To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

In a small southern town, small boys may grow up shooting tin cans to blue jays. But they must learn never to kill a mockingbird, whether it be bird or man. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the title refers to the killing of the innocent. This supports the theme of the novel which is that human nature is capable of the good and the ugly. These extremes, along with the people who just sit and watch make up the crises of what is “right” that plagues Maycomb. The author uses the title of the novel to represent it as a whole throughout the story.
It is a sin to kill a mockingbird. This phrase is emphasized throughout the novel and holds the structure of the theme with a sturdy grip. “Atticus said to Jem one day, ‘I’d rather you shoot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after the birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (90) Miss Maudie later stresses the importance when she tells scout “‘Mockingbirds don’t do anything but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up peoples gardens, they don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do anything but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’” (90) The mockingbirds are guilty of no crime to any man or woman, live in tranquility with the rest of the world, and represent a symbol of innocence.
Tom Robinson was a hard working, subtle, and kind man. He meant no harm and often went out of his way to help miss Ewell. Symbolically he sung for her, only to fall prey to misfortune, and in return Mr. Ewell sought to kill him. Soon, convicted guilty, Tom was spiritually wounded. Looking for a last chance at freedom, he tried to escape his fate. Tom ran for his life, and was soon shot. But his death did not come without remorse. “Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children…” (241) Tom Robinson was a mockingbird, and was senselessly killed.
Arthur Radley, otherwise known as Boo, lived a lonesome life. Deprived of his innocence when he was a young boy, he grew up in solitude. He gained the characteristics of shyness as well as a fear of people. When he saves the lives of Jem and Scout his unstoppable consequence of action was the death of Mr. Ewell. Trying to make things clear with Scout Atticus tried to explain:
‘‘’Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?’
Atticus looked like he needed cheering up. I (Scout) ran to him and hugged him and kissed him with all my might. ‘Yes sir, I understand.’ I reassured him. ‘Mr. Tate was right.’
Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. ‘what do you mean?’
‘Well, it’d be sort of like shooting a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”
Scout understands that for Boo, honoring him or ending him to court would put the spotlight on Boo. Boo strongly dislikes being in public and so the attention would figuratively kill him. To force him to endure his strongest feat after saving the lives of two children would be the equivalent of killing a mockingbird.
Throughout the novel, there is a clash of the good and the evil. And although it kills an innocent man, leaves another man dead, and causes havoc amount the people of Maycomb, a lesson is learned. Jem and Scout understand the wrongfulness of harming someone who is innocent, and it is safe to say, Jem and Scout will never take aim, to kill a mockingbird.