To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on “Maycomb’s usual disease,” as a pivotal part of the book, but also shows that compassion and wisdom can exist in these most bleak areas. The prejudice and bigotry comes from the lack of knowledge of Maycomb, and their fear to change what they have grown up with. Pre-conceived ideas are the main reason that Maycomb is ignorant of black people as they are afraid what a change of those pre-conceived ideas will bring. Even so, compassion still exists, as Atticus is able to save Scout and Jem from the influence of ‘Maycomb’s usual disease.’ Wisdom is also embodied by Atticus, where his wisdom, which is not necessarily knowledge but life experience, is able to force him to do things which are right, shown in his reluctant shooting of the rabid dog. The lack of knowledge in Maycomb about the outside world and their opinions about black people ingrains ‘Maycomb’s usual disease’ into their minds as they have no other opinions about black people.
To Kill A Mockingbird: Compare and Contrast Essay The Mockingbird “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(Lee, 90). In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch explains to his daughter Scout, that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because these birds do not do anything to harm or bother others. All they do is sing pretty music for all to enjoy. Within the novel, the theme of the mockingbird is present through the characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. These two execute the theme of the mockingbird through the misinterpretation of themselves by the people of Maycomb, their innocence, and bravery throughout the novel.
A mockingbird is a harmless bird that makes the world more pleasant. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird symbolizes Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, who were both 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.
The bunkhouse is shown to be a ‘long, rectangular building’ with ‘whitewashed’ walls and the floor ‘unpainted’. This shows that the bunkhouse was quite plain, boring, and simple and didn’t have much decoration. Three of the walls had ‘small, square widows’ and the fourth had the ‘solid door with a wooden latch’. We are then told that against the walls were ‘eight bunks, five of them made up … and three showing their burlap packing’. We are then told that near one of the walls was a ‘black cast-iron stove’ with ‘its stove-pipe going straigjht through the ceiling’ also, as a form of entertainment, there is a ‘big square table littered with playing cards, and around it were grouped boxes’.
This “harmless” lie is in fact hindering the students. Their minds and innocence may be satisfied, but their practical view of the world is compromised. Both of these poems attempt to help the children maintain their innocence. Wilbur manages to make the large, scary owl seem simplistic and less frightening when the child is told that calls of the owl are merely asking “Who cooks for you?” The child is placated with a soothing explanation for the hooting that
He explains that it's a sin to kill a mockingbird, because they don't do anything bad to anyone, they only sing. This same lesson can be applied to characters in Lee's novel, such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, based on the fact that they're innocent people that are harmed and wronged by the evils of humanity. In some way, each of them are like mockingbirds, and by harming them, innocence is destroyed. The idea of mockingbirds representing innocence is a lasting one for the duration of the novel, and forces readers to take a look at the bigger picture. Perhaps the most relatable event to the symbolism, the Tom Robinson case depicts the destruction of innocence first hand.
I hear a mob, gathering themselves just outside the local jail to lynch me. As I sit in this cell, I wonder, what I have done wrong. I start to slaughter myself by thinking of all these possible outcomes that could happen to me if I lost this quarrel. But, I concern most about my family, how this could affect them and their lives. A flash of light beamed straight into my eyes, a great white man stood in front of me.
He did not speak for a moment.” The characteristic of humility is an important thing to have as a parent and as a role model. Nevertheless, Atticus does present himself overall as a highly moral parent. Lee uses him as a vehicle to present her ‘mockingbird’ metaphor with the message that we need to protect innocence and those vulnerable. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are likened to mockingbirds, with Tom’s death described as, “the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.” The extended metaphor across the book allows both the reader and Scout to learn the need for equality and reveals the consequences of prejudice and racism. .
To Kill a Mocking Bird Literary Criticism Essay on Symbolism and Foreshadowing To Kill a Mocking Bird has been read over the years and enjoyed by many people. Harper Lee used literary elements to develop her theme, “Choosing between good and evil.” Symbolism and Foreshadowing being some in the novel. One of the more obvious and easy to understand is symbolism. An example of symbolism is the mockingbird. In the book the mockingbird was said to be a sin because it represents innocence, killing it would do no good.
The mockingbird is a major symbol in the novel because of Atticus’ belief that it is a sin to kill this bird. He says, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you hit ‘em, but remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 103). This belief stems from the concept that mockingbirds are innocent and do not harm anyone, so they should not be