Turning Point In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Senseless Slaughter of Songbirds People can do horrible things when their thoughts are taken over by prejudiced and hateful thinking. In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” this theme is shown clearly many times in the novel. From the death of childhood innocence to the death or possible persecution of innocents. This story shows how prejudice and hate fueled actions pose serious threats to the innocent. In chapter 10 of the novel Miss Maudie says, “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” (Lee, 119).. This quote embodies the central theme of this story. The innocent are the mockingbirds, they harm nobody and often put others…show more content…
Jem Finch, loses his childlike innocence and love for his hometown after seeing both his father lose the trial, and Tom ending up dead because of it. Over the course of the novel we begin to slowly see Jem’s character become a mockingbird. The true turning point in Jem’s character happens immediately after we hear that Tom Robinson is convicted guilty. Jem believed with all his heart that his father Atticus would win the trial and Tom would be acquitted. “I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: “Guilty… Guilty… Guilty… Guilty… : I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them.” (Lee, 282). Jem is now realizing that there are serious problems in the town of Maycomb. However his most “mockingbird” like quality is his sympathetic nature. When Nathan Radley fills in the tree hole that Boo left gifts for the kids in, Jem cries because he realizes how important that was to Boo. Later in the story, Scout wants to kill a roly-poly bug, but Jem stops her, “Why couldn’t I mash him?” I asked. “Because they don’t bother you” Jem answered (Lee, 320). Most importantly, Jem protects his sister from an attack by Bob Ewell, but breaks his arm in the process. Bob is a symbol of hate and evil and by attacking the children in an attempt to get back at Atticus this is also symbolizing Jem…show more content…
Tom, Jem and Boo all symbolize the mockingbird. From helping a girl only out of the kindness of their heart, to saving family from danger and to attempting to brighten to day of children. We see how all of these characters are innocent, yet they are all in some way or another affected by the evils of either, racism, prejudice or hatred. Possibly if our world had more people who lived to make others happy, and put the lives of others before their own, our world would be a much nicer place to live
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