The many mockingbirds of “To Kill a Mockingbird”

The novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, like many others of its genre is strongly influenced by the ideas of its author. With this book, Lee has represented her commentaries with symbols or metaphors-- although these can sometimes be overlooked too easily in a lengthy novel. The characters she has employed to convey or be subjected to these ideas are referred to as, “the mockingbirds” of the book. Her ideas of who they are and how they should be treated are manifested in this lesson to the children: Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t nest in corncribs; they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird (Miss Maude, pg.15).” I have chosen to discourse on the mockingbirds: Scout, Boo, and Tom because they best represent the title, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. These mockingbirds are not the same age or alike in appearances, nor do they lead the same lives; the only thin...