To Kill A Literary Symbol
The invincible fictional novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, holds a variety of symbols that span from the Alabama state flower representing a union between two unlikely people to a tree sitting in a yard exemplifying a closeted human boy. The aspiring symbolism has a meaning that demonstrates what was going on Lee's mind and the deep thought she put into writing the novel.
Mrs. Dubose, a "...old and ill..." woman who "...was a morphine addict..." and "...plain hell", gives Jem a camellia from her garden as a gift for his reading services that "...[become] some distraction" (Lee 7, 140, 147-148). These readings help her stay away from the morphine that contributes to her obtrusive addiction. Atticus gives Jem a "...candy box. Jem [opens] the box. Inside, surrounded by wads of damp cotton, [is] a white, waxy, perfect camellia" (148). Knowing that flowers normally symbolize something in any piece of literature, researching the meanings of the camellia naturally comes to my mind. The camellia is the Alabama, where the novel takes place, state flower and in Chinese tradition, the camellia represents the unity of two people. The petals represent the spirit of a lady and the beholder of the flower now has the trust of the lady for protection. Jem Finch slowly protects Mrs. Dubose from wanting to take morphine by reading "... a few minutes later every day..." (145). By giving Jem this flower, she is telling him "... everything's all right now... everything's all right" (148-149). Another symbol of this Camilla is the white color of the flower symbolizing starting over. Mrs. Dubose "... said she meant to break herself of [the addiction] before she died, and that's what she did" (148). By Mrs. Dubose ending her addiction to morphine, she is emancipating herself and starting her life over. While on the topic of flower's embodying ideas, as well as people, another plant in this novel symbolizes an important character in this book.
While Scout walks home from school one day, she encounters "two live oaks [standing] at the edge of the Radley lot. Something about one of the trees [attracts her] attention. Some tinfoil [is] sticking in a knot-hole... winking at me..." (44). This languid oak tree that catches Scout's attention embodies Arthur, otherwise known as Boo, Radley. The tree draws the attention of Scout once she sees it, just like Boo Radley draws in the attention of the Finch children and the entire town of Maycomb for that matter. When Dill comes around and becomes introduced to the Radley house, it became obvious that "the Radley Place fascinated Dill" (100). We come to know Boo Radley as a man impaired with a mental disorder when we learn "[when] Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent's leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities. He was thirty-three years old then" (13). Mental disability is seen as a disease of some people in this world, however, it's considered a gift to others. In the oak tree's knothole, Scout found "...two pieces of chewing gum....","...two small images carved into soap...","...a tarnished medal", and "...a pocket watch that wouldn't run, on a chain with an aluminum knife" (44 and 79-81). These gifts extemporaneously bring joy to the Finch children and it is something they look forward to each time they pass the tree. Then, there is the rugged disease aspect of Boo's mental disorder. The Radley's keep Boo in the house after his incident, but "nobody knew what form of intimidation Mr. Radley employed to keep Boo out sight..." (14). Since Boo is hidden most of the time, his life remains bleak because he can not share his gifts and kindness to the people of Maycomb. Once the Radley's realize Jem and Scout are receiving these diminutive gifts from a tree on their property, Mr. Radley performs the despicable action of "...[filling the] knot-hole with cement" (83). Mr. Radley fills in this knot-hole to restrict the ability to receive gifts, just like he restricts Boo from going outside to give his gifts to the town and the Finches. Mr. Radley explains the "tree's dying. You plug 'em with cement when they're sick" (83). Here, Mr. Radley suggests Boo is dying and sick and that's the cause for his confinement in the Radley home. Exploiting the tree being sick and providing gifts for the town of Maycomb, this provides a prime example of how nature can symbolize a person.
As the reader discovers the many symbols the adept author uses to present deep meanings in To Kill A Mockingbird, it becomes an astonishing way to go inside the mind of Harper Lee. As we recognize Lee's rendering of the ways she wanted to incorporate traditions and embodiment into the novel, the reader is drawn past the preamble in a world of symbolism.
