Symbolism of Prejudice in to Kill a Mockingbird - 1972 Words

Analyse how symbolism was used to convey an interesting idea in an extended written text Prejudice, in the 1930s, was an extremely relevant issue regarding the racism that was present throughout society – particularly in the south of the United States, which is where the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is set. Through the course of the novel, Harper Lee conveys the idea of prejudice to the reader in a variety of forms – mostly by use of symbolism. The most powerful examples of this symbolism are the use of the term ‘mockingbird’ - which is used to symbolise someone who does no wrong in the world, Boo Radley – who is a symbol of how communities and individuals can promote and maintain prejudice, and lastly the Snowman created by Jem – which†¦show more content†¦Due to the fact that both Jem and Scout are young, innocent characters, they have no other thoughts other than to assume that the terrifying stories of Boo Radley are true, and so from that they derive the games to make Boo Radley emerge from his house, all the while Bo o is actually watching the children’s antics from within his sanctuary. This all explains how the symbolism of Boo Radley portraying idle gossip conveys the interesting idea of prejudice, as people, including Jem and Scout, make pre-judgements of a person, in this case Boo Radley, based solely on the stories and mistruths that are weaved by people within a community, and how those stories get exaggerated the longer they go on for. As the novel progresses, both Jem and Scout are shown to mature, this is due to To Kill A Mockingbird being a bildungsroman novel. Through this coming of age process, we are actually shown Jem’s new found maturity enabling him to find empathy and acceptance regarding the Boo Radley myths, as he finally took his father’s advice to â€Å"climb into someone else’s skin and walk around in it† when he was explaining to Scout his epiphany that he â€Å"[is] beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut in his house all this time. It’s because he wants to stay inside.† This shows the firstShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Two Birds One Stone By Harper Lee900 Words   |  4 Pages9 March 2016 Two Birds One Stone â€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it† (Lee 30). To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a very vigorous story about the racial discrimination that was uncontrollable in 1930’s Alabama. The small town of Maycomb is segregated into two categories: white and black. They each have their own separate neighborhoods and churches. Rarely is such racism binded withRead More Symbolic Mockingbirds Essay940 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolic Mockingbirds Symbolism is used extensively in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The theme of prejudice in the novel can be best perceived through the symbol of the mockingbird. 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MockingbirdsRead MoreThe Sin in Ideology1395 Words   |  6 Pagesif you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird†(90). Atticus Finch, a guide mentor of the novel, explains this to his children after they are gifted with air rifles for Christmas. Notably, the title of this American classic, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is taken from a seemingly insignificant excerpt. However, if read carefully, the reader begins to understand that this is just one other example out of a plethora of symbolism. Set in a Depression-era Southern town, Lee featuresRead More Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay640 Words   |  3 PagesSymbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The mockingbird is a major symbol in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Harper Lee chose the mockingbird for both the title of her book and as a symbol in her book. 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Not only becauseRead MoreInjustice In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesThere’s prejudice in the news every time they cover a terror attack made by an Arab or Muslim for a week longer than a terror attack made by a white person. There’s injustice everytime courts sentence a black man to ten years for stealing while a white man is sentenced to three years for the same crime. Prejudice and injustice is everywhere, and Harper Lee emphasizes this through the symbolism and the metaphor of a mockingbird in her novel entitled To Kill a Mockingbird. The title, To Kill a MockingbirdRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee873 Words   |  4 PagesIn the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates that â€Å"it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird† throughout the novel by writing innocent characters that have been harmed by evil. Tom Robinson’s persecution is a symbol for the death of a mockingbird. The hunters shooti ng the bird would in this case be the Maycomb County folk. Lee sets the time in the story in the early 1950s, when the Great Depression was going on and there was poverty everywhere. The mindset of people back then was that blackRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Symbolism Essay744 Words   |  3 PagesIn Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the fire in chapter 8 symbolizes a form of prejudice as it burns down the snowman. A lot of the symbolism in this book stems from the prejudice taking place against the black population in Indiana. Some of this is issued when it snows for the first time since 1885. The children make a snowman out of leftover snow and some dirt. This represents the teamwork between the Finch family and the black community. The snow brings out the innocence of children.Read MoreAnalysis Of Harper Lee s Kill A Mockingbird 1491 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lee’s ​ To Kill a Mockingbird ​ is a critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning novel that instantly attained its position as one of the greatest literary classics (Editors).The story of Scout Finch’s childhood has become one of the most notable narratives that addresses controversial issues present in the early 20th century. Lee’s novel depicts themes of race, justice, and innocence throughout the novel. Although ​ To Kill a Mockingbird​ is regarded as a literary masterpiece in American