In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the important idea of racial injustice through the character of Tom Robinson. This novel is set in Southern America in the 1930’s, when racism was anything but uncommon. At this time the fight against slavery was won but African Americans were still segregated from white Americans. They had to live in different parts of the city, had to go to different schools and churches. In the novel Tom Robinson symbolised the racial injustice that existed at that time, he was symbolised by the mockingbird and his trial represents change.
If he had an impartial jury, he would have been a free man. However, none of the jurors believed that Tom was telling the truth. They were raised to hate all black people. White people have been hurting and killing black people for centuries because of hatred. Therefore, the black community in Maycomb was crippled with fear.
That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (p 98) Atticus tells Jem and Scout this when he presents them with a gun for their christmas present and tells them never to shoot a mockingbird. The idea behind the warning given by Atticus and Miss Maudie is that if one was to kill a mockingbird, they would be destroying a symbol of innocence. The corruptions that affect the novel’s ‘mockingbirds’ are there to reflect the main message- that innocence can be mutilated by prejudice and intolerance. The existence of both innocence and prejudice reflects that good and evil exist together and are part of one another in all situations. This juxtaposition is central to the concept of the novel.
Considering the characteristics of a mockingbird, it would be a sin to kill a mockingbird. Speaking of mockingbirds, there are quite a few people in this novel that, in analogy, are mockingbirds. For instance, Tom Robinson is great example. Tom is robbed of his innocence and is killed. He
It has adapted to the long summer days and long winter nights of its home, and can hunt well at any time of the day. The Snowy Owl is almost all white with scattered dark spots. Its bill is black, its head rounded, and its legs heavily feathered. The Snowy Owl likes to eat hares, small rodents, ducks and geese. Great Horned Owl The Great Horned Owl gets its name from the large tufts of feathers on its head; they are neither ears or horns, just feathers.
Motifs- Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy, but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Setting- Maycomb, Alabama Universal Statements- Sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are do. In the book the characters of Atticus, Jem, and Scout have you captivated.
All the Melian men are slaughtered and the women and children forced to slavery. The Melians present a lot of arguments to the Athenians. First they argue that they have always been a neutral nation and that must be respected. Melians offered them to be their friends and not enemies as this would be beneficial to both. But the Athenians rejected their offer by saying that they would not be much affected by their hostility but on the other hand their friendship would prove a sign of their weakness and they would be considered coward to allow such a small and insignificant island to not be ruled by them.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the most important symbol is the mocking bird. It symbolizes innocence. For instance, Tom Robinson was the mockingbird, because “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. He was killed even though he was an innocent man. Jem was also a mockingbird.
As the reader begins to see the unfairness of the actions against black people, mostly because of Atticus’ speech, the theme of discrimination is developed through the motive of ‘walking around in their shoes.’ The title, To Kill A Mockingbird is very symbolic and meaningful. The quote which corresponds with the title is also said by Atticus and is, ‘Shoot all the blue jays you want if you can’t hit ‘em, but it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ There are two characters in the text which are metaphorical to the mockingbird. One is the obvious one, Tom Robinson, a black man accused of the rape of a white girl, whom Atticus defends, and the other is Boo Radley. Just like a mockingbird, Tom Robinson only did good and in the end was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He helped Mayella Ewell every time she asked, for free, and for it he was accused of raping her.
Along with the fact that Atticus shot the infected Mad dog, Tim Johnson, which symbolized the death of the town’s madness. These symbols helped to show that the town’s overall innocence was intercepted with prejudice. Finally, Lee was able to utilize conflict between characters in order to show the social injustice in Maycomb with events like the attempted lynching of Tom. In today’s society, there’s obviously much less prejudice than back then in those times thanks to events like the civil rights movement and the end of jim crow laws. If there weren’t people who were brave enough to stand up and make a change to society then our community today might still be similar to the 1930’s society.