Mockingbirds in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

Mockingbirds in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example Mockingbirds in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Mockingbirds in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Essay Topic: To Kill a Mockingbird Woman of Colour Novel Mockingbirds are best known for their ability to mimic other species. Throughout the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the book uses the mockingbird as a symbol to illustrate one of the novel’s main themes. This essay will discuss the importance of the mockingbird as a symbol and two of the characters that embody the characteristics of being one. In the novel, mockingbirds are valued as a symbol of innocence. A proof of this was when Ms. Maudie said, â€Å"Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, they don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us† in Chapter 10, page 119. It symbolizes innocence because mockingbirds are harmless. They also do not have much of a negative impact on an individual nor the environment compared to other species. Now that we have expanded on the significance of the mockingbird, let’s learn about two of the characters that exhibited the qualities of a mockingbird. One of the characters that was likened to a mockingbird is Tom Robinson. He is an African-American, middle-aged man who was a victim of prejudice by Maycomb’s county in Alabama. Tom’s case revolved around the accusation that he would rape any white woman if given the chance because of his racial background. 231 chapter 17 On Chapter 19, page 261, Tom was asked why he fled the scene in haste. Tom explains how dangerous it is to be a â€Å"coloured† person while being seen with a white person. â€Å"I was scared, suh. If you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared too.† What Tom said is true. In Maycomb county â€Å"coloured† people are constantly reduced to be criminals, or beasts. On Chapter 17, page 231, Bob Ewell is seen saying â€Å"I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin on my Mayella† In this quote Bob Ewell views Tom as a beast by saying â€Å"ruttin† the word rutting is applied to animals, just like how talking is applied t