What Does Tom Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

There are various examples of symbolism throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Symbolism played an important role in this novel. It demonstrates the necessity of not hurting what is innocent. In To Kill A Mockingbird there are various examples of symbolism of this type. One example of symbolism that was the most obvious to the reader was the one concerning Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was an honest and hardworking man and was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Tom is one of the main characters in the novel that is an example of mockingbird. Atticus mentioned “It is a sin to kill a mockingbird”. It was a sin because mockingbirds do not hurt anyone. Tom Robinson was the mockingbird in this example. He was innocent and the Ewells accused him of committing rape and everyone knew a black man would never get a fair trial. Tom Robinson was hurt even though he was innocent. Arthur “Boo” Radley can also be an example of a mockingbird. He, just like Tom, was hurt. He was always accused of being the culprit of the bad things that occurred in Maycomb. He was also accused of doing weird things. Jem mentioned “He dines on squirrels and any cats he could …show more content…
Jem is an example of a mockingbird, because he is just a boy living life and by the end of the novel he loses his innocence. He loses it during the unfair trial of Tom Robinson, who was declared guilty even though he was innocent. “It ain’t right” was Jem’s reaction when Tom was declared guilty. Jem went home crying. Jem lost his innocence when he realized how unfairly Tom was treated. Jem realized he was living in a world full of racism and that was very clear to him now. Jem could not get over the fact that Tom was declared guilty. Jem is a good example of a mockingbird because he was a innocent boy who lost this innocence. He lost it when he realized he was living in a town full of racial prejudice and racism showing him what kind of world he is living