To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Quotes Analysis

Words: 473
Pages: 2
Open Document
The death of innocence is a strong and sad concept that is expressed in To Kill a Mockingbird. When the story begins both Jem and Scout can only see the good in the world and only see a glimpse of the bad. As the story continues the reader can start to see the innocence break and disappear as they start to realize the truth and evil in society, from this they start to mature. Jem’s innocence starts to rupture as he gets older and while he sits in on the Tom Robinson trial in the courthouse. Scout recalls “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. It ain’t right, he muttered”(Lee 284). This quote reveals Jem’s innocence vanishing because he knew that Tom Robinson was innocent …show more content…
One of the biggest symbols though, is the mockingbird, the mockingbird is the epitome of innocence. A famous quote from the book is “Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”(Lee 119) and “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”(Lee 119). These quotes are important because it is informing us that a mockingbird is innocent because it has done nothing to hurt anyone. This also is a hidden metaphor that people in the story are so-called “mockingbirds” and by destroying their innocence it’s equivalent to killing a mockingbird. Mr. Underwood compares Tom to a mockingbird by saying “He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children”(Lee 323). In the literary analysis article, “Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird" by Jessica Cook she explains how the mockingbird represents innocence and how characters can be symbolic mockingbirds. The death of innocence in this story isn’t noticeable until the reader takes a step back and look at the story as a whole. It’s probably one of the reasons why people are so captivated by these characters and pulled into this story that we can virtually step inside their lives and walk around in their shoes while experiencing both their struggles and
Show More

Related Documents: To Kill A Mockingbird Innocence Quotes Analysis

1TKAM ESSAY PRACTICE

TKAM ESSAY PRACTICE Does To Kill a Mockingbird deserve its title as a classic of American Literature? Refer to the novel’s narrative elements in your response. Harper Lee is an American author of the novel called ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ set in the quite town of 1930s Maycomb and published in 1960. To Kill a Mockingbird deserves its tittle as an American classic novel. This will be proven through an exploration of the novel’s themes: loss of innocent, prejudice, moral education and courage. The Pulitzer…

Words 1570 - Pages 7

To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes And Analysis Essay

Claim, Background, Quote, Analysis, Background, Quote, Analysis You can kill a bluejay, you can kill a hummingbird but it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Throughout the story, the mockingbirds, the mad dog, and the Radley House represent the symbols found in the book. In the middle of the story the mockingbird is the symbol of innocence but, as the story went on the mockingbirds symbolized the characters in the story. During the Great Depression, when the books time period was written in, the finches…

Words 743 - Pages 3

Atticus Finch Thesis

Advocating for one’s diverse morals and ideology is what makes an impact on society. Harnessing statement: In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates this idea through the heroic character, Atticus Finch. Her novel regards current society and inequality among the public. Atticus is the father of two young children, Jem and Scout. His character is persistent, calm, and patient when facing most situations. He tries his best to raise his children well, by schooling them to accept everyone for…

Words 2002 - Pages 9

TKAM contextual research Essay

To Kill A Mockingbird Notes Main Research American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war between 1861 and 1865, and was the war that determined what nation America would be. The war was fought between several southern slave states who called themselves the Confederate slaves, and the rest of the states, called the United States. The first hostilities were on April 12, 1861, when Confederate States fired on Fort Sumter, A Union fort in South Carolina held by United State Generals…

Words 5276 - Pages 22