Hearing the phrase to kill a mockingbird might make you think a variety of different ideas or topics. Maybe you think of the best-selling book To Kill A Mockingbird or maybe you think of that song Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels sing about a mockingbird in Dumb and Dumber or you might simply think of a tutorial on how to shoot and kill the bird known as a mockingbird. It may seem like a simple quote from the novel but it actually goes much deeper. The expression to kill a mockingbird almost goes hand in hand with the theme of loss of innocence that this book displays so eloquently.
Everybody hits a wall at some point in their life where that sweet innocence of being a kid is lost. For some it is shattered into a billion pieces in a matter of seconds and for others it is slowly corroded over the years. Either way it’s going to happen at some point or another. Innocence, as defined by Webster Dictionary is, lack of experience with the world and with the bad things that happen in life. So then losing innocence would be experiencing the bad things that happen in the world around you and having to face them. Harper Lee uses this theme, as well as others to spin the story of a couple kids in a small southern town who must face many obstacles all while growing up in the early 1930’s.
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What does this have anything to do with killing a mockingbird, you ask?
A lot actually, There is a certain point in the novel in which Atticus says “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Lee 90). Then the kids, curious as to what he meant, went and asked Ms. Maudie. Who in turn told them “fab tkmb quote” (Lee 90?). So then the bird signifies those who are innocent or are ill-prepared for the world and the gun or bullet would be the evil or harsh, corrupted world that surrounds them. The bullet absent-mindedly taking lives of the pure, metaphorically and
literally. In the novel we see many different mockingbirds, so to speak. People who are innocent, kind and pure. Unfortunatly we also see the bullets. Folks who tear others down whether they try to or not, they watch as others fall to the ground. Tom Robinson is a prime example of a mockingbird, he is kind and hasn’t meant nobody no harm. In the words of Mr. Link Deas “tommy…”(Lee XXX). Of course we then can safely assume that Bob Ewell would then be our metaphorical bullet, as he is corrupt, mean and shot Tom with 17 not-so metaphorical bullets. We see more than just these throughout the book, Jem would be another great example, he was hurt by Bob Ewell even though he did nothing wrong. But sometimes mockingbirds have to make sacrifices and things the don’t want to, in order to do the right thing.Like how Boo Radley loved Jem and Scout and killed Bob Ewell to protect them, or Mr. Dolphus cared and treated black people equal, but he was ridiculed because he pretended to be drunk to cover for treating them kindly.
Recently, I have read both a Raisin in the Sun and To Kill a Mockingbird, both considered literary classics. They share a number of similar themes and character that face similar situations. Ultimately, they have extremely different plots, but address the same issues; some that were common around the time they were published, and some that carry relevance into current times. What I wish to bring to light in this essay is that in both novels, there are many characters that lives’ hit a shatter-point in the course of the story. This shatter-point is where the characters’ lives are irrevocably changed, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. What I’m going to explore is how these characters cope with the emotional fallout of what the aforementioned shatter-point left in its wake.
To Kill A Mockingbird is a heroic tale of leadership and courage during racial times. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, To, Jem and Scout are unfortunately exposed to a really racist and prejudiced society and town. Which ends up causing them to lose a case and really confuse Jem and Scout when they are young. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, it uses characterization to help show a theme of loss of innocence when people are exposed to surprising and unfair situations.
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.
Innocence is defined as the state of being not guilty of a crime or other wrong act. The definition does not have any exceptions depending on race, age, gender or other physical characteristics. Yet in the south, the innocence of a guilty white man, is more important than the innocence of an innocent black man. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is about a young girl named Scout who lives in Maycomb County, Alabama. The novel is separated into two parts, the first part is about the adventures of Boo Radley. While the second part is about the trial of Tom Robinson. In the first part of the novel, Scout along with her brother Jem and her friend Dill investigate the mysterious life of their neighbor, Boo Radley. Boo has not left
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Innocence is a topic that is discussed and displayed throughout the story and is very important to having a complete understanding of the book. People’s view on innocence is something that is very subjective and it varies between every person. Through point of view, symbolism, and conflict, Harper lee shows that people’s perception of innocence changes as they grow up.
In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of coming-of-age and the loss of innocence through the character Jem. Through recurring events, Jem is faced with the realization of society’s injustice, and is left questioning the world he lives in. During a time of rampant racial discrimination and prejudice in the south, Jem transforms from naivety to maturity.
Examine the Themes of Innocence and Experience in To Kill a Mockingbird. Innocence is a time when a person has never done something; it is the first step in the journey from innocence to experience. The second step in this movement is experience and this is what is achieved after. a person has done something they have never done before or learns something they have never known before. This theme of growth from innocence to experience occurs many times in To Kill a Mockingbird and is one of the central themes in the first part of the novel, because it shows how Jem and Scout change and mature over a small period of time.
Symbolism is used to show how the Mockingbird resembles innocence throughout the whole story. Loss of Innocence can be shown by many characters throughout the story. As Miss Maudie said, "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." Miss Maudie is basically saying that killing a mockingbird is seen the same as killing someone who is as eq...
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.
In this world, everyone has an equal right; however, many people are getting falsely accused of acts they did not commit even though they are innocent. Mockingbirds, one of the most innocent birds, sing their heart out for people to enjoy, however, they getting killed every day. In this novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many racial prejudices going on. Finches stand near the top of the social hierarchy, with Cunningham and Ewells underneath. Black community in Maycomb is even below the Ewells, even if they were a hard worker; they were not treated equally. The “mockingbirds” represents the idea of innocence, so killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, many characters are considered a mockingbird. Three examples are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Those three characters are innocent; they are kind and were never harmful to others. However, they were destroyed through contact of evil. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the mockingbirds symbolizes the idea of innocence, and Tom, Boo, and Mr. Raymond are considered one of it.
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
There are two types of innocence, the youthful innocence of a child and the innocence of those who are without sin. The end of a carefree childhood isn’t determined on age, but rather when the responsibilities, reality, and hard facts of life come crashing down on a child’s innocence. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the children of Maycomb witness their racially unjust community. Scout, the narrator, and her brother Jem live in a town where corruption, racism, and social class are centered around. Their father, Atticus Finch, influences their views on these issues. He values teaching his children empathy, tolerance, courage, and equity. Although Atticus attempts to protect his children through morals, they are exposed to inhumaneness
Characters lose their innocence throughout American literature. What exactly does “losing their innocence” mean? Losing one’s innocence can be seen as a character maturing. A character may lose his/her innocence in ways including viewing of traumatic event, especially one that will scar his/her life forever. Losing one’s innocence can also be caused by losing one’s trust in someone whom he/she once trusted, catching a glimpse into the “real world”, or performing an immoral act. The recurring theme of loss of innocence, as seen throughout American literature and reality, can affect a person and the people around him/her both negatively and positively. As a result, the audience can see the characters mature through losing hope of dreams, becoming an outcast of society, gaining a new perspective of ideas, or gaining confidence. Negative and positive effects, falling onto characters as a result of a loss of innocence, can be found in works such as The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and The Hunger Games; this theme can also be seen in real life through the effects of children exposed to violent video games.
Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This conveys the loss of innocence in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and thus killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. A number of characters (Jem, Tom Robinson, Dill, Boo Radley, Mr. Raymond) can be identified as Mockingbirds who have been injured or destroyed through their contact with evil.