The Mockingbird has a very deep and powerful meaning in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. It represents peacefulness, innocence and kindness which is portrayed through the characters of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. The mockingbird's influence can also be applied to the relationships between humans. The Mockingbird is a powerful symbol that echoes a strong meaning throughout the novel.
Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson and Boo Radley as figures to represent the mockingbird. When Atticus tells Jem and Scout that it is a sin to kill the mockingbird, this refers to the actions directed toward Tom and Boo. It was a sin to dislike Tom and Boo based on what others say about them. They were punished by the people in Maycomb because they did not have their own voice, like a mockingbird doesn’t have its own song. There are many people in society without their own voice and Lee is trying to prove why it is wrong to ‘kill’ or punish those without a voice and deny them the opportunity to have one. Upon meeting Boo after he saved her life, through Scout’s realisation that it was wrong to assume evil things about Boo Radley, Lee is showing us why we shouldn’t pre-judge and realise what one person says is an opinion, not a fact. However through Maycomb’s unfair treatment of Tom she presents us with how unjust society and their opinions can be, a mockingbird was shot and that was truly a sin.
Boo Radley, represents the mockingbird in the novel. It is made clear when Atticus and Miss Maudie explain that you should never kill a mockingbird because all it does is sing beautiful songs and never hurts anyone. Boo Radley is like a mockingbird as he never hurts anyone and primarily keeps to himself. Lee displays how the townsfolk ‘kill’ Boo Radley by persecuting and ridiculing him in society simply because he is shy and does not leave his house. Lee uses this to demonstrate