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To kill a mockingbird essay (Click to select text)
The title of Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird relates significantly to the plot and characters in the novel. Without the symbolic references to a mockingbird the story line would have no relevance and less significance. When Atticus tells Jem and Scout to, "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird," he is referring to the notion the a mockingbird is a harmless creature and does nothing but sing and bring happiness to the world (Lee 90). Harper Lee takes the title for her novel from this passage because the imagery of a mockingbird is important to the characters of both Arthur "Boo" Radley and Tom Robinson. These two characters are harmless songbirds that are sinfully destroyed. Boo Radley, although he only appears once, serves two significant purposes. At the beginning of the novel, Boo serves as a fictional character to the children, giving them something to make fun of in their games and dramas, as well as a topic of conversation. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Boo embodies more character than most of the citizens in Maycomb, emerging as a symbol of what is truly right. In the beginning of the story, Boo represents the unknown. The children wonder about Boo and his strange way of life, but really have no concept of who he is. At first, the children ask questions about Boo concerning his "weird" living style. When this does not satisfy their curiosities, they make up games and stories about Boo, which present him as being a monster. At one point, the children invade the Radley property in hopes of finding some clue that will better explain Boo's character. As the story progresses, Boo becomes more of a symbol of kindness and bravery than that of the "town freak" which he is made out to be. Boo leaves presents for the children in the hollow trunk of an old tree, as well as covers Scout with a blanket during Miss Maudie's fire. However, it is not until he saves both Jem and Scout's life from the hands of the deranged Mr. Ewell, that Boo shows his true heroic character. Although Boo is not a physically active man, he shows no fear or hesitation when it comes to protecting Jem and Scout. It is not until after this rather odd episode that Scout is finally able to come to terms with her true feelings towards Boo. Boo, up until this point, remains a mystery to Scout. Scout could not understand why Boo would not come out of his house or interact with the other people of Maycomb. Now though, Scout has a greatly improved sense of what Boo truly stands for. Scout concludes that Boo had never "spied" on the children, but was merely looking out for them. Despite what the children do to try to annoy him, Boo always comes to their rescue. After Heck Tate and Atticus decide that it is better to conceal the fact that Boo killed Bob Ewell, Scout says, "Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it" (276)? If mockingbirds do no harm to the world, then persecuting Boo Radley would truly be "like killing a mockingbird." The character of Tom Robinson is that of yet another unjustly treated "mockingbird." It is here that the significance of the title "To Kill A Mockingbird" directly correlates. Tom Robinson is an innocent man and not favoured for the simple reason that he is black. Tom stands accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, in a very racist, southern town. Tom is not guilty of this crime, but is condemned by the people of Maycomb because they are afraid to stand up for what is right. When Jem and Scout Finch receive their longed-for air rifles, their first instinct to shoot birds is expected and taken for granted. Their father refuses to teach them to shoot, and warns them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. This is the only time his children ever hear him call something a sin, indicating how strongly he feels about this. After this order to avoid their natural urge towards shooting the colourless, brown mockingbird, Atticus tells his children that they may shoot as many colourful blue jays as they like. These orders were certainly in opposition to the simple logic of a child's mind. Blue jays are colourful, pretty birds, with black crests atop their heads and vibrant patterns on their wings. By contrast, mockingbirds have drab, brown and black feathers, and are much more likely to attract the aggression of sharpshooters looking for plain, worthless targets. However, the simplistic minds of children do not easily recognise anything important other than the visual appeal of a bird. Similarly, the jurymen in the novel's central episode convicted Tom Robinson based on some warped principles, with little but the simple, shallow logic of skin colour to guide them. Tom Robinson’s problems all begin when he is willing to help Mayella Ewell with her chores, not because she is white, but because he is a genuinely kind person. Tom is not however, able to cope with Mayella's affections for him because he knows, being a black man, what the consequences of being with a white woman could be. In keeping with the theme of the mockingbird, Tom does not make any effort to physically push Mayella away from her approaches, but rather chooses to flee in the midst of the crisis, not harming Mayella or Bob Ewell in any way. By running away from the scene, as opposed to staying and asserting himself, Tom makes it possible for the Ewells to make whatever claims they wish in court. It is ultimately Tom's ignorance as how to handle the situation at the Ewell's, as well as his position as a black man in the South, which leads to his conviction, and finally his demise. After being killed attempting to flee from the confines of prison life, Tom’s death, in an editorial by Mr. Underwood, is linked to, "the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters" (241). Here again, the image of the mockingbird is raised; sighting another individual's discontent with the treatment of Tom by the town of Maycomb. Tom never stands a chance of winning his case because, as Atticus tells Scout and Jem, "The people of Maycomb never serve on juries for two reasons. First, they are not interested. Second, they are afraid that they might hurt someone's feelings if they have to pass a judgement involving two townspeople." In this particular case, the decision is made obvious (a "black and white" decision) because the conflict is between a white family and a black man. Rather than offend anyone, the whites of Maycomb take the easy way out, and in the process, kill a harmless mockingbird. Without these symbolic references to mockingbirds, the story would have no relevance and therefore be boring to the reader. The people of Maycomb misunderstand both the characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. They are both simple creatures, content to live lifestyles that do not revolve around the stereotypes of Maycomb. Because they are different and people do not know them for who they truly are, they are unjustly persecuted. When Scout returns from the Radley house at the end of the novel, she tells Atticus that, "He (Boo) was real nice" (281). Atticus responds, "Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." Had the attitudes of the people of Maycomb been as open as those of Scout and Atticus, there would no doubt be many more mockingbirds enlightening Maycomb and far fewer sinners destroying the town.
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