Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

County, such as, Bob Ewell. He continues, “Mockingbirds are innocent, and all they do is sing beautiful songs. They would not harm anyone. ”

There are several ‘mockingbirds’ in the story, the most prominent one being Tom Robinson, and black people in general. They are innocent, meanwhile, the bullies like Bob Ewell (and other racist whites) take advantage of them (Smykowski 56). Claudia Durst Johnson also agrees that Tom is symbolized by a mockingbird. She uses this quote from the book to prove her stance: “Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping.

He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children. ” Tom Robinson, even though innocent and harmless, was shot dead attempting to be free. That is why killing him was a sin, just like killing a mockingbird (Johnson 36-37). Boo Radley is considered to be a mockingbird as well. “The mockingbird also symbolizes Boo Radley, since he is innocent, and would never harm anyone. He just stays inside because he does not want to face the corrupt and prejudiced world outside” (Smykowski 56).

He saves Jem and Scout after they are attacked by Bob Ewell, and kills him in the process. The sheriff, Heck Tate, says that it would be a sin to identify Boo as the murderer. Scout responds by telling Atticus, “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it? ” (Johnson 36). Johnson brings up another interesting point as well. She argues that, “the figure of the mockingbird reinforced by the realization that from the novel’s inception Boo Radley and

Tom Robinson are caged birds. ” Tom’s cage is the prisons he’s placed in, and “he is shot when he attempts to fly. Boo also has been locked up in a cage (his house) by his father.

Furthermore, they sing like mockingbirds, “they convey song stories through the lives that they live: Tom the black man and Boo the recluse singing through heir lives of mystery and gentleness. ” As you can see, both Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley, are similar to mockingbirds, because they are “at the mercy of the community” (36-37). Racial inequality is also shown through the mad dog. Atticus is given the responsibility to shoot a rabid dog which is terrorizing the citizens of Maycomb County.

Carolyn Jones compares the mad dog, to the prejudice that is present in Maycomb, “The real mad dog in Maycomb is the racism that denies the humanity of Tom Robinson. Atticus takes on that mad dog. When Atticus makes his summation to the jury, he literally bares himself to the jury's and the town's anger" (43). Smykowski takes a similar approach in analyzing the mad dog scene, “Here the rabid dog, Tim Johnson, represents prejudice, and how, like a rabid dog, it spreads its disease throughout the South. He goes on to say, “Atticus Finch is seen as the hero... as he kills racism and prejudice, not allowing it to spread itself any further. ” Lee shows how improbable it was for Atticus rid Maycomb from the disease of racism alone. “Scout says the trial was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger,

but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty” (55). Tom Robinson himself is also treated like a mad dog when he is shot trying to escape (Jones 44).

As you can see, racism and social inequality are depicted through the use of symbolism in To Kill A Mockingbird. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, are prime examples of mockingbirds in this novel, innocents who are destroyed by evil (that is, racism and inequality). The rabid mad dog is also a symbol of the disease Maycomb has, which is prejudice. Atticus is alone in his struggle to kill the mad dog of Maycomb. All in all, it is apparent as to why To Kill A Mockingbird has received such popular reception throughout the years. Harper Lee’s first and only novel, will forever be a classic.