Symbolism in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
Introduction:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has several intriguing symbols that reflect the novel's overall themes. The story is set in the 1930s and is told from the perspective of a six-year-old girl. The story revolves around the girl, Scout, her brother and their father. Their father is a lawyer who has been given the responsibility of defending a Black man. The story carries readers on a journey through the mind of a once innocent child to one who comes of age through experience.
We will better comprehend To Kill a Mockingbird if we can identify the important symbols.
Mockingbird:
To Kill a Mockingbird's title has minimal direct relevance to the story, but it has a lot of metaphorical meaning throughout the book. The "mockingbird" begins to symbolise purity in this narrative of innocent people being destroyed by wickedness. As a result, killing a mockingbird is the same as destroying innocence. Several characters such as Jem, Boo Radley, Dill, Tom Robinson, and Mr. Raymond are recognized all across the novel as mockingbirds—pure-hearted people who have been hurt or ruined by prejudice. Numerous times throughout the story, the relationship between the narrative's title and its core topic is made plain.
Geraniums:
Mayella Ewell grows beautiful red geraniums- a symbol of beauty in front of her home - a place full of hatred and ugliness. The geraniums indicate beauty even amidst the bleakest surroundings and the goodness in even the most unlikable human beings.
Rabies:
To Kill a Mockingbird compares the dog’s rabies to racism . The mongrel is alluded to as a crazed dog in the novel, as it is plagued with a sickness that makes it harmful to other humans. Maycomb County is also plagued by a disease called racism, making it a hazardous location for those who do not fit in. Atticus tries to take down the rabid dog, even though firing a pistol and shooting is in opposition to his instincts, in the same way as he tries to take down the bigotry that is endangering Tom Robinson and, eventually, the whole of humanity.
Conclusion:
Symbolism is often used to enrich novels and, in many cases, to address an issue that may have been politically incorrect or even dangerous to address directly at the time in which the novels were written. Symbolism allows the writer's and the readers’ imaginations to meet on a wonderful plane of existence, cutting through time, societal norms and sometimes even reality.
FAQs
Who wrote the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird?’
The book was written by Harper Lee and was published in 1960. It has since been translated into forty languages and has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
Did Harper Lee win any awards for this book?
Harper Lee was awarded the coveted Pulitzer Prize for this book. It is an award meant for American writers awarded annually. The Pulitzer Prize has seven different categories.
What symbolism can be found in the title of the book?
The "mockingbird" begins to symbolize purity in this narrative of innocent people being destroyed by wickedness. As a result, killing a mockingbird is the same as destroying naivety.
What did the rabid dog in the story symbolize?
To Kill a Mockingbird's rabid dog is a racist symbol. The mongrel is alluded to as a crazed dog in the novel, as it is plagued with a sickness that makes it harmful to other humans. Maycomb County is also plagued by a disease called racism, making it a hazardous location for those who do not fit in.
Was there a mockingbird in the story?
There were depictions of mockingbirds. Several characters such as Jem, Boo Radley, Dill, Tom Robinson, and Mr. Raymond are inG the novel as mockingbirds—pure-hearted people who have been hurt or ruined by darkness.
