Harper Lee uses the symbolism of a mockingbird in several
places. A mockingbird as discribed by Maudie is;
"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music
for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't
do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a
mockingbird."
Throughout the
novel there are 4 main 'mockingbirds'
1- Tom Robinson - He
did no harm to anyone (he actually helped Mayella) but was literally killed by the
community
2- Boo Radley - Boo never harmed anyone but was
victimized by the social prejudice of the community.
3-
Atticus - Along with Tom, Atticus is probably the main mockingbird in the novel. Atticus
always treated people fairly and was a role model to not only his children but the whole
community,yet he has ridiculed for taking on the case of Tom Robinson simply because Tom
was a black man and they felt it was wrong that a white man should try and defend
him.
4- 2 minor symbolic mockingbirds - not
characters
- Justice - Justice is meant to serve
people fairly and not do harm yet it did not produce a just
result - Childhood Innocence -
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