Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, someone says a phrase that will not be repeated again in the book but continues on in it as an underlying theme. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, Atticus states this and when he does he is not just talking about birds. He is also talking about people and objects. He uses a mockingbird as a metaphor of innocence. This innocence represents Scout, Tom Robinson, and even “Boo” Radley. Atticus may not have directed this quote towards these people but they are included in it. Scout is seen as a mockingbird to the reader during the Tom Robinson trial, Tom Robinson is also seen as a mockingbird during his trial, and finally “Boo” Radley is seen as a mockingbird throughout
They are picked on because their father, Atticus, is defending Tom Robinson. For example, when Scout is at school, Cecil Jacob, a student, begins taunting Scout by saying, “Scout Finches daddy defended niggers” (Lee, pg.74). Scout has done nothing to Cecil so she is innocent, but he still picks on her. This makes Scout a mockingbird because of Scouts innocence. Scout is also made into a mockingbird indirectly because of the trial. When Ms.Dubose talked about Scout and Jem‘s father this indirectly hurt Scout by angering Jem. For example Ms. Dubose is insulting Scout and Jem’s family and says, “Your father is no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee pg.102). later as Scout and Jem are passing the house of Ms.Dubose Scout states “For a few minutes he simply went mad….he did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Ms.Dubose owned……By that time I was shrieking, Jem yanked my hair, said he didn’t care, he’d do it again if he got a chance, and if I didn’t shut up he’d pull every hair out of my head, I didn’t shut up and he kicked me.”(Lee pg.102-103). This quote states that Scout was innocent and didn’t do anything wrong but was still harmed. This proves two things, the first is that Scout is a metaphorical mockingbird and the second is scout
During the trial it is proven clear that not many people like the fact that Atticus is defending Tom. Atticus was called names, assaulted and confronted without a valid reason. The only reason he was confronted was because he was doing his job. He had not done anything wrong to anyone only good to Tom by trying to help him. This is why Atticus is seen as a mockingbird through out the book. For example, Scout states in the book, “Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him.”(Lee pg.217). This makes Atticus a mockingbird because he is innocent and did nothing to harm Mr. Ewell but Mr. Ewell went on and cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him. Another way Atticus is made into a mockingbird is the way people talk about him. For example Francis calls Atticus a “nigger-lover” (Lee pg.83) and even Ms. Dubose calls Atticus “…no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”(Lee pg.102). Atticus hasn’t harmed or said anything to harm them and he is still lashed at with harsh words. In Atticus’s context I believe Atticus is a true