Kristee Karcz
P. 2
Jan. 14, 2009
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there is much symbolism. Scout, the main character, is too young to realize most of it, but one can see a bit more every time they read the book. One of the main themes is killing mockingbirds, or innocent birds that only give us beautiful music. It’s mentioned several times throughout the book. “Atticus said to Jem, ‘I’d rather you shoot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. . . but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’” (90) This is the first time mockingbirds are mentioned, aside from the title, and it’s almost foreshadowing for the events to come. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird symbol of an innocent person being killed is Tom Robinson, the man accused and convicted of a capitol crime he did not commit for this sole reason: He was black.
We first hear about Tom when Cecil Jacobs is beaten up by Scout because he said Atticus was defending a nigger. This shows the racism that parents pass on to their children. Scout and her older brother Jem take a lot of hate because of Atticus’ case, but Atticus is determined to prove Tom’s innocence. Despite lack of evidence and the fact that the key witness for the prosecution did not have her story straight, Tom Robinson is ruled guilty by the jury for the rape of Mayella Ewell. During the trial, one could say Tom lost his innocence. Mockingbirds’ innocence is taken away from them when in contact with evil, and Mayella, despite not being inherently evil by nature, did an evil thing by attacking him because he didn’t return the love she had for him. Mayella’s father, the main man in the anti-Robinson group, was a horribly evil person who drank and beat his children. Tom lost his innocence when he came into contact with them, just like a mockingbird. But he remained completely polite the whole time; never malicious.
Tom Robinson is finally killed near the end of the book. The story was that he tried to escape from prison, but there were 17 bullets in him. It’s implied that he wasn’t really trying to escape but that they shot him because of the colour of his skin. Tom Robinson not only lost a bit more innocence that day, but he lost his life. “Mr. Underwood. . . likened Tom’s death the the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. . .” (241) This is a reference to the fact that Tom is, in fact, the mockingbird of the story. He was killed for no reason, and he had never done anything to hurt anyone, just to help them. During the trial, his own boss even stands up to say what a good man he is.
One could say that Boo Radley is the mockingbird of the story, however, this is not so. He is reclusive and mockingbird-like, yes, but he’s never killed. He’s passed over and managed to survive. The title is “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and Boo never died in the span of the story. He simply disappeared. Everyone knew Tom was innocent, however Boo had a lot of nasty rumors spread about about him that some people believed. “’Most people are [nice], Scout, when you finally see them.’” (281) Atticus was referring to Boo, but this quote could be implied for Tom as well.
Tom Robinson is obviously the mockingbird of the book To Kill a Mockingbird. His life, his death: All of it screams mockingbird. Boo comes close to being a mockingbird, but he doesn’t quite make the cut. Tom Robinson, however, will always be remembered as the book’s true mockingbird.
^ I just finished. ^^;;;;;
