"Only Children Weep"

“Only Children Weep”
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Innocence can be described in a variety of ways, all depending on perspective. To some people, innocence may signify those who have not been tainted by immorality. To others, innocence may be defined as someone who has not been corrupted by the harsh truth of reality and their surroundings. In a more literal sense, innocence is being free of guilt in regards to legal matters and crime. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates how genuinely innocent people can be targeted and dismissed as something that they truly are not. Harper Lee uses the symbol of a mockingbird to represent many characters in the book. A mockingbird symbolizes something innocent that provides nothing but positivity to its surroundings. Miss Maudie explains, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy… they don’t do one thing but sing their heart out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (10.90.Lee) One of the characters from the novel who can clearly be seen as symbolizing the mockingbird is Tom Robinson. Tom was charged and convicted of raping a white girl. There was no evidence against Tom, he was charged and punished basically because he was black. Secondly, Boo Radley is viewed by everyone in Maycomb as a ‘monster’, even though he has never done anything to give people that view of him. Boo (Arthur) Radley has suffered abuse most of his life from family, no one ever sees him. The townspeople of Maycomb, instead of trying to understand or help Boo, have spread mean gossip about him and dehumanized him regardless of his timid and caring nature. Lastly, Atticus Finch is a wonderful father and well renowned lawyer in Maycomb. People start turning their backs on him when they realize that he is defending a black man. These characters are all prime examples of how this symbol of a mockingbird was used by Harper Lee. It helped to exhibit how social inequity truly affects people’s lives and innocence. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley and Atticus Finch are all punished, in one way or another, for no other reason than their blatantly harmless nature. Racial segregation and discrimination is the most prevalent form of social injustice in the small town of Maycomb. The separation between races is made very evident throughout the novel. Some of the clearest examples of the social injustices that occur in Maycomb involve Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was unjustly accused of raping a white girl. Mayella Ewell lives with her family and they are extremely poor. Most of the work in the household falls to Mayella, who is the eldest child. Her father is often not around and has a severe drinking problem. During the trial Tom testifies that he frequently assisted Mayella with outside work that needed to be done, simply because of his kind and generous nature. Tom Robinson had a very kind and giving soul, along with an innocent mind, it is very evident that raping Mayella, or anyone, was not something Tom was capable of. Tom exclaims to Atticus “Mr. Finch I tried, I tried to thout bein ugly to her. I didn’t want to be ugly…” (19.195.Lee). In this quote Tom shows genuine concern for Mayella and showcases his non aggressive attempts to stop Mayella from making sexual advances towards him. Tom is viewed by everyone as a gentle, hardworking and well respected family man . Out of compassion, Tom does many good deeds around his community which further proves that his intentions with Mayella were simply out of empathy. Additionally, not only was Tom innocent in the raping of Mayella, he was truly trying to protect her from her real rapist, who happens to be her father. During the trial, Tom made a huge mistake, by expressing his sympathy for Mayella and the way she had to live. “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-” (19.197.Lee) Tom felt compelled to help Mayella with some household chores, he was a good man and felt badly she had to do all the work herself. Tom pitied Mayella because of her miserable living conditions, just like anyone else would, so helped her as often as possible. Nobody could deal with a black man feeling pity for a white girl, because black people were viewed as so far beneath white people, regardless of social standing. Ultimately this statement solidified the jury’s decision to convict Tom on the rape charges. Tom making that statement made many in Maycomb angry because it came across as a suggestion that white skin does not automatically make someone superior to someone whose skin is black. As a result, Tom Robinson never truly had a chance; he was basically a dead man walking. Despite overwhelming evidence supporting Tom’s innocence, everyone knew that the Ewells were going to get what they wanted, simply because of the colour of their skin. “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (25.241.Lee) Tom was convicted and late murdered while trying to escape jail. The tragic ending to his story is devastating considering he was a loving family man, a loyal churchgoer, and over all undeniably innocent. “Tom’s dead… They shot him… What was one Negro, more or less, among 200 of ‘em… we had such a good chance, I told him what I thought, but I couldn’t in truth say that we had more than a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own.” (24.235-236.Lee) Tom decided to risk his life in order to obtain the slight chance of getting out of the last place he deserved to be. His escape was nearly impossible but perhaps he felt as if he was taking control of his own fate. Atticus was doubtful of their chances on appeal. In his heart he knew the people of Maycomb would not set Tom free, even if he was innocent, simply because it was a black man accused of a crime against a white person. Tom Robinson was innocent in every way possible. Tom was punished in an unforgiveable way, and tragically his family and loved ones had to suffer as well. There was no justice in how Tom’s dignity and, ultimately, his life were taken from him. Over all, we have seen many subtle and disturbing ways of life in Maycomb. These three characters displayed acts of bravery, honesty, gentleness and simple good intention. People acknowledged their actions with plain ignorance, intolerance and cruelty. Tom Robinson was an innocent man who didn’t even get the chance to show the world his kind and empathetic nature. Boo Radley was misunderstood, viewed as a monster to be feared, and was entirely dehumanized. He was brave yet timid and very heroic when it came to his protective instincts towards Jem and Scout. Lastly, Atticus Finch was an honest man who stood up for what he believed in regardless of what he thought the outcome might be. His beliefs were contrary to the majority and he was ridiculed and treated poorly for standing up for what was right and just. Ultimately, all of these characters have endured some form of consequence or punishment for their harmless actions and intentions. Innocent people are injured or destroyed everyday through some sort of contact with cruelty and ignorance from their fellow human beings.

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1960. Print.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 9 Jun. 2013.