Introduction
According to Scout, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a story about the roots and impacts of prejudice and racism. The story probes how evil and good can coexist within a person or even a community. Scold’s moral education in the story is twofold; to stop abusing other people with baseless negativity and also to persevere when these values are violently, inevitably, and sabotaged. Scout encounters inevitable disillusion as she is exposed to the reality of human nature. The entrenched racism of her community forces her to acknowledge social inequity and the darker elements of humanity.
What is Mockingbird
Mockingbirds are creatures that we can relate to as they portray several human features. Mockingbirds are innocent, and they do not bother anyone. They are also harmless, and they do not hold malice towards others, but it's ironical that even though they do well to others, they are treated poorly. "To kill a mockingbird" holds the connotation of to destroy the innocence of this creature by harming it (Lee 34). Three mockingbirds—innocents who are harmed by gratuitous cruelty are; Dill Harris, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley.
The novel To Kill the Mockingbird by Lee Hamper tells about the people who lived in a town called Maycomb. Racism and discrimination were so rampant in the city. It was like a part of their culture. Abusing people as part of their everyday life, but despite the high degree of racism, some people were still not racist and discriminant. As the story continues, the people get to understand why they should not discriminate against people because of their skin color, by the like, or by what they do. Boo Radley is the best example of the mockingbirds mentioned in the novel though several mockingbirds are mentioned. This is simply because Boo Radley is a caring person, but the people in the town still treat him poorly despite the fact he does well to the people.
Boo Radley was indeed a caring person as he showed love toward the kids and the people of Maycomb. He secretly gives gifts to Jem and Scout. He gave them two soaps, a pair of good-luck pennies, a watch, and a chin. Also, Dill is a symbolic mockingbird because he is a naive, vulnerable child who has a difficult home life and loses his childhood innocence after witnessing the wrongful conviction of Tom (Lee 67). Tom always helped Mayella with chores. She always passed by her house and work, and he never accepted any pay. Bob never did any harm except when he killed bob, and this was to save the children.
House on Fire
One event that Boo could have witnessed was Miss Maudie’s house was on fire. There was a fire at night, and Scout and Jem are forced to go outside to be safe from the fire. Boo could have witnessed how Miss Maudie had left the fire to warm the potted plants and how this had caused the fire. He could have seen the fire spread quickly towards the neighboring houses and could have alerted the people. Boo could have witnessed from his window how the neighbor helped Miss Audie save her furniture and how the fire truck arrived in time to help curb the fire from spreading to the other houses. He could have witnessed how someone draped a blanket over Scout. He could have seen the person who had draped the blanket.
