Preview

Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
874 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird
A lesson taught by Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird is that you should never kill a mockingbird because they only create music and harm nothing. What Atticus meant by this is that you should never hurt an innocent person no matter the situation. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird the mockingbird symbolizes all that is innocent and all that is harmless in society. Harper Lee uses two characters to show the innocence in people and to show how this innocence is often killed: Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. The theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, that often the innocent are harmed by the wicked unjustly and intentionally, only to be saved by the brave and intelligent, who try hard to show society who these people really are is clearly articulated throughout the novel by the use of the symbolism of the mockingbird infused in the …show more content…
Tom Robinson has never hurt a person in his life and he is most definitely considered a mockingbird and is definitely killed in this novel unjustly. Scout is going to “mash” the bug but Jem would not allow it and says, ‘“[do not kill it if it does not] bother you’ [… Jem] was never cruel to animals but I had never known is charity to embrace the insect world” (238). This passage is right after the court case and because Jem has just witnessed a mockingbird (Tom Robinson) being killed he relates Tom to the bug, but Jem has never been kind to insects before. The reason Jem is so eager to have Scout not kill the bug is because Tom Robinson was just “killed” by being proven guilty at the trial and Jem sees that Tom was so innocent and is a mockingbird who does not deserve death so he shows his feelings for Tom on
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Innocent Quotes In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Innocent Quotes In To Kill A Mockingbird

    An innocent black man charged for raping a white woman- the trial that teaches Jean Louise “Scout” Finch about society’s prejudice. In the Great Depression, slavery had ended but blacks were still segregated and treated as less than whites. Therefore, blacks were stereotyped as untrustworthy, evil, and savage, especially around white women. The symbolism of the sinful killing of an innocent is shown throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird through the use of simile, the corrupt justice system taking away the naiveté of children, and the comparison of Boo Radley.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    The book To Kill a Mockingbird has many different themes. One that really stood out to me was Childhood Innocence, because the story is written from Scout’s point of view it portrays her childish and immature thoughts towards all of the events that happen in her life. Not only is Scout childish at times her brother Jem and her friend Dill also show irresponsible actions through the games they choose to play and the way they react to different things such as getting in trouble or just barely getting out of a tight spot. This analysis will go into depth of the continuous example of childhood innocence throughout the book.…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
    • 218 Words
    • 1 Page

    Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    The first example of loss of innocence is seen in To Kill a Mockingbird. When Jem asked Atticus about the mob surrounding him. This was the first time that he realized that racist gangs such as the Ku Klux Klan were a threat. Jem was scared for his father because he realized that his father was in a bad situation. This is seen here: “They were after you, weren’t they?” Jem went to him. “They wanted to get you, didn’t they?” ( Lee 146). During the 1930’s the idea of equal rights between different ethnicities was very popular. This affected almost everyone's life. Throughout the book the reader can see both Jem and Scout become more familiar with the idea of racism. As they learned more about it, they also developed their own theories and stances…

    • 218 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    As a young child, it is important to enjoy our childhood and the memorable factors that come along with it. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, a child is stripped away for her innocence, and experiences many hardships. Growing up in the real world and experiencing different situations is when the loss of innocence occurs. Scout experiences many different stuff, one of them being Tom Robinson's trial.…

    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Looking from another perspective, innocence is valuable, because if one has their innocence, then they still have a pure heart and a clear mind. Dill was very upset in how Mr. Gilmer was treating Tom, and started to cry. Him and Scout went outside where scout told him, well he is just a negro you know. Dill argued, he does not care, it is not right to do him that way. They found Mr. Raymond, who they thought was the town drunk, but only pretended to be one so people did not question why he was in love with a colored women.…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Innocent In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Innocent In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Some individuals say people are innocent until proven guilty. This is not the case for everybody. For example, in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird there are two characters, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley who are thought of badly by some of the people because they are different than the norm. Due to the fact that Boo and Tom are different then the rest, people tend to jump to conclusions. They assume that they are guilty before they are proven guilty.…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird Loss Of Innocence Analysis
    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird Loss Of Innocence Analysis

    Mockingbirds are a symbol for innocence this is something Miss Maudie and Atticus explain to Jem and Scout “ it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’” ( Page 119 ) Scout has never heard her father say anything was a sin, so she asked Miss Maudie why it’s a sin to shoot a mockingbird and she responds “‘ Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat don’t up people’s gardens, 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.’” Tom Robinson is like a mockingbird in the way of he does nothing but help Mayella Ewell with nothing in return “She gave me the hatchet and I broke up the chiffarobe. She said, ‘I reckon I’ll hafta give you a nickel, won’t I?’ an’ I said, No ma’am, there ain’t no charge.’ Then I went home.’” (Page 225) Tom Robinson talks about how he didn’t even charge for his kind deeds just like the mockingbird does nothing but sing for nothing in return. The innocence is lost when Tom Robinson is shot just like how when you kill a mockingbird you lose the innocence of the mockingbird “‘What’s the matter?’ Aunt Alexandra asked, alarmed by the look on my father’s face. ‘Tom’s dead.’ Aunt Alexandra put her hands to her mouth. ‘They shot him,’”.( Page 315 ) The way Scout sees Alexandra find out about Tom’s death shows how much they were affected by him dying and how they felt they had lost someone important who did not deserve to die just like in a way one would lose the innocent mockingbird because they have done nothing wrong. That's another way Harper Lee demonstrates the theme : "you can never stop the loss of…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Is The Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Is The Loss Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Even in the pages before To Kill a Mockingbird, the author includes a quote preluding to the loss of innocence throughout the story. Charles Lamb said, “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once,” (Lee) I believe Harper Lee chose to include this quote before the story started to lead into the theme of children losing their innocence. Through this quote she insinuates that the heartless people we have in society today (not necessarily lawyers) were once innocent children. Basically, throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee implies that children lose their innocence as they are confronted with difficulties such as runaways, prejudice, and attempted murders.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird Loss Of Innocence Analysis
    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird Loss Of Innocence Analysis

    Tom was accused of raping and assaulting Mayella Ewell, when in truth is innocent. The town sins by incorrectly charging him and sentencing him to death. Mr. Underwood disapproves of the punishment, “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children,” (128). Atticus tells Scout that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird; Scout was confused on why he would say that so she went to Miss Maudie. Miss Maudie explains, “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,”(49) Tom Robbinson follows that description very easily; there was no reason for him to be sentenced to death as he did not do any…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Essay
    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Essay

    During part two of To Kill a Mockingbird, the writer introduces a young African American named Tom Robinson, a kindhearted man who occasionally stops at the Ewell’s house to help Mayella Ewell with chores. One day, Mayella kisses him, but her father viciously accuses Tom of rape when in reality, Tom does nothing to harm anyone at all. During the trial when Tom is being asked questions he admits: “[Mayella] [l]ooked like she didn’t have nobody to help her [... ,] I felt right sorry for her [Mayella], she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-.” (Lee 264) Because of his innocence, Tom sees the difficult life that Mayella lives, and he helps her do the harder chores. Unfortunately, due to his innocence, he falls into a trap where he is left vulnerable and unprotected from Bob Ewell’s wrongdoings. The townspeople target at the color of his skin and discriminate against him regardless of the truth beneath the surface. As a result, he is mistakenly accused and sentenced to die for the crime he has never committed. Thus, Bob Ewell deals the ultimate sin of killing Tom Robinson, who is a mockingbird. Overall, because Tom’s innocence leaves him more vulnerable than others, he is…

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Examples Of Judgement In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 1585 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Examples Of Judgement In To Kill A Mockingbird

    The two characters resemble mockingbirds in the way that they are harmless because they never caused trouble for anybody. Boo Radley can be compared to the harmless mockingbird described by Atticus and Mrs. Maudie. Mrs. Maudie says, “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 (119).” Thus, Boo Radley and mockingbirds are alike as Boo never hurts anyone and primarily keeps to himself. Scout says, “Boo doesn’t mean anybody harm, but I’m glad you’re along (251).” He does nothing to really hurt anyone and always tries to search for love and friendship from others. He is shown to be kind towards others as he saves the lives of the Finch kids and places a blanket around Scout when it was cold outside. It is a sin to kill a Mockingbird that just sings for people’s enjoyment as it’s considered a sin to judge people by outside things. Similar to Boo Radley and mockingbirds, Tom never harms a soul. He risks his own safety by helping Mayella because of the true kindness of his heart and desire to help someone in need. During the trial, Mr. Link Deas says, “That boy’s worked for me eight years an’ I ain’t had a speck o’ trouble outa him. (261).” People assume that of course any…

    • 1585 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird Justice Quotes
    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill A Mockingbird Justice Quotes

    “They don’t eat up peoples gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out…That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses a mockingbird to symbolize justice, innocence, and courage. These characteristics can be found in Tom, Atticus, and Boo throughout this novel. Even with all the evil in the world, innocence, justice, and courage can prevail.…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Salem Witch Trials In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Salem Witch Trials In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Between 1692 and 1693, twenty innocent citizens’ lost their lives in one community. These people were put on trial and given the choice to plead guilty or they die trying to prove their innocence. These trials were the Salem Witch Trials. Convicting those innocent citizens can be viewed as killing a mockingbird; mockingbirds are innocent and they don’t harm anyone. This is exactly what Harper Lee showed in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee uses characters that have had innocence stripped from them and indirectly compares them to a mockingbird. The mockingbird was used as a symbol of innocence they don’t harm anyone in anyway. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence to compare the corruption of society forced upon Tom Robinson, Jeremy Finch, and Arthur Radley to killing a mockingbird.…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Theme Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
    • 74 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Theme Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    In to Kill A Mockingbird, the theme is to destroy the innocent. To destroy innocence demonstrates that not everything is good and pure. There are evil things in the world. The story is narrated in a child's perspective where they don't understand some things. Scout felt pity for Boo Radley which helps the reader. Scouts pity for Boo Radley helped us to understand that sometimes we have to feel bad for the less…

    • 74 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird: Innocence Essay Example
    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird: Innocence Essay Example

    While examining the term, "the end of innocence", Scout's viewpoint on Boo throughout the novel can be an indication of Scout's own "end of innocence."…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics