like just another death in the town. He death was treated like something casual. “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children, and Maycomb thought he was trying to write and editorial poetic to the published in The Montgomery Adviser.” (pg323 ) Tom would have been alive if Mayella had never asked him to come …show more content…
inside. Boo is the final mockingbird in the book.
People had assumed that Boo was a horrid, human being but in reality he was very kind and gentle. When Scout saw him for the first time she said “ When he finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things Atticus, he was real nice.” (pg370) Boo had been very kind and nice to both Jem and Scout and yet people told them to stay away from him because he was a bad person. He was probably better than most of the people in Maycomb.
When Boo saved Jem and Scout he had also killed Bob Ewell. Heck Tate had to cover up the story by lying and saying that Bob “fell” on his knife and killed himself. Boo had lived in isolation his entire life, if people suddenly praised him by bringing him cakes and other items it would confuse him and might make him upset and angry. As Scout stated “Well it’d sort of be like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”( pg 370). They couldn’t put Boo in jail because he killed him to protect Jem and Scout and Boo only has the mental age of a six- year
old. Mayella Ewell, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are all mockingbirds in there own way. Mockingbirds just make music, they don’t cause any harm to anyone and their innocent. All three of them are innocent for different reasons. Mayella is innocent because of the environment she grew up in. Tom is innocent of rape and he is also innocent because of his race. Boo is innocent of the accusation people put on him. At first people may not understand why people would consider these people to be mockingbirds, but when you learn their story and look at things from their point of view it’s easy to see why. So the next time you see someone who is rude or looks or seems like a terrible person ask, couldn’t they be just like Mayella, Tom, or Boo, a mockingbird?
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
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...
He is a mockingbird because he does no harm to anybody except for Bob Ewell. Mockingbirds don't do harm, rather they bring pleasure and comfort to people. Atticus even says "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 90). He says this because Mockingbirds are so innocent just like Boo. Miss Maudie even adds to Atticus saying "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 90). This quote relates to Boo because instead of singing, Boo was like a mockingbird in his house leaving gifts and helping the children. For example, he leaves gum and coins for the children and when Jem was running and got his pants hooked on the fence, Boo folded it nicely and left it there for him. This represents how Boo is a very innocent and loving
Boo Radley never had a chance to show people what he was like, he was portrayed as the bad guy by his dad, Boo is victimized by people because he can't stand up for himself so therefore he is considered the “bad guy”. Throughout the remainder of the book Boo shows his honest self when he leaves gifts for Scout and Jem, when he puts a blanket over Scout, and specially when he saves Scout and Jem from Mr.Ewell. It is obvious that he is a nice person and just wants to help, but of course his social standing and past is the only thing people can see.... ... middle of paper ... ...
One of the storylines in the novel is the Robinson-Ewell trial. Tom Robinson is an innocent African-American, accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a lower-class white girl. At the trial hearing, everyone is able to tell his or her side of the story before Tom is allowed to speak. All stories, however, offer two different versions of Tom and Mayella’s relationship. Moreover, Mayella and Bob Ewell tell the jury what they expect to hear, about Tom being a monster. They explain that there was no reason for his actions against Mayella. According to them, along with the rest of Maycomb, it's just expected that a black man would rape any white woman if he had the opportunity. The Tom spoken of by the Ewells shows the stereotypes that justify whites to be superior to blacks. However, Tom tells the jury about his innocence. He pr...
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.
Among the many plots within the story, many of them surround Boo Radley or attempting to have Boo Radley come out of his house. In these stories show Jem, Scout, and Dill are terrified of the Radley house and what be inside. However, they are mistaken, for Boo Radley wants to do the exact opposite of scaring the children. For example, Boo tries to show friendship to Scout and Jem by leaving them gifts in the tree outside of his house. These gifts include dolls, gum, a knife, a watch, etc. Boo also is thought to have wrapped Scout in a blanket during the chapter in which Miss Maudie’s house had burned down. Boo Radley is thought to have done it because Atticus says “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.” (Lee 96) supporting the fact that Boo Radley was looking out for Scout. Lastly, Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem when they were attacked by Bob Ewell. This heroic effort was not only full of care, but also, full of
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...
As the story progresses, Boo becomes more of a symbol of kindness and bravery than that of the "town freak" which he is made out to be. Boo leaves presents for the children in the hollow trunk of an old tree, as well as covers Scout with a blanket during Miss Maudie's fire. However, it is not until he saves Jem and Scout's life from the hands of the deranged Mr. Ewell, that Boo shows his true heroic character. Even though Boo is a physically weaker man, he shows no fear when it comes to protecting Jem and Scout's life.
In the case of Scout and Jem, they believed that Boo Radley, who is an outcast of Maycomb, possesses a horrific appearance, and that he is a savage, "he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained." However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that Boo is actually a kind-hearted person who has not done anybody wrong, but unfortunately, he was ruined by the hands of his family. Thus, Boo is an example of a mockingbird, as mentioned by Atticus. The disclosing of the character of Boo demonstrates Scout and Jem's loss of innocence. They can no longer see Boo as a mysterious threat in their life, instead they saw Boo as a person. "...he's crazy..but Atticus I swear to God he ain't ever harmed us, he coulda cut my throat...but he mend my pants instead..." In a way, Boo serves as a symbol of the transition of Scout and Jem's maturity, as the kids exhibit their ability to empathize with
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,
“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.
This man is unfortunately victimized since his society does not believe he is innocent due to the color of his skin. Being the black man that Tom is, it is clear that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). There is no way that a black man’s words would override the voice of a white person. No testimony, evidence or speech can help Tom prove he is not guilty. Atticus understands that Tom is victimized by racism, so he explains: “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (220).
He could be described as a mockingbird in a number of ways. For example, he had been accused of being the “town creep” after not leaving his house in forty years after a situation with the law, and rumor had it that he had stabbed his father in cold blood. Many people mocked him, including Scout, Jem, and Dill, for example,”Jem parceled out roles : I was Mrs. Radley, and all I had to do was sweep the porch. Jem, naturally, was Boo: he went under the front steps and shrieked and howeled from time to time.” He was a mockingbird because, in the end he saved the lives of the very children that mocked him ,and killed their attacker, as he was an innocent, fragile and kind man who was only a recluse. The sherriff eventually convinced the father of the two attacked children, Atticus, that to send Boo to jail, would be a prime example of the phrase”to kill a mockingbird”. The title reflects back to this as to judge him was wrongful as he was
Sending Boo to court would be like shooting a mockingbird. ? That is a sad house. he always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did. Miss Maudie said. When Jem and Scout talk about the reasons Boo is in that house to Miss Maudie, Miss Maudie explains that he has always been a polite boy.... ...