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Symbolism in a mockingbird novel
Symbolism in a mockingbird novel
Themes of to kill a mockingbird
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Questions. They are asked everyday, helping an individual learn something new about the environment around them. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee the main character Scout learns that asking questions about life is a very important way for her to learn more about the word she’s living in and her surroundings. Scout is a little girl in the city of Maycomb, Alabama. Scout asks many questions in this novel that interprets her learning of how she grows as an individual. Not only does Scout learn from these questions, but as well as the reader. These questions include important scenes such as when Scout talks to Atticus about the trial and why he is defending Tom Robinson if people think that he shouldn’t even be defending him in
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
The quote by Zora Neale Hurston, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” shows that coming of age is a tricky project that takes time and effort. In Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird, she writes about Scout Finch, the narrator, reflecting on her past and the challenges she went through in her hometown, Maycomb, with her brother Jem and childhood friend Dill.. Harper Lee uses the young characters in the novel to show experiences, their role models, and conflict help shape a person from child to adult.
“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). [1]Mockingbirds are the most innocent type of bird and cannot defend themselves. [3] Occasionally people tried to mess with Boo Radly, who was a mockingbird because he was in his house defenseless. [5] While Tom Robertson was being tried and in prison he was an undeniably mockingbird. [4] Hurting Jem, Bob Ewell was punishing an innocient kid, who was defenseless. [2] Despite being a man, Bob Ewell, who is showed to be a blue jay, blue jays are birds that no one likes. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.”(119)[6] Mockingbirds don’t hurt anyone. [1] Boo Radly and Tom Robertson are mockingbirds
To Kill A Mockingbird tells the story of a young girl, Scout, who comes of age and eventually comprehends that not all people are open-minded, or kind. Scouts interactions with other people help to shape her and allow her to accept that not everyone has the same thoughts and opinions as her. Scout and Jem’s interactions with Atticus help the reader clearly understand that he is a responsible, courageous, and non judgmental man.
The author George Elliot once said “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Appearance can be very misleading, and you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. This philosophical idea has been included in many works of literature, including the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Many citizens of Maycomb tend to make judgements based on outward appearances alone. In the novel, Lee uses minor characters such as Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Tom Robinson to convey the book’s theme of prejudice.
Patrick Rothfuss stated, “When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” In ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, Lee shows that with age and experience, one attains comprehension of the harsh realities that surrounds them, realities that they have disregarded and overlooked for years. In Lee’s novel, Scout Finch is seen as an innocent little girl, uncorrupted by the racism and prejudice that surrounds her. Through her profound experiences with various individuals such as Miss Caroline, Walter Cunningham and Boo; her world expands to view the true nature of human beings, and to reassess the world she thought she knew with a new perception. Scout begins her journey as completely innocent to the world she lives in, to the commencement of realization of the reality around her, to finally achieving that wisdom and understanding she needs in order to mature.
Scout lives in Maycomb County where she has to discover the unfair realities of society alongside prejudice people and some honest, accepting, and compassionate people. Her father, Atticus, is a lawyer who teaches her life lessons to help her understand different perspectives. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how people’s ignorance results in prejudice against others and can only be stopped through understanding and compassion. Lee exemplifies the ignorant people in a society and their effect on others using the people in Maycomb County.
Throughout the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout Finch learns a variety of concepts about the way the world really is. However the main concept that Scout discovers is the evil that surrounds her and her hometown of Maycomb. Scout discovers the evil in the world through her experiences in Maycomb and these are the events that help her grow and mature into who she is. Mainly, the trial of Tom Robinson opened Scout’s eyes to the evil and wrongdoings in the county, as well as in the courtroom. The trial gives way to the prejudice remarks about the Finch family’s involvement in the case. The trial of Tom Robinson, the county’s comments on Atticus’s involvement in the trial, and getting attacked at the end of the story
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This quote is one of the most famous quotes throughout the influential book of To Kill A Mockingbird. Harper Lee wrote this book to instill her ideas in. She used many different methods to explain one same idea, change. Through the idea of change Lee uses a young girl named Scout Finch. “Scout's narrative relates how she and her elder brother Jem learn about fighting prejudice and upholding human dignity.” Scout is the idea of change and development. Scout goes through three stages of evolution: innocence from corruption, exposed to society’s flaws, and realization about the truth of Maycomb.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main character and narrator, Scout Finch, embarks on her own adventure throughout her childhood years to learn more about the world around her as well as herself. As the novel progresses, she continues her process of coming of age as she faces troubles, explore new areas, and interacts with her community. On her journey Scout grows and matures, realizing who she is and how she feels about her place in the world. Harper Lee masterfully represents the challenges in the coming of age process through Scout. Thus, through transformative conflicts, symbolic setting, and a critical first person narration, Lee reveals how as one grows up, one must face the injustices and normalities
Lee uses moral instruction to connect the reader to the story and through the use of a literary term called allusion. To Kill A Mockingbird walks us through sins of society and the moral role we play when we respond to others. Atticus points out several time that you should never judge a man “Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”1 Lee writes To Kill a Mockingbird to point out basic morals people should live by and she does this through the life and times of adolescents. The point of view is one in which adolescents, through thoughts and feelings, can connect. The novel also depicts a single father that demonstrates moral responsibility even in situations of difficulty and a world of intolerance, “It’s not fair for you and Jem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down . . . . this case is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscious”.2 The story is a faced-paced tale of passage from childhood to adulthood using historical and social settings. It deals with emotions that are...
To Kill a Mockingbird novel is a warm and humorous piece of writing though it deals with critical issues such as racial inequality and rape. The novel was published in 1960 by Harper Lee and it gained immediate popularity and success becoming a modern literature in American. The plot of the novel and characters are based on Harper’s perception of her neighbors and her immediate family. Also, it is based on her observation of events that took place near her home area in 1936 at the age of ten years. To Kill a Mockingbird symbolizes killing harmless and innocent people. Tom Robinson is an example of an innocent man falsely accused of raping a White girl known as Mayella Ewell (Lee 169). Another example is Boo who is misunderstood by the society
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an emblem of racial jurisdiction. All throughout the book it shows how the law applies to blacks as opposed to whites. Lee shows how unjust the treatment of blacks is and the disregard for their human rights. Though through the actions of the characters in the book; it can be said that their actions show a glimmer of hope for this very prejudiced society.
Keeping a mouth shut doesn't hold the world shut out, it opens up new doors to things that would never be expected. In To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there is are two character that is are an eternal mystery for the readers. Boo Radley, though the reader nor Scout and Jem know anything about the character all they want is to learn about him. Boo becomes a mysterious figure that many see as creepy, ghostly, but also reasonably wise. The one-time Boo appears the readers learn he is a sagacious, powerful man. Little do Scout and Jem know is that their father is also a rational being as well. The two crucial character in the story helps support the
In Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” Scout is an example of a character whose coming-of-age process involves gaining new views on life. Scout always remembers when her father, Atticus, told her to “consider things from his point of view” (Lee 39). Scout learns that before she judges anyone or makes a big decision she needs to put herself in their situation. Scout learns to actually look through many different perspectives. In chapter 12 Scout realizes Maycomb is not such a great town after all. The people seem nice until their racism and prejudice shows through. Scout is always discovering ways to grow up and not end up like the adults in her town. Scout is becoming a very responsible and independent young woman.