Tkam Mockingbird

Maycomb’s Little Mockingbirds
A mockingbird is an innocent and harmless animal yet they are sometimes vulnerable. Although, people may not realize it, but there are many human representations of mockingbirds living in society. In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, there are two main examples of these representations, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Boo Radley is a young white man who has been living in isolation while Tom Robinson, a young black man is falsely accused of raping a white woman. Innocence and judgment of both characters in the town further demonstrates who is more like a mockingbird. Throughout the story it is undeniable that Boo Radley symbolizes more of a mockingbird than Tom Robinson.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, innocence is one of many characteristics that both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley demonstrate.   In the story Boo Radley, represents innocence because he pleases the Finch children - Scout and Jem by leaving gifts for them in the hole of the oak tree. He also comforts Scout while she is watching Miss. Maudie’s house burn down.   As she speaks to her father - Atticus about understanding the current situation, Scout says “Well it’d be sorta of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (Lee 370).   At that moment she realizes the need to defend Boo Radley’s innocence from society. Like mockingbirds, Boo does not hurt anyone or anything and he likes to please and help people.   The second character who also represents a mockingbird is Tom Robinson. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell, a young white woman falsely accuses Tom of raping her. He is later convicted guilty and sent to prison. For that reason, he is innocent.   After Tom is shot seventeen times while attempting to escape prison, Mr. Underwood, the town’s newspaper editor indirectly compares Tom’s death to that of a   mockingbird. As Scout is analyzing the article she says “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children and Maycomb...