Atticus is a man well-driven by principles and moral convictions. One of his philosophies is 'it's a sin to kill a mockingbird'. This reflects his belief that all persons must be equally respected and treated indifferently. He says 'mockingbirds just sing, they don't bother anybody'. Atticus believes that when a person is trying to do a service to someone, tryin to help persons, or trying to help himself, it is a great injustice to try to destroy the person's lifestyle just because someone does not appreciate it. One character who can be considered a mockingbird is Boo Radley. He is a citizen of Maycomb, who hardly associates with neighbors. He keeps himself shut in from the community of Maycomb, but everal persons, including atticus' children feel that he should come out of his house and assume a more social attitude.
Tom Robinson is also a mockingbird, who, through trying to help a white lady, Mayella Ewell, sparks a great outrage in Maycomb County. He is wrongly accused of raping her, and blindly accused because of the racism in Maycomb. Many turn a blind eye towards his innocence, and don't have the courage to stand up for values. Atticus is called to defend Tom, and this lawyer is the only person fit to get rid of the evil of prejudice and plague of racism. he is the only person courageous enough to do so efficiently. By shooting the dog, he is symbolically 'killing' the evils of prejudice.
Simply because of his colour, the black man Tom Robinson is being tried for a crime he has not committed, and Atticus' principles lead him to try to end Maycomb's immoral and unjust beliefs.
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