How Does Harper Lee Create Tension In To Kill A...

Aiden Dyksterhouse Mrs. Vande Guchte Honors 10B 05/13/24.

Symbolism Essay Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. This story is narrated by Scout, the youngest kid in the Finch family. Here, she takes us through the life of the Finches, and the inherent problem of racism in the Deep South during this time. A man named Tom Robinson is framed for rape, and put up against a prejudiced jury. The kids support Tom, while getting into trouble, getting into fights, and finding fun in the troubles of Maycomb. Foreshadowing is the technique used by authors to give clues to what is going to happen in the future. She uses this a lot to increase tension and suspense throughout the story. In …show more content…
The Rabid Dog represents racism, and when the Rabid Dog first shows up in the streets of Maycomb, Mr. Heck Tate comes to respond. Atticus is by his side, and when it is time to take the shot, Mr. Heck tells Atticus to take it. Heck knows that Atticus is the better shot and will kill it first try. “‘Take him, Mr. Finch.’ Mr. Tate handed the rifle to Atticus; Jem and I nearly fainted. ‘Don’t waste time, Heck,’ said Atticus. ‘Go on.’ ‘Mr. Finch, this is a one-shot job.’. . . I can’t shoot that well and you know it!” (Lee 127). This represents that Atticus is the only man willing to fight the mad dog, which represents racism. As time goes on, the trial has voted Mr. Robinson guilty. Mrs. Maudie talks to Jem about the choice of Mr. Robinson as defendant. She defends Judge Taylor by saying, “‘Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor might have had his reasons for naming him?’” (Lee 289). Atticus taking the case is his way of taking a shot at the racism that is flooded into the court system in the South. Lee also plants other symbols in To Kill A Mockingbird. Lee uses the White …show more content…
The White Camellia is used to represent racism and white supremacy, Mrs. Dubose has these flowers outside her house. She refers to them as the snow-on-the-mountain. Referencing that white people believed to be perfect and holy. Right before Mrs. Dubose dies, she prepares a candy box for Jem, “Jem opened the box. Inside, surrounded by wads of damp cotton, was a white, waxy, perfect camellia. It was a Snow-on-the-Mountain. Jem’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ‘Old hell-devil, old hell-devil!’ he screamed, flinging it down. ‘Why can’t she leave me alone?’” (Lee 148). This represents how Jem knows that the flowers symbolize racism, and how he knows it's wrong and wants it gone. As life moves on in Maycomb, racism does not let up. Jem and Scout are present, listening to the results of Mr. Robinson's rape trial, “I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Guilty. guilty. guilty. guilty.’ I peeked at Jem. His hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each ‘guilty’ was a separate stab between them” (Lee 282). This shows the pure hatred of black people in Maycomb, there is obvious racism. There

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