To Kill a Mockingbird: How Symbolism Reinforces Important Ideas

Essay To kill a Mockingbird – Analyse how symbolism refers to reinforce important ideas.

Harper Lee has used symbolism broadly all throughout the novel of ‘To kill a Mockingbird’. A great deal of the story refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. The symbol, which was prominent to me, was the scene of the mad dog in chapter 10. This symbol of the dog in the scene really reinforces the ideas of good vs. evil, and courage. The scene shows Atticus is the good and the dog is the evil inside their community.

The incident involving the dog, Tim Robinson, is a powerful symbol for one of the key themes in the novel, good vs. evil. The mad dog has become mindless, uncontrollable and dangerous, so it is necessary to shoot it. This is a symbol for Maycomb society, and more specifically, the prejudice/evil, which exists within it. Prejudice is mindless and dangerous, and is engraved in the minds of most people in Maycomb throughout their lives, because they are constantly surrounded by it. As Tim Robinson wonders through the streets, people retreat inside their houses, boarding windows and locking doors, refusing to confront the danger outside. This symbolizes their moral laziness, rather than seeing the bad things in their own society, they are oblivious, and refuse to confront their own prejudiced ways. Atticus is the only one who steps up to confront the mad dog, and he is also the only one who stands up against prejudice. We see this later in the book by his defense of the innocent Tom Robinson in the face of a narrow-minded jury. The message Harper Lee is trying to convey is that prejudice must be ended. The person attempting to stop prejudice is Atticus, a highly honorable man who sees through the prejudice by which he is enclosed in. In a way, Atticus is lashing out at the evil in the Maycomb society, showing he will stand up to it and face it head on. Not only is Atticus attempting to protect Maycomb people from a mad dog, but also from the mindless prejudice, which exists within them.

Another idea that is reinforced by the scene of the mad dog is courage. The courage from Atticus is shown because he steps up by taking the rifle and shooting the mad dog, effectively trying to shoot away the evil and prejudice in Maycomb society. That courage shown by Atticus has an effect on the children as well. They learn that ‘courage is not a man holding a gun.’ Atticus tries to teach the children that shooting an animal or human does not show bravery, and that it is easy to appear brave if you have the advantage offered by a weapon. By learning of Atticus’s skill with a rifle, the children initially find it very difficult to understand why Atticus does not hunt animals and take advantage of his skills. The words of Maudie Atkinson, however, help them to understand. Ms Maudie explains that ‘God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things,’ and that he therefore ‘decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to.’ Hearing these words has an impact on the children, they learn how courage is still needed to do things that you believe in even if you have the ability to do it.

The mad dog incident and its consequences is a key moment in the moral purpose of the story. Atticus believes in equality and stands up to the evil invading in his community, by shooting the mad dog Tim Robinson. The symbolism of the mad dog really makes the ideas of good vs. evil and courage prominent.