To kill a Mockingbird
Theme 1 Essay
“Innocence invites protection, yet we might be smarter to protect ourselves against it...”
― Megan Johns. In this novel we are taken back to the 1930s, in a small town in Alabama, and a time where everyone was not treated as equals. Blacks, mentally disturbed or anyone for that matter that did not classify as “normal” was discriminated against. Often, the titles of books have a meaning and represent a key element in the novel. To Kill a Mockingbird is no exception. The main character, Atticus introduced the idea of not killing a mockingbird because it did no harm, and this idea of not “killing” the innocent mockingbird is taken up in its comparison to those innocent characters in the novel. Tom Robinson
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Similarly, the mockingbird never harms anyone and instead makes beautiful music for the people around them to enjoy. Like a mockingbird, Boo does nothing to harm anyone in any way and never gets in anyone’s way. Although rumors spread around the town saying that he is “malevolent”, the children find out through the course of the novel that Boo, in reality, is gentle and caring and not a trouble to anyone, just like a mockingbird. He finds joy from seeing the happiness on their faces when he leaves presents for them and even saves their lives from Bob Ewell. Scout and Jem figure out that, just like it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, it is a sin to torment Boo. Scout even refers to Boo as a mockingbird when she says that shooting him would be like killing a mocking bird. Tom Robinson, although he may be very different from Boo has one thing in common with him: he is also a mockingbird whose only “fault” is being black. Tom Robinson is a totally innocent character not harming anyone, in fact he does Mayella Ewell a favor and comes and lends her a hand with no selfish intent. However, even though he has given no trouble to anyone and is innocent, he still becomes a victim at the cruel hands of the Ewells. Just like a mockingbird Tom was killed for nothing. Instead he was judged by others because of the way he looked and, in turn, he was killed because of his appearance. He was …show more content…
In Boo’s case it’s his mental disorder and in Tom’s, his race. This was a time in which all people were not believed to be equal and some were believed to be worth less than others. Those people included the blacks and the mentally disabled. People from these categories face major hurdles not only in situations like Tom’s and Boo’s but also in their day to day life. They were categorized in a class below the poor and ignorant because people felt that they were not good enough to be treated like fairly. Even thought they were completely innocent, because of the social system they belonged to, they were punished for something they had no control over. Moreover, no sympathy was given to people like them and instead they were blamed for things that they were completely innocent of just because they couldn’t defend themselves or when they did, they wouldn’t be believed. For example, we know that Boo is blamed for everything that goes wrong in the town even though he had nothing to with those
TKM Theme Essay Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during the Great Depression in the small town of Maycomb in Alabama. Scout and Jem live in what they think is a good community. From what they know, everyone fits into the community except Boo Radley, a mysterious neighbor. They think this until the trial of Tom Robinson, an African American that is accused a raping a white women, takes place. The kids see something they have never noticed about their community before.
Tom Robinson is innocent of the crimes he is accused of, but people do not believe what he says. Lots of people get blamed for things that they did not necessarily do. People are victimized and tortured for no reason, this is what a mockingbird is. In Lord of the Flies, there's lots of examples of how Piggy could be known as a Mockingbird.
In an earlier part of the book we learn that it is a mortal sin to to kill a mockingbird. Scout learns that a mockingbird is signifying innocence, and to kill a mockingbird you are is to kill innocence. Many characters in the book are mockingbirds, such as; Jem and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson was also one of those mockingbirds who were “killed” by the truth of life.
As these events take place, themes pop up throughout the book. While there are multiple possible lessons and themes hidden in To Kill a Mockingbird, three significant themes that are included are hidden identities, courage and Jem’s maturation. A theme incorporated into the book is hidden identities that characters have that readers might not know about. When a “mad dog” comes into the neighborhood, people aren’t sure what to do about it.
Boo saved Scout and Jem, but he also killed Bob Ewell in the process. Atticus, Jem and Scouts father, asked the sheriff what really happened, but the sheriff insisted that Boo didn't do anything. Scout understood it and said that it'd be like shooting a mockingbird, because Boo only sought to protect those children and having him arrested would be a sin. Boo Radley was displayed as an innocent man who was wrongly incarcerated by his father after a childish prank he played on him, but his father did not think of it as a childish prank. Boo’s innocence can be seen when he leaves gifts for Jem and Scout in the tree knot hole.
Tom Robinson, as a black, had many stereotypes he had to overcome. For example, despite being a hard worker, even volunteering to help the Ewells for no pay, he was still categorized as lazy and untrustworthy just because of the color of his skin. On the other side of the story, Boo Radley was classified as a sociopath because of him stabbing his father. Contrary to these claims, he was actually very caring, even saving Scout and Jem from their would-be killer. In addition, Boo gave away free stuff to Scout and Jem for a short period of their school year.
Miss Maudie tells Scout that Miss Stephanie is only lying about seeing Boo outside her window. The only other event where Boo was bad was when he was with his “gang” and he was still punished by his father for his actions. Another reason Boo is shown as the mockingbird of the book is because he has only hurt one person. The only person that Boo has hurt was his father and that is still just a rumor. When Boo stabbed his father with the scissors his father punished him and did not let him go without consequences.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, prejudice, justice, and innocence. The novel is set in the 1930s in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, and follows the story of Scout Finch, a young girl, and her family. The novel has a profound impact on its readers, and it is considered to be one of the greatest works of American literature. In this essay, I will explore the importance of five quotes from the novel and how they relate to the themes of the book. “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
In the middle of the book, Atticus tells Jem “it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). Miss Maudie further explains this by saying “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 119). In this case, Boo Radley is the mockingbird. Mr. Heck Tate wants the whole town to know that Boo saved the Finch children from being killed by Bob Ewell, but Atticus knows that Boo does not like the attention. Atticus tells Mr.Tate that Boo has only done good things for their community, and for that, he should be left the way he likes it: quiet and alone.
Tom Robinson is a mockingbird in that he doesn't do one thing wrong. All he does is provide help to the people he interacts with. That is exactly how he got in trouble. Tom Robinson was helping Mayella with some chores. He was humming a melody and when he chopped up the dresser drawers.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the term mockingbird symbolizes innocence in a person. In the novel it focuses on the fact that innocence, represented by the mockingbird, can be wrongfully harmed. There are two characters: Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley that are supposed to represent the mockingbird. In the novel, Tom Robinson is the best example of a mockingbird because he is prosecuted for a crime he did not commit. Also, he was judged unfairly based on the color of his skin in his trial.
It is said that it is a “sin to kill a mockingbird”, so this situation shows that the killing of innocent Tom was a not right. II. Topic Sentence: Atticus Finch could be called the mockingbird of the book because he helps others, protects his loved ones, and is courageous. A. Claim:
To Kill a Mockingbird is a book mainly about the coexistence of good and evil. The book stresses and emphasizes on the exploration of moral nature in humans. There are many themes in this novel including courage, innocence, racism, femininity, etc. However the most prevalent theme in the book is innocence. Not just innocence in itself but the danger and harm evil poses to the innocent.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee teaches us about the town of Maycomb County during the late 1930s, where the characters live in isolation and victimization. Through the perspective of a young Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, readers will witness the prejudice that Maycomb produces during times where people face judgement through age, gender, skin colour, and class, their whole lives. Different types of prejudice are present throughout the story and each contribute to how events play out in the small town of Maycomb. Consequently, socially disabling the people who fall victim from living their life comfortably in peace. Boo Radley and his isolation from Maycomb County, the racial aspects of Tom Robinson, and the decision Atticus Finch makes as a lawyer, to defend a black man has all made them fall in the hands of Maycomb’s prejudice ways.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the idea that human morality occurs, where people contain both aspects of good and evil even if society perceives them as either good or evil. Human morality is a common issue in the story, so the readers can identify what the characters in the story