The Symbolism of Mockingbirds in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

• The Innocence and Goodness of Mockingbirds
• The Vulnerability of the Marginalized
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird": An Essay on Mockingbird Symbolism

You know that feeling when you read a book and something just sticks with you? Harper Lee’s novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," is one of those books. It’s all about dealing with racial injustice and growing up morally in the Deep South. And in this story, mockingbirds are more than just birds; they’re like these symbols for innocence, goodness, and how vulnerable marginalized folks can be. So, let’s dive into how mockingbirds show up in the story and what they mean.

The Innocence and Goodness of Mockingbirds

In "To Kill a Mockingbird," these birds are shown as innocent little creatures that make the world better with their songs. They're not hurting anyone. Atticus Finch, who's basically the moral heart of the book, tells his kids, Scout and Jem, that it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Why's that? It’s kinda like saying it’s wrong to mess with people who are innocent or doing good things.

Take Tom Robinson for example. He's this black guy who gets wrongly accused of raping a white woman. He’s got this kind heart, helps people out, and didn't do what he's accused of. But still, because racism runs deep in Maycomb, he gets convicted anyway. It doesn’t end well for him either—his death shows how innocence and goodness get destroyed.

Then there's Boo Radley—a guy everyone thinks is weird 'cause he stays inside all the time. The townspeople don't really get him. But as things unfold, we see Boo's actually super kind and wants to protect Scout and Jem. He even saves them from Bob Ewell's attack! Boo's just like a mockingbird too—innocent and good—and needs protecting.

The Vulnerability of the Marginalized

But there’s more to it: mockingbirds also stand for how vulnerable marginalized folks are in society. In Maycomb, African Americans like Tom face serious discrimination just 'cause they're black. They’re treated badly—second-class citizens—and don’t get justice even when it’s obvious they should.

Mayella Ewell also shows us what vulnerability looks like from another angle. She’s poor, from a messed-up family, abused by her dad—just trapped in this life full of hardship. She falsely accuses Tom to escape her own tough reality. Her actions kinda point out how people on the margins can end up both victims and creators of injustice.

So through using these birds as symbols, Harper Lee makes us think about how important it is to look out for vulnerable folks who get overlooked or mistreated by society at large.

Conclusion

"To Kill a Mockingbird" uses these little birds as big symbols—they’re about innocence, goodness, vulnerability—all that stuff tied up with being marginalized. With characters like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley showing us these traits in action—Lee really drives home why we gotta value people who bring beauty into our lives despite everything else going on around them.

The whole mockingbird thing also reminds us how dangerous prejudice can be when left unchecked—so maybe think about your own biases? Just saying! Maybe we can work toward making things fairer out there—for everyone.

Bibliography

• Lee, Harper. "To Kill a Mockingbird." HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 1960.
• Bullock-Prado, Gesine. (2016). Sugar Baby: Confections to Make You Jump for Joy–Includes Link To Video Instructions For Each Recipe!. Abrams Books.
• Kapur, Akash., & Giridharadas Anand (2013). India Becoming: A Portrait Of Life In Modern India.; Penguin Books Ltd..
• Lefcourt Peter; Oscar Season – A Novel.; Amazon Publishing.. 2015.. ISBN-13:9781477830407 .
• Perry , Phyllis Alesia & Sealy-Tubbs Dolores S.. Stigmata - A Novel ; Riverhead Hardcover;. 1998 ISBN-10 :157322097X .
• Tate Claudia .(1983). Black Women Writers At Work; Continuum Publishing Corporation;. ISBN-13 :9780935312549 .