What makes To Kill a Mocking Bird an appropriate title?

What makes “To Kill a Mockingbird” such an appropriate title?
The mockingbird is seen as the most significant symbol in the book as it is continually repeated through literal and metaphorical means. This poignant motif runs through the entire book as it foreshadows the events which occurs in the latter part of the book. It seems very fitting because of the unnecessary destruction of innocence by the antagonists of the book.
The first reference to mockingbirds aside from the title of the novel is in chapter 10 where Atticus tells Scout and Jem: “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (chapter 10 page 99) after he gives them air rifles as presents for Christmas. Scout, confused and perturbed at non-judgemental Atticus calling anything a sin, decides to consult Miss Maudie to find the meaning behind these words. Miss Maudie replies by saying: “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (chapter 10 page 99-100) These words introduces the important but unfortunately most ignored moral of the book: you should not persecute the innocent. This again foreshadows the immoral actions against the innocent which happens later in the novel.
Furthermore the mockingbird as a creature in itself, has many connections with the characters and events of the book. It is a type of finch, hence Atticus’s surname: “Finch” and some species of mockingbirds are endangered, marking Atticus as protector of the mockingbirds by trying to sing Tom’s song of truth to the people of Maycomb. He also does no harm to anyone and does good to people where possible no matter their race or gender much like a mockingbird. A prime example of a person that Atticus shows his goodness to, although she is black and a woman, is Calpurnia, she is still treated with courtesy and is respected as a “faithful member of the family” (chapter 14 page 150) reflecting Atticus’s benevolence to everyone. To further reinforce this point, Calpurina originally came from Finch’s Landing so she from a slave stock, however, despite this she is again held in high regard by Atticus.
Moreover, the fact that some mockingbirds are endangered also conveys to the reader that there is a limited space for innocence. This is due to the fact that at the time, there were tensions between North America and South America as a result of the civil war. The South Americans never forgave the North American Yankees for ruining the economy, destroying their beautiful homes and they were angry about the legal reforms which stopped slavery. Consequently, the Southerners created a brutal system with institutional racism as seen in Maycomb where the white people were able to keep control of the black people by for example: juries being biased against black men which is illustrated in the novel with Tom Robinson’s case and black people being prevented from buying land. Subsequently, in the novel the protagonist, Scout and Jem had to have their innocence taken away from them prematurely after witnessing the sensitive nature of the trial and having to develop tolerance to the unpleasant remarks made to them such as “nigger-lover” (chapter 9 page 93) Furthermore, mockingbirds are most vocal from March to August which mirrors the most active parts of the book with Dill coming from Meridan and events such as the much anticipated trial. Southern Mockingbirds are small and plain so that nobody would be able to guess just by looking at the bird, that it can have such a pleasant voice. This reinforces the prejudice theme with the fact that you cannot judge a person just by looking at them, another important theme of the book and refers closely to Atticus’s teaching to Scout earlier in the book: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around it.” In this case, the repeated use of mockingbirds augurs Scout’s eventual understanding of Atticus’s words at the end of the book when she sees the neighbourhood in a different angle as she puts herself into Boo Radley’s shoes in the porch of the Radley Place and tries to look at things from his perspective rather than her own.
In addition, the mockingbird resembles greatly to two characters of the novel: Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Both men are innocent and victims of prejudice: Tom Robinson’s is wrongly accused and convicted of rape although Atticus draws attention to his weakened left arm, making it extremely unlikely that he would have caused Mayella to get a black right eye and Boo Radley innocent of the evil persona which he is associated with due to the prejudice in the Maycomb society who is supposedly a “malevolent phantom” who “committed” all the “stealthy crimes… in Maycomb.” (chapter 1 page 9) However, by the end of the book Scout and Jem realise that he is in fact a vulnerable man, his growth has been stunted by being locked up in the Radley Place which is revealed to the reader when he needs Scout to escort him back to his house which is indicated by the childish words: “Will you take me home?” (chapter 31 page 306) Furthermore both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson show kindness, Boo to the children by leaving them gifts at their disposal in the knot hole of the tree, by looking out for the children such as when he wraps a blanket around Scout’s shoulders during the fire and helping the children in the attack against them by Robert Ewell and Tom Robinson also shows kindness, by doing favours for Mayella Ewell. Additionally, both characters are imprisoned and potentially vulnerable. Tom is imprisoned as he is wrongly accused of rape and he is killed as a result of people’s prejudice. Likewise, Boo Radley is imprisoned in the house to protect him from people’s prejudice is exposed, as Heck Tate, Atticus and Scout recognise at the end of the novel.
Moreover, there are a lot of references to the mockingbird motif before poignant moments of the novel such as before Atticus shoots the mad dog Tim Robson, the “mockingbirds were silent.” (chapter 10 page 105) In this way the mockingbirds are alluded to lurking in the background, subsequently building up anticipation and suspense to the climatic event where Tim Robson is shot, foreshadowing the death of Tom Robinson as the names of the two characters are similar. Furthermore, the “mockingbirds were still” (chapter 21 page 232) where again this familiar figure is in the background waiting for the Jury’s verdict on Tom Robinson’s case. As Tom Robinson is one of the predominant symbols of a mockingbird, it is almost as if all the other mockingbirds which could be portrayed as Tom’s wife, Helen and the children are waiting with the apprehension to find out the fate of one of their own. The mockingbird motif is also connoted in Mr Underwood’s article after Tom Robinson’s death where he describes the death to a “senseless slaughter of songbirds.” (chapter 25 page 265) For the first time, Tom Robinson is referred to as a mockingbird by another character. This gives a sense of hope to the reader as they realise that the Maycomb community are slowly beginning to learn the consequences of persecuting the innocent and the evil in their racist ways. In addition, there is the presence of a “solitary mocker” (chapter 28 page 281) which foreshadows that appearance of Boo Radley as he helps the children out in Bob Ewell’s (the bluejay in this case) attack against them. Finally, Scout identifies that exposing Boo to the public would be “sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird.” The second direct association of Boo Radley to a mockingbird further reinforces him as a symbol of innocence. These direct associations effectively link the mockingbird motif to the events of the story.
As well as the direct associations, there are the more subtle yet important indirect associations of events to the book and the title. The children mock Boo’s life as they play games and try to imitate it. Mayella Ewell accuses Atticus of mocking her as she protests: “Won’t answer a word you say long as you keep mockin’ me.” (chapter 18 page 200) linking back to the title. Finally, the whole trial is a mockery of justice as Tom Robinson gets convicted of a crime he did not do even when the evidence was clearly laid out to the jury.
To conclude, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is such an appropriate title for the novel because the title refers so closely to the events and characters of the book in a variety of different ways whether it is literally, metaphorically, directly or indirectly. Thus, making the book more of an enjoyable experience to reader for the reader.