Initiating Event

From a Broken Wing to Soaring in Flight

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird," Atticus Finch wisely stated (Lee 119). Tom Robinson is an innocent man accused of rape. Similarly to Tom's story of injustice, Boo Radley's entire existence is based on a misshapen, ugly stereotype that only Jem, Scout, and Dill do not believe is the truth. Along with characters from Lee's novel, a modern day man named Les Brown suffered in his early life but made a life for himself in public speaking. The mockingbird is a symbol for innocence. In Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the symbol of the mockingbird becomes Tom Robinson and Boo Radley; Les Brown, a motivational speaker, also symbolizes the mockingbird.

Tom Robinson is a metaphorical mockingbird because of his unsung innocence, innocence that is mostly unperceived. During Atticus' closing argument in Tom's trial, he states that, "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women - black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men" (Lee 273). Atticus explains to the jury that just because Tom is black, does not mean he should be treated differently in court than white men. He repeats the word truth multiple times throughout this quotation, and it shows the importance of truth that Atticus wants to convey to the jury. This shows his innocence by explaining that Tom is equal to other men, and he should be treated like it. Lee also states that there is, "The handful of people in this town who say that fair play is not marked White Only; the handful of people who say a fair trial is for everybody, not just us; the handful of people with enough humility to think, when they look at a Negro, there but for the Lord's kindness am I" (Lee 316). Miss. Maudie explains that all people in Maycomb should be treated equal. She states repetitively that there are only a handful of people in the town that believe this truth. A handful of people is not a lot, especially in Maycomb's small population. In Maycomb, black people are looked down upon in comparison to white people, and the author states that this should not be the case. At the end of the quotation, she states that under God, all people are equal. After Tom is jailed, "They fired a few shots in the air, then to kill... He wasn't Tom to them, he was an escaping prisoner" (Lee 315). This is when one of the many mockingbirds in this story dies. Tom was an innocent man who meant no harm unto anybody. The jail guards did not see Tom as a person, only body that they had to keep inside the prison walls. He was senselessly killed even though he was innocent of the crime, and this makes Tom Robinson a mockingbird.

Boo Radley becomes the mockingbird when the town makes false accusations about Boo. After Scout realizes that it was Boo Radley who saved her and Jem, Atticus tells him, "Thank you for my children, Arthur" (Lee 370). This quotation implies that Atticus is grateful for Boo and what he did to save Atticus' children. Boo realizes the danger the Finch children are facing and saves them, instead of being selfish and uncaring like most of Maycomb would think that Boo Radley would be. Before the attack, Jem and Scout are talking about the town of Maycomb and Jem states, "it's because he wants to stay inside" (Lee 304). In this quotation, the reader gains a new perspective on Boo Radley. This perspective is that he sees the ugly and hatred in Maycomb, and not participating in it is how he wants to live. Before this revelation, the reader and the characters thought that Boo Radley was a lunatic monster, whereas now he is seen as innocent because the quotation implies that Boo means no harm, similar to the behavior of a mockingbird. Atticus turns to Scout when they are discussing Bob Ewell's death and asks her about her answer to how he died, and she replies with "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird" (Lee 370). The reader can infer that it was Boo who ended Bob's life, but he was too innocent to take credit for the murder. Boo has nothing to be guilty for in his life up to this point. He cannot come out of hiding only to reveal that he has killed a man surrounded by controversy. To most of the town, they did not know if Boo even existed. Boo Radley is the mockingbird because of his abilities that no one would ever guess he had.

Les Brown is famous for his speeches about blossoming into the mockingbird. Les was born into poverty, and was adopted at six weeks old along with his twin brother. In his first few years of education, Les was incorrectly labeled as educable mentally retarded. However, he drove himself to success with self-education and rose through the career ladder. In the novel, it is stated that it is, "Typical of a n--'s mentality to have no plan, no thought of the future" (Lee 322). The context in the novel is after Tom's death and how the town of Maycomb viewed the news of his passing. Les is African American, but this quotation does not apply to him. Written in his speeches is his motivation to be the best he can possibly be. Calpurnia states to Scout that, "there ain't any definite answers to anything" (Lee 314). In Les' speeches, he advocates that possibilities are endless of what one can do with one's life. He speaks of dreams that can be reached and the importance of keeping a positive outlook on everything. In the novel, it is said that, "he was writing so children could understand" (Lee 323). The man spoken about in this quotation is Mr. Underwood. Les Brown's purpose of speaking inspirational messages is to motivate people to do something with their lives. His audience is not necessarily children, but the way he communicates is very simple. Les wants everyone who listens to him speak to lead a life of innocence and only good intentions, like that of a mockingbird.

A true mockingbird is innocent, like Tom Robinson. Boo Radley turned out to be more than the legends and rumors shrouding his existence. Les Brown believed that even the most far-fetched dreams are possible. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Les Brown all symbolize the mockingbird in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. After all, "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).

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To Kill a Mockingbird Q2 Essay