...Tom Robinson is innocent because, despite not being a well trusted member of Maycomb County due to his skin color, he remains a respectful and trustworthy person, even with all of the factors working against him. The first reason that proves he is innocent is that, as he states in his testimony, he lost all movement in his left arm due to a Cotton Gin accident at age twelve. This means that it would be physically impossible for him to strangle or rape Mayella as she claims he did. Secondly, he is innocent because there is no medical evidence to stand with Mayella's case. The problem with this case is that it is just her word against Tom’s. The point that Atticus really tries to emphasize is the fact that there is no doctor's proof that Mayella...
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...Tom Robinson should be acquitted because he is innocent and there is no medical evidence suggesting Tom actually beat or raped Mayella Ewell. The evidence actually suggests that Bob Ewell, her own father beat her. She has bruises on the right side of her face, which could only come from a left hand. Tom Robinson's hand was torn up in a cotton gin, he can only use his right hand now. The jury has an unfair assumption of African Americans and bias opinions of them. This is not fair to Tom who is innocent because they will want to put him in jail no matter what. One reason Tom Robinson is innocent is that there is no medical evidence that says that Tom raped or even touched Mayella. On page 271 Atticus says, “The state has not produced one...
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...both symbolized by the mockingbird. Boo Radley is the neighborhood shut in. Nobody has seen him for years. The reader knows this due to Scout and Jem have never seen him in their life. He is also supposed to be crazy and murderous, according to the town gossip Miss Stephanie. A mockingbird is a bird that Jem and Scout can’t kill due to them only wanting to please people with their songs. The reader know this considering Atticus tells them it’s a sin to kill them and Miss Maudie says they only make music for us to hear and aren’t pests. Boo is symbolized by the mockingbird for a few different reasons. For one example, Boo hasn’t bugged anyone in the town ever before, and Atticus tells the kids to leave him alone....
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...To kill a mockingbird is a sin because you shouldn’t harm something innocent that brings bliss. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, there are several characters that are capable of being a mockingbird, although Tom Robinson is the most apparent. The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence and purity. A mockingbird sings uplifting songs for others to hear, this can be compared to Tom’s acts of kindness for Mayella. “I was studyin’ why, just passin’ by, when she says for me to come there and help her a minute.” (Lee 258.) Therefore, it is a sin to kill Tom because he is an innocent man who helps others. What is a mockingbird? “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, 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. (Lee 119) A mockingbird can be seen as pure and inflicts no harm. They are simply around to sing songs for the world to enjoy. Tom Robinson resembles this role because he is innocuous with good intentions. Being regarded as the guilty, he is later executed. Furthermore, this can be seen as a sin because Tom is utterly innocent. He is targeted for his appearance and misunderstood, which leads to being convicted guilty. “Scared of arrest, scared you’d have to face up to what you...
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...is an important asset for the author to present their story in a way they see fit. By allowing the author to express their emotions, the title remains a significant feature. When examining the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader can see that the mockingbird is a metaphorical symbolization of the theme of innocence, or the loss of. Published in 1960 by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird has become a literary classic. This essay will explore the significance of the title “To Kill a Mockingbird” and will endeavor to explain to the reader why Harper Lee’s novel is called To Kill a Mockingbird while also touching on some of the themes that are connected to the title, such as the loss of innocence and injustice. Revolving...
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...the personification in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom is helpful, friendly, courteous and kind to young and old and that also parallels the way most mockingbirds are friendly, courteous and kind. Tom Robinson helps out everyone from working for Link Deas to helping out Mayella Ewell.. Harper Lee writes “I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy’s worked for me eight years and I ain’t had a speck aco’trouble outa him. Not a speck.” This quote is yelled out by Link Deas during the court trial because he cares for Tom and Link knows that Tom is innocent. The importance of this quote is that it shows that he is a good person and the only people who don’t believe it are the most of the white community in Maycomb...
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...of the kids. When will it stop and when will you be safe? Domestic violence ruins lives. For every high-profile case, more innocent victims die surrounded in silence and many others face the daily torture of not knowing when the act will happen again. Far too often we as neighbor’s, family, friends and fellow Australians fail to see it. Even worse, we turn away to a blind eye. It is time to Shine a Light on domestic violence and stand up for innocent victims. the number of Victims of domestic violence are getting larger and larger. Imagine yourself beaten to death by your ex...
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...Historical Influences on To Kill a Mockingbird During the 1930’s America’s worst depression was in effect (McCabe 12). This inspired Harper Lee to write her most famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Many real life events were used to inspire Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Some of the events she used are the Jim Crow laws, mob mentality, and the Scottsboro trials. The first influence on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws are a set of laws that were racist and focused mainly towards Blacks (Pilgrim). The laws were most enforced in the south in 1877 through the 1960’s (Pilgrim). Most people made these laws were created because mindset of the creators was that they were superior to all Blacks (Pilgrim). Some of the punishments for committing a crime against these laws were severe including lynching, taking their jobs, or taking their homes (Pilgrim). Jim Crow laws can be seen in To Kill a...
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...To Kill A Mockingbird If there was a book that easily tackles topics and a must-read for young readers then To Kill A Mockingbird would fit it. Harper Lee created To Kill A Mockingbird in the 1960s, The book is set in the 1930s in the Great Depression through the eyes of a child. The book has a lot of themes throughout the story using literary elements but how the author uses these literary elements like juxtaposition, motifs, and imagery to prove themes like humbleness, innocent of people and how unjust the society is will be explained. Harper Lee is great using literary elements to make themes like using juxtaposition to build a theme of humbleness. In chapter 12, after Calpurnia brings them to her church she says how “folks don’t like to have somebody around known more than they do, It aggravates’em” (Lee 167). Even after the fact she one of four people in her church who are literate Calpurnia knows being modest is better than bragging about it. Someone who isn’t would be Aunt Alexandra. In chapter 13, it talks about Aunt Alexandra and how “she never let a chance escape...
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...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...
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...A beautiful melody fills the air on a clear summer’s day. As the gunshot rings through the sky, the space is suddenly left with an deafening silence. Never had the mockingbird, whose song was enjoyed by all, done anything to deserve that bullet. Yet still, the bird perishes. To Kill a Mockingbird is a magnificent tale regarding the ideas of racial prejudice. Harper Lee, the book’s author, uses a mockingbird to symbolize how the innocent are discriminated. Atticus Finch first establishes the idea of the mockingbird when giving Scout and Jem rifles; he explains that mockingbirds do nothing but make music which is why they are not to be shot. Shortly after, Atticus explains about the mockingbirds; Tom Robinson, one of the main mockingbirds, stands...
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...Independent Study Project Othello, the Invisible Wound, To Kill a Mockingbird July 30th 2014 By Eileen Harford Everyone has had a time in their life when they have misjudged a situation. Whether it was assuming someone took your pencil when it is actually in behind you ear, or assuming which character is the killer in our favorite movie, we all have misjudgements all the time in our lives. When was the last time you have mistaken a situation? The theme of false judgement demonstrated in the play “Othello” by Shakespeare, the short story “The Invisible Wound” by Karoly Kisfaludi, and the film “To Kill a Mockingbird”. In these three storylines, the author exhibits the theme of false judgment through a character of innocence that is poorly misjudged and ends tragically for them. Othello accuses his wife, Desdemona of adultery, while the unnamed protagonist in “The Invisible Wound” also inaccurately assumes his wife is cheating. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, the jury accuses Tom Robinson of a crime that he did not commit all because of the colour of his skin. Given the above, it is clear that these three story lines hold the same theme of an error in judgement occurring. Throughout the play, “Othello” by William Shakespeare, a few of the characters are condemned on untruthful information. Desdemona and Cassio are victims of poor judgement. Accusations towards Desdemona seem to be the most prominent to any reader – which all begin when Othello falls to Iago’s manipulation that...
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...The story To Kill A Mockingbird has many different messages and lessons. For example, throughout the story Scout and Jem learn many things about their town, it’s citizens, and the talk that goes around. Through the process of them learning, they experience situations that end up teaching them lessons. Whether the lesson or message is easy to find in the story or more difficult, there is something that some people don’t bother to pay attention to.Why To Kill A Mockingbird is the title of this story. There isn’t just one way to identify the title, it can be interpreted in different ways. Many characters in the story are compared to helpless mockingbirds that have been injured or destroyed with evil, the reference of mockingbird shows the...
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...Reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many scenes and events that show who symbolize the “mockingbird”. A mockingbird, according to Atticus Finch, is simply someone or something that is perfectly innocent and does no harm to anyone. Being a mockingbird is something very powerful in this era just because it is during the Great Depression and segregation. In the book, Atticus says “shoot all the bluejays you want if you can hit em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119). Atticus is pointing out that killing an innocent is wrong. I think that in a sense, the mockingbird symbolizes the innocent and the innocence in people. Although there are many mockingbirds that can count in this novel, I have carefully analyzed the material and chose Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson as my two “mockingbirds”. I chose Atticus Finch as my first mockingbird because he is the one who got chosen to defend Tom in his trial. Although he got chosen to do his job, he actually tried to save Tom which showed a lot of courage in this time. Atticus truly put forth all his effort in defending Tom even though before he took on this trial, he knew that they would not win. He still tried. For Atticus trying,...
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...Every day, innocent people are convicted of crimes they did not commit. They face unjustified punishment and prejudice. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the mockingbird is repetitively used as a symbol of innocence. Scout and Jem Finch, the young protagonists of the novel are told that "It's a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119) because mockingbirds are peaceful creatures who cause no harm. Some characters in the story can be perceived as “mockingbirds” due to their acts of kindness and nonviolence. The three characters who symbolize the mockingbird are Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson because they are all innocent men who are discriminated against and punished for doing what is right. Tom Robinson was an innocent man who faced prejudice because he was African American. Tom displayed many respectable traits. He provided free help to his white neighbor, despite the fact he had only one arm. When asked why he did these selfless acts, Tom responded: " I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em-" (264). Later, Tom was accused of raping and beating up young Mayella Ewell, the eldest child in the infamous Ewell family, and the same girl he had assisted. Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell,was a racist man, who knew that he could get away with wrongfully accusing Tom simply because Tom was black. When brought to court, evidence proved Tom not-guilty, yet he...
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