To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes Analysis

How Jem and Scout Symbolize a Mockingbird

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, a poet who led the Transcendentalist movement, wrote this quote to inspire people to challenge the status quo and lead others to make a change. Atticus Finch, a character in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, represents Emerson’s message because he stands up for his ideals in a town where strict social standards are eminent and those who do not follow them are shunned. The novel is set in the South during the 1930’s where racial segregation is a serious occurrence, so when Atticus defends a black man, Tom Robinson, in court many of the townsfolk begin to turn their back on him. However, this treatment dose not stop Atticus from using all of his skill as a lawyer to try to set Tom free and fight for his rights. Atticus’ determination and justification toward equality ends up causing many people to rethink some of their social standards regarding the black folk, therefore; Atticus truly went where “there is no path” because no one in the town of Maycomb has ever went against the status quo like he had before. He also left a trail for other folk to follow in his children, Jem and Scout, because they demonstrate Atticus’ teachings and beliefs. They were with Atticus when he first got the court case

and witnessed the jury falsely convict Tom.

After seeing the town’s cruel treatment to their to their father and the unfair treatment the court gave to Tom they began to understand the corrupt traditions of Maycomb which causes them to represent one of

the books prominent symbols: a mockingbird.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem Finch could be symbolized as a “mockingbird” because of the joy he brings to others, his innocence, and the fact he has done no harm but is still a victim of a crime. In the beginning of the book, when it was summer and school was out, Jem and his sister Scout would play for hours on end in their backyard performing skits or activities such as putting Scout in a huge tire while Jem “pushed the tire down the sidewalk with all the force in his body” (Lee 49). By spending so much time with Scout, Jem can be associated with a mockingbird because he brings joy to his sister. To a child, practically any attention given to them makes them happy, so when Jem spends his summer rolling Scout in a tire and other games he brought joy to her because without Jem no one else would give Scout as much notice. These happy childhood memories the Finch children share allows Jem to distinctly portray a mockingbird. Secondly, as Jem witnesses his father’s trial and the jury vote against Tom Robinson, Jem is mortified and even asks Atticus as soon as they return home, “How could they do it, how could they?”(Lee 285). This is probably one of the first times Jem witnesses the cruelty and racial segregation between people in Maycomb. By him asking his father how could the jury members kill an innocent proves his own innocence because of how unaware he is of the evil in the world. Finally, while Jem and Scout were walking home from the town’s Halloween festival, they were ambushed by Bob Ewell, and while, Scout escaped uninjured, Jem “got a bad break... in the elbow. Like someone tried to wring his arm off”(Lee 254). Similar to how mockingbirds often are attacked by sinful people the same crime happened to Jem. Bob was furious at Atticus for ruining his image in Maycomb, so he ambushes Jem and Scout to get revenge. The children themselves have never harmed nor bothered Mr. Ewell in their life, yet they were still a victim of undeserved violence which is one of the traits found in a mockingbird. Jem Finch is a perfect example of a mockingbird because of the qualities he expresses throughout the book but so does his younger sister.
Another beloved character from To Kill A Mockingbird that can best be symbolized as a mockingbird is Scout Finch. First, when Atticus and Tom Robinson are confronted by an angry mob, Scout skips in between the confrontation and does not fully understand what is going on, so she ends up making small talk with Mr. Cunningham involving his son, Walter, and how “he’s a good boy, a real nice boy”(Lee 205). Having innocence is an important trait in which mockingbirds symbolize and Scout depicts one very prominently in this scene. When she is faced by the mob, Scout does not really feel fear or hostility like people typically do in this situation instead, she tries to make conversation with the only familiar face she knew, Mr. Cunningham. She asks him about his son because she hoped to make her presence slightly less awkward, however; Scout has no idea the man she is speaking to was about to harm an innocent black man and possibly her father. Scout’s incapability to understand the evil and prejudice within the mob proves her childlike innocence toward the world which is quality found in a mockingbird. Near the very end of the book, after Scout and Jem had just been attacked by Bob Ewell and saved by Boo Radley, Scout sits in Atticus’ lap and remarks that harming Boo would be, “sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird”(Lee 370). Scout’s harmless behavior is distinctively shown during this part of story because of her lack of vengeance and violence. Scout’s brother is severely injured and she almost lost her life but she has no desire for revenge upon Bob’s family and when she mentions the cruelty in harming Boo she is showing her understanding of the wrongfulness in causing distress to others. Scouts harmlessness is proved in various moments throughout the story but is most evident when she shows no hostility toward the Ewell’s after her near death experience. Finally, during Mrs. Merriweather’s Halloween play, Scout came onto the stage in a pork costume completely off cue in the middle of Mrs. Merriweather’s big moment which caused the entire audience to laugh and Judge Taylor to go “behind the auditorium and slap his knees so hard Mrs Taylor brought him a glass of water and one of his pills”(Lee 347). The people of Maycomb all knew Mrs. Merriweather was a stuck up, egotistical control freak, so when Scout accidentally ruins her big finale it causes the audience to erupt with laughter at Mrs. Merriweather’s embarrassment. Even though, Mrs Merriweather herself was not quite joyful, Scout spread happiness throughout the rest of theater without even really intending too. This further proves Scout could be symbolized as a mockingbird because of the way she makes other people around her happy. Like her brother, Scout too can be best symbolized as a mockingbird because of her innocence, harmlessness, and her natural talent of spreading happiness.
From witnessing the results of their father’s trail and overall life in Maycomb, Jem and Scout have proven to exemplify the traits a mockingbird personifies. Because they represent the innocence of a mockingbird so well it makes the novel much more effective to the audience since the reader is forced to see segregation and other cruelties of the world in the eyes of child who has not yet been altered by the harsh realities of life.