At christmas, Atticus gives Jem and Scout air rifles as gifts. He tells the two that he would prefer they shoot at cans, but wagers that they may be tempted to shoot at living things. He tells them if they must hunt birds, they can shoot all the blue jays they want to, but to never kill a mockingbird. "Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Scout realized it was the only time she had ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something.
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.
Scout takes this lesson all through the book and keeps reminding the readers of this life lesson. The life lesson of it's a sin to kill a mockingbird is shown when Atticus buys Jem and Scout air rifles for Christmas. Upon receiving the air rifles Atticus tells Jem” Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Scout asks Miss Maudie why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird "They don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" From this life lesson Scout learns that, that life lesson doesn't just apply to birds but also humans in fact Tom Robinson.
“Remember, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (pg 90). Mockingbirds are animals that don’t do us any harm. It is the type of animal that will give its heart out to you. Every morning you can find mockingbirds sitting out side a window chirping a pleasant tune. It is a sin to kill the innocent and helpful mockingbird.
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience. Sometimes prejudice is a destructive force in society. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, prejudice is shown in many ways. Prejudice was shown when Atticus was defending the jail, a group of men came to kill Tom and also when Scout was getting teased at school by other kids because her dad was taking Tom’s case. Furthermore, when Tom Robinson was accused of being guilty even though he was not, and died because of it.
George killed Lennie, just like Carlson, another gaucho at the ranch where the story happens killed Candy’s (another gaucho at the ranch) dog.He did it because he had to, and it was the best for the dog. Lennie had done something more acute than accidentally killing a small mouse or a puppy, he had murdered Curley’s wife. Whether it was on purpose or not, if George had let Lennie live Lennie could have been lynched or tortured to death. George knew he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he let the man he was responsible for, be killed out of revenge. Lennie had no idea what he was doing, and it wasn’t fair that he should be killed out of hate.
(page 234) .Misfit says that he knows that his dad died because of flu. So, he was punished wrongly. He says, “I found out the crime don’t matter. You can do one thing or you can do another, kill a man, because sooner or later you’re going to forget what it was you done and just punished for it” (page 235). Here he says that weather you kill people or take tire of car you will be punished anyway and when you will be punished you will forgot what you did and will be punished for no reason.
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
When Julian slowly found out about Frank’s crimes, he thinks that Frank should not be arrested because he is the war hero. Therefore, he abuses his power by putting family loyalty comes before justice and duty. David is also given permission by Wes to get the gun to shoot a coyote but instead he took his power of having a gun for granted and accidentally shot a magpie who was in no
Atticus explains to Jem and Scout after receiving air riffles for Christmas that “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.” This direct speech presents the idea to the reader that mockingbirds haven’t done anything wrong, they only try to please people and are defenceless against people. Later Atticus says that the worst thing a white man can do is cheat a black man. This is the case when Tom Robinson tries to help Mayella Ewell. Mayella tried to do the unthinkable – kiss a black man.