Birds of Innocence Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is an exceptional story of cowardice and courage, of prejudice and acceptance. Most obviously, it is a story of maturity and innocence. In the novel, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are all metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds because of their observable innocence with others in their community and their evident kindness. While each character has noticeably different storylines and symbolic references to the mockingbird, all three have their inculpability in common. Atticus Finch is depicted as a mockingbird, not only because of his incorruption, but also because of his fatherly instincts and his unmistakable courage. In chapter twenty-nine and thirty we see Atticus’s righteousness in full light. As they sauntered home from the school pageant, Jem and Scout were attacked. Atticus, knowing that Bob Ewell has threatened him and what he loves, does not outright blame Bob for his children’s wounds and injuries. Mockingbirds are extremely territorial and protective of their young. In chapter ten we see Atticus’s shooting skills as he protects his children from a rabid dog. Another trait shown by mockingbirds is their courage when defending their …show more content…
Tom Robinson’s innocence is a prime example of this. During the trial, Tom was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He was innocent, of course, but the significance is that he was blamed for something that he did not do. In the novel, we can see that Tom is a very kind and helpful person. He is a great husband, father, worker, and citizen. During his trial, Tom explained that he often helped Mayella with small chores. He went out of his way to be a good neighbor because he felt bad for her. This shows that Tom Robinson only ever did good, so it was a sin to kill him just like it is a sin to kill a