Mockingbird

A mockingbird is a harmless bird that makes the world more pleasant. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird symbolizes Tom Robinson, who was peaceful people who never did any harm. To kill or harm them would be a sin. Scout’s father, Atticus, tells Scout and Jem, ” I’d rather you shoot 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.”(p. 69) The Mockingbird has a very deep and powerful meaning in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. In general, it represents peacefulness, innocence and kindness. Characters such as Boo Radely can be compared to the mockingbird in the title of the novel. Tom Robinson can also be compared to the mockingbird. Yet, the mockingbird’s influence does not end there. For it can also be applied to relationship between human beings. Thus, the Mockingbird is a powerful symbol that echoes a strong meaning throughout the book. Boo Radely, can be compared to the mockingbird in the title of the novel. It is made clear in chapter 10 when Atticus and Miss Maudie explain that you should never kill a mockingbird because all it does is sing beautiful songs and never hurts anyone. Thus, Boo Radely is like a mockingbird as he never hurts anyone and primarily keeps to himself. Yet, the title is To Kill A Mockingbird and the townsfolk ” kill” Boo Radley by persecuting and ridiculing him in society simply because he is shy and does not come out of his house. Also, in the end, Scout says that it would be wrong to put Boo Radley on trial for killing Bob Ewell because he did it in order to protect her and Jem. Furthermore, Scout sees that things look the same from Boo Radley’s porch as they do from her’s. Therefore, Boo Radley is a perfect example of a mockingbird and the situation he is in is a perfect example of the title of the book.