Have you ever felt that you would do something for a rightful cause no matter what the consequences are? Moral courage is doing the right thing in the face of your fears for what is right. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many ways moral courage is demonstrate. The story is about Atticus and his children. Atticus wants to fight for Tom Robinson and set an example for his his kids but the people of Maycomb are still stuck up in their racist ways so Atticus will keep fighting despite everyone else. Through the use of conflict and symbolism Lee accomplish this.
First, in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee uses conflict to create moral courage. The conflict is that Arthur “Boo” Radley killed Bob Ewell with the knife. Heck Tate keeps Arthur radley from being a spectacle when he says “Bob Ewell fell on his knife - he killed himself.” However the reader should notice that Heck Tate is hinting at Atticus. Later in the conversation he says “Let the dead bury the dead this time Mr. Finch” (
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One symbol is the mockingbird. It represents the innocence of the characters so to kill a mockingbird is the idea of killing or destroying their innocence. Ms. Maudie said “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” (Harper 119). Many characters in the novel are represented as mockingbirds. The children grew up in a world with no evil until they experience people picking on them when Atticus takes upon the trial. Scout's classmate Cecil Jacobs says “Scout Finch's daddy defends niggers.” (Harper 99) and her cousin Francis says “He’s nothin’ but a nigger-lover” to scout which upsets her. Tom Robinson is represented by a mockingbird because he was innocent and was accused of actions in some which he couldn't perform such as hitting mayella on the left side of her face and even raping her because of his left arm getting stuck in a cotton gin when he was
It is hinted in the novel by Atticus that “He likened Tom 's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children,” (Lee 244). The literal image appears in the end of the book when Tom is shot and killed as he tries to escape from prison. As Atticus Finch doubts himself in how to proceed with the problematic death of the drunk, liar Bob Ewell, Lee decides to use this moment to incorporate her ultimate image of good in the world. “Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I ran to him and hugged him and kissed him with all my might. ‘Yes sir, I understand,’ I reassured him (Lee 280). This almost playful dialogue between the characters shows that even after innocence appears to be lost, they still hold value for what is good and they are still able to display this kind of affection and concern for one another. The death of Tom Robinson is still an event that readers are trying to cope with almost sixty years since To Kill a Mockingbird’s publication. Tom Robinson seemed to be one of these mockingbirds; a man who did nothing wrong and yet found himself persecuted by those he tried to live innocently
Courage is a deed that can be portrayed in many ways. In the Historical Fiction novel To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there are many acts of racism and problematic cases where acts of courage are demonstrated in different and unique ways that can only be deciphered if one reads in between the lines of the words. There are three characters in particular who show courage in diverse ways. First, there is Arthur Radley who anonymously shows courage by performing tasks that cause him to face the outside world where he’s been isolated from for so long. Secondly, there is Scout Finch who demonstrates courage through her adolescent age. Lastly, there is Atticus Finch who displays courage through his selfless and kind actions. Therefore, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses diverse characters to represent different acts of courage.
mockingbird is a symbol for two of the characters in the novel: Tom Robinson and
The two characters in this book that represent this symbol are Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a “mockingbird” because he is wrongfully accused of raping a white girl. Through the prejudice of the people in Macomb he later convicted and killed, even when he never did anything to Mayella Ewell. Boo Radley is also another great example of a “mockingbird” because no one accepts him throughout the town, which forces him to hide in his home. He had rumors spread about him saying that he was a bad guy.
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...
“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.
Harper Lee achieved the most important dream of a writer; her book is timeless. The theme of To Kill a Mockingbird, courage, is one that no one can deny is a central idea not only in the novel but also in life. People believe that courage is something that everyone is born with, but I disagree. Atticus once told Scout, “"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions," said Atticus, "but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” Only courageous people can teach others to stand up for what they truly believe in.
...birds are one of the main symbols. Mockingbirds are innocent they do not harm anyone but makes beautiful music. However, they get killed by people every day. There are many innocent person present in this novel; three main characters that are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond, and they symbolize the Mockingbirds. Tom was a wrongly accused of rape, and he was brutally killed because he was black. Boo Radley did not do any harm to anyone, he was innocent, but people in the Maycomb County were thinking him as a monster which hurt him mentally. Lastly, Mr. Raymond symbolized the Mockingbird because he was innocent, however only because he thought different than others, he was looked down by the people in Maycomb County. Mockingbirds in this novel symbolized the innocent people who are getting wrongly accused and their innocence getting destroyed by evil.
Courage is not something that we are born with, it is a skill that takes time to learn and only a few are lucky enough to have it. To Kill a Mockingbird is not only about life in a world full of hate, it is about standing up for anyone’s beliefs being brave enough to do it. In this story, Harper Lee says “Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (Lee 112). In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates courage through Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose, and Arthur Radley.
To many people, courage means bravery and admiration. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, it teaches us there is a different type of courage – moral courage. Moral courage means doing the right thing even if it risks disoblige, reputation, punishment, or being laughed at. The theme of moral courage seems underlying at first in the book, but through the actions of some characters it becomes apparent. Atticus Finch a lawyer, widower, and father shows this theme by defending and guarding a black man. Another character that shows the theme of moral courage is Ms. Dubose, a frail old lady, who was a drug addict fighting a battle with morphine. Through the interactions with these characters, Scout and Jem learn that courage is different than they expect it to.
Courage exists in several forms in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As defined by Atticus Finch, real courage "…when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (149). The novel explores the how this real courage can be shown in different ways through the lives of many characters in Maycomb, particularly, Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus. Their courage is evident through their lifestyle, actions, and beliefs.
These symbols make you look deeper into the text and give you an overall clearer understanding of the text. The most obvious symbolism is the title, To Kill a Mockingbird. He says it’s a literal sin to kill a mockingbird when Scout and Jem get air rifles. He says “shoot all the bluejays you want, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(119). This is clearly a symbol if it’s the title of the book. It means you shouldn’t kill a mockingbird because they don’t do anything wrong and are just innocent creatures. This is obviously symbolized by the trial of Tom Robinson. He is clearly an innocent person, but still ends of dying because of the verdict of the trial. Miss Maudie says “They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us”(119) which is what Tom Robinson did for Miss Ewell. All he did was help her, but when she “sinned” and tried to seduce Tom she couldn’t think of what to do so she just blamed the innocent man. The next major symbol of the book is the character of Boo Radley. Boo Radley is never proved to be a bad person to the children, but they still have a negative perspective on him. Scout and jem later on see that he is a decent person when Boo fixes Jem’s pants. Jem says “somebody knew you were comin’ back for ‘em”(78). This confuses them, but they start to see as a more real person instead of a made up
The major conflict in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird” is when Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. And Atticus Finch agrees to protect Tom Robinson in his case. So the rest of the Finch family is taking racial abuse because their dad is protecting an African American. The conflict in the book is external because it is Tom against the town of Maycomb. Since he is African American the opposite race is looking badly upon him and anyone who is on his side. The conflict in the story is some what resolved Tom is still found guilty and is sent to jail. But tried to escape and got shot. Bob Ewell sent a lot of threats to the Finch family, and tried to kill Scout and Jem one night but Boo Radley saves them and stabs Ewell. The Sheriff knew that they would want to send the dad to trial to, he protect him and said Ewell must have tripped on his own knife. That is how the major conflict is resolved.
Scout believes at the beginning of the book that courage is all to do with physical feats like fist fighting. Scout and Jem though Atticus was courageous when he shot the mad dog, but Atticus just shrugged it off telling his children that that is not ? real courage?. The children soon see that moral courage is more valuable after Miss Dubose said "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Chapter 11, Page 113 after they walked past her house.
The main symbols discussed and portrayed in the book were Tim Johnson, the Mockingbirds and Boo Radley. Tim Johnson was a neighbourhood dog who appeared down the Finch’s street one day, but looked very ill and was rabid. Calpurnia the black maid working at the Finch’s rang Atticus and he shot it. Tim Johnson could symbolize the prejudice and mob mentality of Maycomb at the time and because Atticus shot Tim this represents Atticus’s morals beliefs about stopping racism and creating equality. The Mockingbird used in the title of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is the most important symbol depicted in this novel. One day Atticus told Jem that he’d rather Jem shoot at tin cans, but he knew Jem would go after birds. He gave Jem permission to shoot all the blue jays he felt like, but it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. Jem then went to Miss Maudie to ask about what Atticus had just said, "Your father’s right," she said. "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. As the novel progresses, the children’s perspective towards Boo Radley matures and this replicates the development of the children. Boo Radley was once an intelligent child, only to be ruined by his cruel father is one of the most important mockingbirds as his innocence was destroyed. Luckily for Jem and Scout, Boo was merely a source of childhood superstition often leaving presents for them. Despite the pain that Boo