Themes In To Kill A Mockingbird

814 Words4 Pages
Stage 1 English To Kill a Mockingbird Essay, 2016 Explain why Harper Lee titled her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. What significance is there in the title in relation to characters and events in the novel? To Kill a Mockingbird is an unforgettable novel detailing the lives of townsfolk in the fictional Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. The author, Harper Lee, published this heart wrenching story in 1960 in which the events that occur originate from her personal experience at the age of 10. Lee incorporates issues such as racial inequality, social prejudice and importantly, the destruction of innocence. Amidst this story, the female protagonist named Scout along with her brother Jem, become fascinated with their intriguing neighbour, Boo Radley.…show more content…
In this novel, innocence is represented by a mockingbird. This is demonstrated when Atticus speaks to his children: “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,’ she said. ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat 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”. To Kill a Mockingbird, pg.…show more content…
Being falsely accused for raping Mayella Ewell caused his innocence to be destroyed. Tom only had the intention of helping others likewise how mockingbirds only make beautiful music, demonstrated when he states “Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her none, and neither did the chillun, and I knowned she didn’t have no nickels” (pg. 260). Tom was killed as he was declared guilty by the jury. It is evident that Tom Robinson was an innocent mockingbird being killed for no reasonable explanation other than racial injustice coexisting with prejudice within the town of Maycomb. The town was to blame for the unnecessary death of Tom Robinson, therefore being sinful. Hence, this character’s death contributed to the significance behind the title of the novel. Boo Radley’s innocence is destroyed through the discrimination that he faces by the town, displayed by the title of the novel. Portraying a mockingbird in this novel, Boo was a harmless man, however he was always the one to blame. He was considered different and was ostracized by the community, being kept isolated within his daunting home. This was demonstrated within the story as

More about Themes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document