Innocent Mockingbirds Wanted
Thesis: Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley all symbolize mockingbirds because of their traits, qualities, and actions.
I. Topic Sentence: Tom Robinson symbolizes a mockingbird because he is not harmful, he is misunderstood, and he is killed over a judgmental reason.
A. Claim: Behind his skin color, Tom loved to assist others without a reward.
1. Primary Evidence: He claimed that he would Mayella Ewell without being payed by saying, “No suh, not after she offered me a nickel the first time. I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her much” (Lee 191).
2. Interpretation: This situation in the book shows that Tom was an innocent mockingbird because he never harmed anyone; he just helped others
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Claim: Because of Tom’s race, he was misjudged and looked at as a threat to society.
1. Primary Evidence: When Bob Ewell says, “I seen that black nigger younder ruttin’ on my Mayella,” it explains that people just saw someone’s skin color and assumed that the colored person was up to no good (Lee 173).
2. Interpretation: Tom was wrapped up in evil and was misjudged harshly by his skin color and was “shot down” like a mockingbird by racism.
C. In the end, Tom was not respected or treated right and as a result, he was killed or “shot like a mockingbird.”
1. Primary Evidence: Tom tried to escape from jail and a policeman decided instead of stopping him that he should just shoot Tom (Lee 235).
2. 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: Atticus is a man who sees the good in people and instead of harming others, he wants to help them.
1. Primary Evidence: Atticus explains to Scout that he is defending a negro because Tom is just like everyone else (Lee
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Primary Evidence: Atticus killed Tim the dog so that his family and Cal would be safe and not get attacked (Lee 96).
2. Interpretation: Mockingbirds are very territorial, which Atticus shows when he tries to protect Jem and Scout from the dangers of not only people, but animals.
C. Claim: Atticus also shows courage especially when he represents a black man in a racist town.
1. Primary Evidence: “I’m simply defending a negro- his name is Tom Robinson” (Lee 75).
2. Interpretation: Mockingbirds try to bring joy and help others no matter what and this situation shows that Atticus holds those qualities.
III. Topic Sentence: Boo Radley is misjudged, but he is giving and protective which is why he resembles a mockingbird.
A. Claim: Boo is misjudged because of his teenage actions that were years ago.
1. Primary Evidence: Jem tells Scout that he thinks that Boo stays in his house because Boo knows that if he was to be seen in public he would be judged by Maycomb citizens (Lee 227).
2. Interpretation: Like a mockingbird, Boo is misjudged and people are scared that he will harm them, but he is actually innocent and loving.
B. Claim: Boo radley is a loving giving man who likes to bring joy to
Contrary to Mr. Arthur Radley, also known as Boo, being considered the mockingbird of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, it is Mr. Tom Robinson who is the true mockingbird of the novel. Atticus Finch says to his children, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird,” (Lee, p. 98). Atticus tells his children this because a mockingbird does not do any harm to you, but the mockingbird brings songs and joys, consequently is a sin if one were to take it away. Tom Robinson fits the role as the mockingbird that Atticus provides for his children. With this symbolism of Tom Robinson and a mockingbird in place, the use of symbolism in the novel is a literary masterpiece, with compelling and accurate relationships between characters, animals, and symbols.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are both symbolized as the mockingbird. The first person who was inferred as a mockingbird was Boo Radley. Boo Radley is recognized as one of the mockingbirds of the story because he has not done anything horrible. Scout talks to Miss Maudie about the rumors she has heard about Boo and Miss Maudie says that he has not done any of those rumors. The only other person who claims she has seen Boo doing something bad was Miss Stephanie who has a very big mouth.
A Mockingbird is a powerful symbol of goodness. A mockingbird is a type of bird that mimics other types of birds songs and sings beautiful songs that are peaceful, the mockingbird is a peaceful animal that doesn't cause harm or trouble and is not to be harmed, because it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, thus killing a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird the two characters that are most related to being a mockingbird would be Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is a innocent negro accused of raping Mayella Ewell towards the end of the book, we don't see much of Tom until he is accused of rape. Tom was declared guilty and sentenced to jail, although the real problem about the case is that Tom Robinson
In the story Boo Radley plays the role of Scout and Jem’s guardian angel. He watches over them and helps them when they get into trouble. In the first chapters, the kids make fun of Boo, they taunt him. All they know about him is what they have heard, that he is a crazy man. Throughout the story though, Boo proves them wrong.
Although all the evidence pointed to Tom Robinson being innocent and the only witnesses were from unreliable and changing sources he was still convicted. This is a depiction of the death of a Mockingbird, ultimately destroying innocence and purity that resided with Tom Robinson that died when he was shot as he tried to flee from his inescapable doom. Mr. Underwood, the publisher of Maycomb 's newspaper as well as a respected all of Atticus, sadly compares Tom 's death to “the senseless slaughter of songbirds...” (pg.244) stating another reference to the ever-present mockingbird
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee many characters are victims of the harsh conditions of Maycomb County. Often those who are seen to be metaphorical mockingbirds are punished the most. A mockingbird is one who only wants and attempts to do good. Characters such as Boo Radley, Jem Finch and Tom Robinson are exemplars of mockingbirds in Maycomb. In the novel it is explained by Atticus that killing a mockingbird is a sin because they do not do anything to harm to us like nesting in corncribs, or eating up the gardens, they only sing for us.
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.
To kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Mockingbirds do not cause harm or trouble; in fact their only purpose is to convince others with beautiful music. Tom Robinson’s death can easily be compared to that of a mockingbird; it did no good but also prevented no evil. Mr. Underwood chooses to write an article that basically every citizen of Maycomb can understand, and this proves to the reader the obvious connection between Tom Robinson and the symbol of a mockingbird. Mr. Underwood chooses to ignore the prominent racial barrier that separated Tom Robinson from justice, and chooses to focus on his disability instead.
In our society, innocent people, known as mockingbirds, experience prejudice in their lives. A/T: In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Background: Tom Robinson is a black person who’s was accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell which he has never done. For this reason, Atticus Finch was appointed to be his lawyer. As a result, Atticus takes a stand for him by approving his case and standing up for him, but Tom was still found guilty.
The mockingbird in To Kill A Mockingbird is symbolic of innocence. Early in the novel, Atticus, the father tells the children Scout and Jem that it is a "sin to kill a mockingbird". Later Scout asks Miss Maudie what he meant by that because she has never heard her father say anything was a sin. Miss Maudie explains his reasoning by saying that all mockingbirds do is provide beautiful music. They do not harm anyone, they don't bother anyone, and they "sing their hearts out for us."
Mockingbirds never bring harm to anybody. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Atticus Finch resemble mockingbirds because they never bring harm to anybody. Boo Radley is prejudged because he never came out of his domicile. Boo Radley never brought harm to anybody, he just choose to stay in his domicile and never come out. Tom Robinson is prejudged because he has black skin and not white skin.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is a metaphor for Tom Robinson. While mockingbirds are discussed in the novel as literal birds that harmlessly sing and entertain, Lee clearly uses the mockingbird to symbolize Tom Robinson. One reason that supports this idea is a Robinson is a innocent man who tried to help someone but then was convicted of rape. Another reason that supports the metaphor is Tom, the innocent songbird, was put on trial for his life and was convicted guilty. This inhuman action of murdering an innocent and harmless man who wanted to help is like the killing of a harmless songbird.both are innocent, and both murders are wrong.
Boo Radley represents one of the “mockingbirds” in the book, and a mockingbird is someone that is pure and innocence in the world. He is a good person that is hurt by the evil of mankind. In a lot of ways, Boo Radley might have have wanted to stay shut up in his house after seeing some of the awful acts that the townspeople have committed. But after seeing the Finch kids being attacked by Bob Ewell he had no choice but to leave the comfort of his own home that he has been enclosed in for so long to come out and save them. All though it would have been easier for this man to stay in his house rather than leave and then be drug into court, he did what he knew would be right and rescued the
Essay In the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, there are many important messages shown throughout the book. However the primary focus was set on racial prejudice that existed in the 1930s-1940’s in the fictional town of Maycomb County. The racism in the novel was very much a reality in 1930s-1940s America. A very good example of the racial prejudice that existed was in the courtroom during Tom Robinson’s trial, an innocent Negro man held against his will for a crime he did not commit.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley are two characters who represent the mockingbird. In the midst of finding who Boo truly is, Atticus Finch explains to his children, Jem and Scout, that it is a sin to kill the bird because they don’t do anything but make music. As the story progresses, and the two “mockingbirds” are being accused and attacked both verbally and physically, the identity of the mockingbirds surfaces. Tom Robinson was a crippled African American man whose left arm was a foot shorter than his right, where it was caught in a cotton gin.