To Kill a Mockingbird

Jenn Somers

Ms. Gonsalves

ENG 1D1 P4

May 9th, 2011

“To Kill A Mockingbird”

Mockingbirds are harmless birds that make the world a pleasant place. They only create beautiful music making it a sin to kill them. In the novel, Atticus Finch explains to Jem and Scout that they can shoot all the blue jays they want but if they hit a mockingbird, it is a sin. In “To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson symbolize mockingbirds. It is a sin that these people are hurt because they are always kind to the people around them. The society of Maycomb judges these three men harshly and spreads lies that hurts them. Before Boo, Atticus or Tom can be judged, people need to get to know them and understand where they are coming from before they form an opinion about them.

The first character to symbolize a mockingbird is Arthur Radley who is also known as Boo. He is a symbol of a mockingbird because he acts admirably however he is still ridiculed by the society of Maycomb and is used as a scapegoat. Boo sees Jem and Scout as his children and that is why he cares for them so greatly. As Scout is walking home from school one day, her words show that Boo Radley is a kind man. “Something about one of the trees attracted my attention. Some tinfoil was sticking out of a knothole just above my eye level, winking at me in the afternoon sun. I stood on tip-toe, hastily looked around once more, reached into the hole, and withdrew two pieces of chewing gum minus their outer wrappers.” (Lee 44) This is one of the first indications that Boo Radley wants to be friendly toward the children. By leaving simple, thoughtful gifts for them, it becomes clear that Boo is a good person and does not mean any harm. This changes Jem and Scout’s feelings toward Boo. Scout does not know the gifts are from Boo, although Jem is suspicious. Throughout the novel, Scout begins to realize that Jem is correct. Another time when Boo is seen as a mockingbird is when Miss Maudie’s house catches on fire. Jem and Scout stand and watch the blazing fire from a distance. When Atticus comes over, he asks Scout where she got the blanket.  Both Scout and Jem did not realize the blanket was on her. Later on, Jem tells Atticus about Scout’s encounters with Boo Radley. Atticus says they should keep the blanket so that Scout can thank him one day. “Thank who?” Scout asked. “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you,” Atticus says. My stomach turned to water and I nearly threw up when Jem held out the blanket and crept towards me. “He sneaked out of the house-turn ‘round- sneaked up, an’ went like this!” (Lee 96) This shows how Boo is a mockingbird because even though Scout was frightened to hear that Boo Radley was only inches away from her, she is beginning to realize how this man is trying to protect and befriend her. After Scout realizes the blanket is from Boo, Scout begins to sympathize with Boo. Furthermore, Boo is referred to as a kind, harmless man is near the end of the novel. Scout learns a lesson from her father and develops the understanding of Boo Radley. “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing in the Radley porch was enough.” (Lee 374)  Standing on the porch allows Scout to finally see the world from Boo Radley’s point of view. At the beginning of the novel, she was terrified every time she went by his house. As she stands on the porch, she recognizes how much she has learned in the past few years. Now, she can feel how Boo must have felt every day having the town tell rumors about him while he stayed in his house. Clearly, Boo is a symbol of a mockingbird for many reasons. The town puts him down because nobody likes him while he is actually kind to the people around them. Since he never leaves his house, society never gets a chance to meet him and therefore judges him. However, Boo stays strong and ignores what people say to him while continuing to be a thoughtful, bighearted man, symbolizing a mockingbird.