The Title of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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The Title of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

In the novel 'to kill a mockingbird' Harper lee uses a metaphorical

mockingbird to symbolise the different characters and actions within

her book and to symbolise why people get the treatment they do and how

they don't deserve it. The reader begins to understand the meaning of

the title of the book through the personified mockingbird being used

numerous times throughout the novel.

The use of the Mockingbird is used throughout the novel but is 1st

mentioned when Atticus is telling his children how to use their

shotguns but tells them 'it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird' this

statement from Atticus is used as the moral of the novel. The

mockingbird is used to symbolise the people in the world who only help

other people and are still discriminated for no fault of their own. A

mockingbird is used because it is a type of finch, a small, plain bird

with beautiful song, which 'mocks' or mimics other birds song. There

are different sorts of the species of bird, which some are endangered

but the species are known for their habits to differ according to

their adaptation to their environment. Mockingbirds are known for

their innocence in nature as Miss Maudie describes them in the novel

as 'they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us' this

shows that the mockingbirds do no wrong in nature and just ensure

other people can listen to their song. These characteristics of the

mockingbird are also shown in quite a few of the main pivotal

characters in the novel who are known as the mockingbirds of the

novel.

One of which is 'Atticus Finch' as he is shown as one of the main

charact...

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...ty when he would have faced his opposition. Before the

shot happened the atmosphere was described as 'deadly and 'the

mockingbirds were silent' the atmosphere reacted was of such that was

also described later when scout and Jem got pounced on by Bob Ewell.

The atmosphere at that point was portrayed like just before the dog

got shot as the 'stillness before a thunderstorm' and also on the way

to the pageant 'even the mockingbird is silent'.

Harper lee showed the readers of her book that she didn't agree with

the way people can be stereotyped in the world and how prejudice can

stop people living the life they should. This was the reason why she

chose to use the metaphorical symbolism the way she has as she has

effectively shared all her views about that time and the way people

live through a simple minded 'mockingbird'

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