A single bird’s twitter sounds through the woods. Never will this bird harm any, it simply sings a song. Joined by many others, the chorus of mockingbirds reaches past the forest, and into the world. Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird the author, Harper Lee commonly expresses a theme of harmlessness in the characters through “mockingbirds.” This common theme appears in many scenes and characters, and is used to represent the misjudgment of the world. Although the characters listed appear deleterious, Tom Robinson, Arthur Radley, and Mayella Ewell are all examples of mockingbirds.
Firstly, Tom Robinson represents a mockingbird through his innocence and the injustice of his death. Accused of raping a caucasian women, Tom …show more content…
Mayella Ewel ultimately caused Tom Robinson’s death. She accused him of beating and raping her, when in reality she acted inappropriately and sexually towards him. In a destitute home, Mayella lives her life friendless and alone, doing most things herself, and occasionally beaten by her drunken father. Scout relays this saying, “As Tom Robinson gave his testimony, it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world.” (Chapter 19, p. 256). She means no harm, but like a child blamed others for her actions. In the end however, she inadvertently ends the life of a kind man. Although Mayella unjustly blames Tom for her actions, her lonely, and harmless nature make her the greatest example of a mockingbird.
In conclusion, the world is filled with mockingbirds. People harm the harmless. Through the characters in her book, Harper Lee demonstrates this unjust and unkind behavior. Throughout Macomb, this issue expresses itself through the words and actions of the citizens. It plays a key role in the plot line, and is an example of what occurs in the world