When children are born, they have a certain quality. Everything in the world is new to them, and they see things through a different lens. Eventually, this quality will leave a person as they grow accustomed to the world, but some hold that characteristic longer than others. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, this purity, known as innocence, is one of the main themes throughout the text. In the novel; a mockingbird is a symbol of an innocent person. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Scout are all examples of mockingbirds. They are used by Lee to show the terrible actions of people living in Maycomb. When Scout and Jem get air rifles one year for Christmas, Atticus lays out a few rules. He says, “‘I’d rather you shoot at tin cans in the …show more content…
Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”’[119]. Scout is confused about what Atticus said, so she consults her neighbor Miss Maudie for clarification. Miss Maudie tells her, “‘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”’[119]. Killing a mockingbird is a sin because they never do anything wrong, and they only try to make other people happier. Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, is an example of a mockingbird in Lee’s novel. He always tried to help Mayella Ewell complete tasks, and never asked for any payment or compensation in return. He was just a good man trying to do good things. On one of these occasions, while Tom was trying to fix something, …show more content…
For the entirety of the novel, Boo chose to be a recluse, staying in his house. Boo had always been looking out for Scout and Jem, whether it was when he sewed up Jem’s pants for him, or when he was giving them gifts through the knot in the treehole. When Bob Ewell attacked and tried to kill Jem and Scout, Boo was the person there to protect them. Boo Radley is a mockingbird because he only does things for the benefit of Scout and Jem. When talking about what happened to Ewell, Heck Tate says, “‘...taking the one man [Boo] who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight-to me, that’s a sin”[370]. Tate understands that there is no reason to bring Boo into the spotlight, since he is so shy. Boo prefers to be alone, so even if it’s women bringing him food showing thanks, to him that is a burden. Tate even goes so far as to call it a sin. He is trying to stop Atticus from killing a mockingbird, because Atticus cannot recognize it on his own. Tate is doing this because he is trying to protect Boo from the rest of the world, and he is trying to let Boo live his life however he wants
Mockingbirds: Emblems of innocence in To Kill A Mockingbird There are many mockingbirds in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The image of mockingbirds represent many people in the story and how many people take advantage of them for their own benefits. Scout, a young girl who lives in Maycomb is the story’s protagonist. She lives with her brother and father and occasionally meets Calpurnia their cook. For instance, Tom Robinson and Calpurnia are treated differently because of their skin color, however they are very close to the Finch family.
The night that the kids get attacked by Bob Ewell, Boo does save them, but also kills Bob in order to do that. Heck Tate knows that Boo killed Bob, and he also knows that Boo didnt thnk killing Bob as a bad thing, but he knows that Boo’s inosence is
During a conversation, Miss Maudie is having with Scout she says, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” Then, “That’s why it’s a sin to Kill a mockingbird” (119). Tom Robinson is a character that symbolizes this mockingbird. He is falsely accused of rape and gets attacked for a crime he did not commit. Atticus defends Tom Robinson from those who want to do harm to him because Atticus knows that he is the mockingbird and it would be a sin to do any harm to him as he has done nothing wrong, even though
Innocence is the light in the world and each child is born with it. It’s only a matter of time until it’s ripped from them. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Dill’s childhood innocence are slowly wore away as they realize the world isn’t as bright as they think. The word “Dibs” can be a child’s downfall or their triumph. Only three letters give a child the security of a certain fate, but in a court trial, Jem’s eyes are opened to the possibility of losing no matter how you play your cards.
Why do you think a mockingbird represents innocence? In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee makes innocence a big theme. In the 1930’s, Caucasian people didn’t make good decisions with respect to how they treated the black community. In the novel, innocence is one of the themes in the book; there are a variety of characters that show us innocence because they do absolutely nothing wrong.
Innocence varies on the person, someone may be lying or you're actually innocent. Innocence is a big theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee shows many examples of innocence through characters in the novel. Innocence is a big theme that stood out to me. Tom Robinson, hard working man, helps other from the kindness of his soul and attends church.
“Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.” This was said by Robert South and it portrays the loss of innocence of Scout Finch throughout the book. In the beginning of the book Scout is an immature 6 year old that does not use her head to solve problems she uses either her mouth or her hands, Atticus and Calpurnia are the mature figures in the house and they help her the best they can for her to grow up a mature young lady. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author uses characterization to reveal that the loss of innocence happens quicker to those who grow up in a more mature environment. Harper Lee demonstrates Scouts character as a young unsophisticated girl that reacts impulsively especially when Walter Cunningham
The loss of innocence is a difficult experience for many, but it is a challenge we all go through. Jem, Tom, and Boo all relate to the loss of innocence. Boo was labeled as an evil person, Tom was judged by the color of his skin, and Jem was exposed to the adult world. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses a mockingbird to represent innocence in an attempt to portray the cruelty in the world.
Every child lives in a fantasy world, they believe that everyone will always do the right thing with no hesitation. No one can say when a child will begin to mature and lose focus with this world they have allowed to believe is the same one, that everyone else is living in. Everyone goes through that one life altering moment as a child, that makes them realize their innocence has been taken, and it is only then that they are forced to see the world for its true colors. In the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Jem Finch was once living in a fantasy world, he then was force to lose his innocence by hearing the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial, and by losing his innocence he gained knowledge that allowed him to understand Society better
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the relationship between innocence and guilt is an extremely thin line. The two most innocent characters in this novel (Tom Robinson and Boo Radley), get vilified and condemned for pure concern, helpfulness, and support. Within the book, Atticus, the father within the story that holds morals and is at the top of the pecking order in Maycomb, states that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird: "Atticus said to Jem one day, 'I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. '"That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie
Behind All Good Children There’s A Great Father In To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee Atticus Finch is the widowed father of Jem and Scout. Atticus is very different from the other fathers. Scout use to think he was boring father and was embarrassed because all her classmates' parents were way younger and cooler, but she soon learns that he is a great father.
In chapter 10 Scout explains how it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, “remember it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. That was the only time i ever heard atticus say it was a sin to do something, and i asked Mrs. Maudie about it. Mockingbirds are defenseless, like boo radley. Scout in this quote shows that they understand the lifely in black people, and it is not okay to destroy innocence. Mrs. Maudie in
Innocent Mockingbirds Wanted Thesis: Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley all symbolize mockingbirds because of their traits, qualities, and actions. I. Topic Sentence: Tom Robinson symbolizes a mockingbird because he is not harmful, he is misunderstood, and he is killed over a judgmental reason. A. Claim: Behind his skin color, Tom loved to assist others without a reward. 1. Primary Evidence: He claimed that he would Mayella Ewell without being payed by saying, “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time.
Mockingbirds are an important symbol because they represent goodness and innocence. In this book, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are two innocent men, similar to mockingbirds, who get taken advantage of due to their innocence. Atticus and Miss Maudie teach Scout and Jem that it’s a sin to harm anything innocent by using the example of mockingbirds. Mockingbirds are innocent because they only positively affect people through their singing.
Innocence is a word used to describe someone 's purity. Children are prime examples of innocence, as they don’t have judgments and don’t understand mature topics. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the reader can interpret innocence as the growing up of the children. Specifically, Jem Finch showed a loss of innocence as he grew up. He showed his loss of innocence by not playing games, his more mature use of words and body language, and his different view of the world around him.