What Are The Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

It is difficult for people to accept each other given their faults and look past them to see how great they could be. To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960 and written by Harper Lee. Authors always write novels for a reason or purpose. To Kill a Mockingbird revolves around a girl named Scout and her brother, Jem. Their father is a lawyer named Atticus who teaches them strong morals during their youth in Maycomb, Alabama. Lee sought to inspire people to exude more kindness to and not judge others. Throughout the novel, there were a few representations or symbols of the idea of showing compassion. One of these strong symbols are mockingbirds. In the novel, Atticus tells Jem an adage about how it is cruel to shoot mockingbirds because they sing for everyone and never bug them. Mockingbirds would be described as innocent and wholesome beings with that knowledge. Therefore, killing them is a sin. “‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’”(Lee 90). This phrase is only a fraction of Atticus’s relation to the purpose. Atticus, similarly to Lee, instills impartiality and respect into Scout and Jem. Without a doubt, Atticus is the most respectful and righteous character in the novel. In the 1930’s, the time period this all takes place in, there was a lot of racial
prejudice. This is evident in multiple occasions, like when Mrs. Dubose criticized Atticus for defending African Americans in court. “‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’”(102). Despite all the flak directed at him, he tries his best to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus does not care that Tom is an African American and defends him like any other person. Although in the back of his head he knows that the jury cannot see past Tom’s race. “‘In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’, the white man always wins’”(220). Atticus told this to Jem, who was still innocent and could not understand why Tom was convicted. Scout and Jem experienced Atticus’s lack of prejudice during that case. Lee was trying to influence readers to be free of judgement and be more respectful with this novel.
Mockingbirds as they are described by Atticus and Miss Maudie are very symbolic of the courteousness. The mockingbirds sing for everyone and do no harm to them. Atticus himself is a very respectful and non judgemental person. During the court case, he defends Tom to the best of his ability, although he knows about the court system is prejudiced for the most part and no matter what he does Tom will most likely be convicted. What would this novel be like if it was in the present day? Would Atticus be so inclined to teach his children to be
courteous?