" "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if u can hit "em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" "(Lee 90), Harper Lee wrote. The author is showing how it is extremely sinful to kill a mockingbird. Different characters in the story, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee are symbolized as "mockingbirds". The attributes of a mockingbird are shown in three characters in the story, Tom Robinson, Arthur "Boo" Radley, and Mayella Ewell.
First of all, Tom Robinson is one of the three who is much like a mockingbird. For instance, Robinson gladly completes services for Mayella Ewell when asked to, without expecting anything in return. Tom is a good person who is willing to do good deeds for the ones who need help. Lee writes, " " I was glad to do it, Mr. Ewell didn't help her non, and neither did the chillun, and I knowed she didn't have no nickels to spare." "(191). Tom generously does the good deeds, thinking Mayella does not get any help from anyone else. Similar to Tom, mockingbirds are very helpful in ways and do not do anything but make melodic music. They do not harm anything at all, instead, they become very lovable at times. Lee inscribes, " "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up peoples" gardens, don't nest in corncribs- "(90). Mockingbirds have an interesting aspect, innocence. Tom's personality reflects on the characteristics of mockingbirds, which is why Tom was signified as one.
Secondly, Arthur Radley is also shown as a mockingbird in the story. For example, He is a person who stays in his house all the time, while people around create rumors about him. Even though he stays in the house and never comes out, people think he is a horrific person. Harper Lee writes, "The doors of the Radley house were closed on weekdays as well as Sundays, and Mr. Radley's boy was not seen again for fifteen years." "(10). After Arthur was put in his house to stay, he was never seen out again because he was not quite welcome.
