Theme Of Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Growth is essential in creating a satisfying story, portraying the overcome of obstacles and maturity of a character. The theme of growth and acceptance is portrayed throughout both Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird and the 2011 film, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Throughout the progression of both stories, growth is heavily experienced by the main character, shown through symbolism, characterization and narration.
Symbolism adds depth and meaning to a story, used to represent ideas and thoughts within the work. Symbolism is used thoroughly throughout To Kill a Mocking Bird and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, as a way of characters overcoming obstacles and growing as people. To Kill a Mockingbird revolves around symbolism, more specifically that of the mockingbird as a symbol …show more content…
This is further elaborated on throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, by both Miss Maudie and throughout Scout’s observations. Mockingbirds are a significant motif and symbol used throughout the novel as the ultimate moral creature, signifying innocence, relating most specifically to Arthur (Boo) Radley. Scout uses the metaphor of a mockingbird a creature as put my Miss Maudie, “…don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us…”, noting Radley’s effort to help the Finch children, she believes strongly that Arthur should not have to pay for his crime, due to him doing it as a kind service against a cruel man. This shows Scout’s growth significantly due to her complete change of fearing and imagining the “horrors” of Boo to later accepting and protecting him.By the end of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Oskar has found a sense of purpose and has grown into the world around him. His growth is catalyzed through the finding of an envelope addressed to “Black” containing a key. Longing to have a connection to his late father, Oskar travels throughout New York meeting every person with the last name Black, hoping to find
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