To Kill a Mockingbird
The novel written by Harper Lee called To Kill a Mockingbird is a wonderful story set in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb during the great depression. Atticus Finch is a prominent lawyer raising his two children Jem and Scout alone. Atticus is a fair and kind man who is required to defend Tom Robinson from a false rape charge. To kill a mockingbird is a good title for this story although there are no mockingbirds killed, but because of the mockingbird symbolism used in the story. The title of a novel is very important because it provides a glimpse into the book, and sometimes it can even explain the lesson in the story. Mockingbirds symbolize innocence and Atticus, the moral guide of the novel, tells his children that 'it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.'
Miss Mollie, the Finch's neighbor explains to Scout why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. “Your father’s right,” she said. “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 reference can be applied to some of the characters in the story, which are innocent 'mockingbirds' and are hurt by human evil. There are two main characters that could be considered mockingbirds.
The first character, which can be shown as a mockingbird, is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a crippled African-American who is convicted of raping Mayella, white woman. Although Atticus proved Tom's innocence in court, he was still convicted because of his race. Tom is killed while trying to escape from jail. His death sparked outrage in some of the citizens of the community. Such as Mr. Underwood the town's newspaper editor, he bitterly condemned the town's killing of Tom in his editorial. "He liken Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.'
The second character that can be viewed as a mockingbird is the recluse 'Boo ' Arthur Radley. Arthur had not been seen in...