Mockingbirds

4/21/2020

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird"
-Atticus

The mockingbird is a powerful symbol in the novel, obviously. Who are some "mockingbirds" who do no harm (and maybe even do good), yet are "killed" in some way? Use examples from the text to justify your opinion.

69 Comments

Olivia

4/21/2020 06:23:19 pm

I believe race is still a large "mockingbird" in our modern society. In the novel, Tom Robinson claims that he was just helping the Ewell's with their chores and things around the house, proving that what he was doing was good, or at least neutral without harmful intentions. In To Kill a Mockingbird, most African Americans work for their Caucasian counterparts, and that still exists today. There are always going to be bad people, of any race or culture. But when a black woman or man does something illegal, it causes controversy and indirectly speculates that because one man or woman of African American descent did something illegal, then they all must be the same, which isn't true. Even today, if a white man and a black man commit the same crime, the black man will get a longer prison sentence (approximately 20% longer) or fine than the white man, which isn't true justice. African Americans are still mockingbirds today, because many of them have bad statements based on the color of their skin. In the novel, Tom Robinson -- the mockingbird -- was killed in a more brutal way than what was even close to necessary.

Dakota James

4/22/2020 11:17:12 pm

I agree, it angers me to see two people guilty of the same crime, punished differently. Just because of their race they have it harder or easier. Like you said that is NOT true justice. I hope one day we can all be recognized as created equally.

Hailey

4/23/2020 01:24:47 pm

I agree that Tom Robinson was killed in a brutal way. It is sad how, once sent to prison, he gave up all hope. I wish the story would have had an alternative ending.

Beth

4/23/2020 03:00:15 pm

I definitely agree that Tom Robinson is a "mockingbird" and that he is treated unfairly.

Dakota James

4/22/2020 11:07:40 pm

In the book, Tom Robinson was like a mockingbird. He caused no harm and even helped people out, without charge. He was a good honest man that did chores for Mayella Ewell out of the goodness of his heart. As good of a man as he was, he was black. This led to him being falsely accused of rape and eventually being killed for it in an unnecessary way after trying to escape jail. When I was a kid and got my first BB gun, my dad told me not to shoot doves. He said they were peaceful birds that didn't hurt anyone. This is similar to what Atticus told Jem and Scout when they got their air rifles. Certain races can be considered a "mockingbird" in our modern society. People get harsher treatments because of their skin pigment or ethnicity, which isn't right. An example of this in the novel would be how even in court a black man's word doesn't mean anything against a white man's. Just because of his skin tone, even though he is just as equally a human being. I also see it as a "treat others how you want to be treated" scenario. Where is the sense in hurting someone or something if they cause no disruption in your life?

Hailey

4/23/2020 01:21:32 pm

My dad taught my siblings and I the same lesson about doves. It is sad how Tom Robinson was innocent, yet society’s prejudices ultimately cost him his life.

Olivia

4/23/2020 01:46:58 pm

I agree, it doesn't make a lot of sense to do something potentially hurtful to someone that did nothing to you, no matter their ethnicity.

Hailey

4/23/2020 01:19:41 pm

One character in Harper Lee’s novel that I perceived to be a “mockingbird” is Dolphus Raymond. He is a wealthy white man who is married to an African American woman, with whom he has several children. He was in no way forced into this lifestyle, but rather prefers living amongst the blacks. The town of Maycomb regards him as a drunk with a tragic past, because years ago, his to-be wife shot herself after the rehearsal dinner of their wedding. He always carries with him a paper bag filled with, what is assumed to be, whiskey and coke. But, as Scout and Dill later discover, the only content of the paper bag is an innocent can of Coca-Cola. When questioned why he seemingly hides his cans of soda, Dolphus responded by saying “I try to give ‘em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.” He would rather be judged than constantly questioned about his lifestyle. The reason why I perceived Mr. Raymond to be a “mockingbird” within the story is because he is seen as a sad alcoholic who is too damaged to realize the fault of his ways. However, Dolphus is none of that. He is a happy husband and father whose only fault may be drinking too much Coca-Cola on the daily. He does no harm to the community, and even lives a brave, honorable life with his family. But, his reputation is not a desirable one, simply because his choice of spouse. Dolphus Raymond, in my opinion, is a subtle yet powerful character in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. He lives by following his heart, and disregards how society views his lifestyle.

Olivia

4/23/2020 01:45:48 pm

I agree that Mr. Raymond is perceived differently in the TKAM society. It just shows that people will always have opinions on people even if the facts behind those ideas are false.

Beth

4/23/2020 02:58:35 pm

Mr. Raymond is a great example. He is just judged wrongly by his community.

Dakota James

4/23/2020 03:36:23 pm

I think it is great that Dolphus Raymond doesn't have any regard to what people think about him. He even gives them something to judge, like you said so people won't question him. He is definitely a "mockingbird" in the novel.

Jonah

4/23/2020 05:55:36 pm

That’s the best Pacebook response I have read in a thick minute, Hailey.

trishelle

4/24/2020 03:53:35 pm

Wow this is amazing! I agree with you.

Beth

4/23/2020 02:56:20 pm

A charcter that I belive to be a "mockingbird" of sorts is Atticus. He is a good,honest, and caring man and even has the towns respect, and yet he is spit and mocked. For example, the morning after the case he was confronted my Mr. Ewell who said some terrible things to him and asked him if he was "too proud to fight" Atticus simply and patiently replied, "No, too old,". Atticus is also confronted the night before the case by his friends and people he has helped in court. He is a good example of a person who just wants to help others but he and his family get caught in the crossfire.

Micah Tolman

4/23/2020 09:17:32 pm

It didn’t even come to my mind that Atticus could be a mockingbird until I read this!

Eliza

4/24/2020 12:39:31 pm

Atticus is a good example of a mocking bird.

Jonah Tolman

4/23/2020 07:09:01 pm

Clearly, Tom is the foremost “mockingbird” character. This never really resonated with me, but I think he has some competition for the title in Boo Radley. Don’t sleep on him. A bright boy in a harsh situation, he is a representation of the good that resides inside people. His persona is enhanced as the pages roll on. Beginning as merely a myth, he then leaves presents inside a tree and repairs Jem’s pants. By rescuing Scout and Jen from the insanity of Bob Ewell’s attack, Boo becomes the under-the-radar hero before stowing himself away once again.

Micah Tolman

4/23/2020 09:19:49 pm

I like that you realized that Boo Radley is also someone who does no harm but gets mistreated by others.

Erik

4/24/2020 10:28:54 am

I agree that Tom is the most recognizable mockingbird in the book. What happened to him wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t of a different ethnicity than everyone else.

Anthony

4/24/2020 12:30:44 pm

Yes the under the radar hero is usually the one treated unfairly and unrecognized.

Nathan

4/26/2020 06:50:32 pm

I am intrigued by you comments about boo radly. Your right his attributes do portray a mockingbird.

Myah

5/17/2020 09:19:58 pm

Yeah I agree with that too. In my opinion, he is one of the main "mockingbirds" in this novel. Although, you can truly argue that any of the characters display mockingbird like qualities. even the antagonist, BOb Ewell, because it can be said that he is simply a product of his society. Who knows what he would really be like had he not been brain washed with all the racist garbage as a young child.

Micah Tolman

4/23/2020 09:16:11 pm

Someone who can be portrayed as a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson. He has done no evil but yet he is treated as dirt by others. Another example is Dolphus Raymond. He lives among the African Americans because he likes that style of life. He did nothing wrong, but yet he gets despised for it. He is also seen as an outcast to society because he married an African American woman and together they had children, which is not disgraceful even though others make it seem so.

Erik

4/24/2020 10:32:42 am

I agree that Dolphus Raymond is a mockingbird because he’s done no harm and isn’t doing anything wrong he just likes the way African Americans live and he’s being mistreated because of it. Raymond is definitely a great example of a mockingbird and is doing the right thing to do.

Janessa

4/26/2020 06:33:35 pm

Dolphus Raymond is a good example, and I think his children are too since they're mixed. Society hates their whole family.

Erik

4/24/2020 10:25:15 am

Tom Robinson is a mockingbird to me because he did nothing wrong year he’s being treated badly because of his ethnicity and eventually he does get killed. I find it ironic that people think what Hitler is doing is bad but then they turn around and treat colored people like dirt. Another person I would consider a mockingbird is Atticus because he’s only trying to do his best to help Tom but he only lost because of Toms color of skin. Atticus may have not physically died but the death of Tom seemed to make Atticus die a little in a different kind of way. At times everyone could be a mockingbird looking at other points of view but there will always be someone somewhere that will oppose the mockingbirds in this world.

Anthony

4/24/2020 12:27:26 pm

That is a really good point! Atticus did die a little when he lost Tom.

Lizzie

4/24/2020 04:27:34 pm

Tom Robinson is a great example of a mockingbird and he was definitely treated very badly. Atticus dying in a way because of Tom is a very good analogy to the mockingbird.

Anthony

4/24/2020 12:25:32 pm

Most all Colored people in this era could be considered a mocking bird in the meaning. But does that make whites the blujays? No! But in a lot of ways whites where the ones causing trouble. Therefore, in this analogy whites should be the ones being hunted. In my experience i would compare this analogy to that of coyotes and mice (a nuisance) or Eagles and Magpies (another nuisance).

Eliza

4/24/2020 12:38:50 pm

Yes I agree with you but it truly depends on the person more than their race or culture.

Jonah

4/26/2020 03:34:06 pm

You always find a great way to make a connection between words and life. Painting a picture of reality, both in a mental sense, as well as physically. I enjoyed reading you talk of eagles and magpies because that is something that we can relate with on the daily. Locally, we don’t have much racial diversity. We have to remember that what is happening in this novel is happening in the Deep South where many of us probably have never been but only seen in movies or read in books. We should also keep in mind the timeline of the story. I know this does not make what they were doing any better, but it was happening often, was almost normal.

Eliza

4/24/2020 12:38:14 pm

I think that the best example of a mocking bird is Tom Robinson. He didn't do anything wrong but he is being punished for Ellamay's actions. Atticus is also a good example of a mocking bird in this book. He has been spit at, called so many names and people dislike him and his family for that. Boo Radley is also a good example because he was blamed for vandalism and other teen-aged pranks that hes father put him in prison for.

trishelle

4/24/2020 03:51:29 pm

I feel the same way about Tom. It is crazy how people act when you are different.

Boaz

4/24/2020 07:46:39 pm

Ya I didn't think of the ways that Boo has already been linked to a mocking bird but you are totally right.

trishelle

4/24/2020 03:49:56 pm

I think that Tom Robinson would make the perfect mocking bird. Tom has done nothing wrong, but it is his word against whomever. But automatically he is guilty because of the color of his skin. It is not fair that he has to go to jail when he has done nothing wrong. Also another person that I would consider to be a mocking bird would be Atticus. Atticus is a good man. He is well respected by some but there are just the crazies who spit and yell at him.

Lizzie

4/24/2020 04:24:16 pm

These are some great examples of a mockingbird. It isn't fair that Tom had to go to jail and it is too bad that he was found guilty due to his skin color.

Kendra

4/26/2020 07:46:11 am

I agree with all of the examples you wrote. Atticus does seem like a very good man but people can’t see why he would help a colored man.

Lizzie

4/24/2020 04:22:09 pm

I think that a good example of a Mockingbird is Scout. People often perceive Scout as reckless, not ladylike, impolite, while she is actually just a curious young girl without a mother. Scout is very opinionated which isn't a bad thing it just makes people think she is impolite or rude. She is really spirited but in the end is still really just a sweet kid who at times has to grow up quickly. Her innocence was somewhat killed when she went to the trial, it forces her to learn very quickly. In the end she is still just a kid without a mother trying to get by.

Boaz

4/24/2020 07:52:03 pm

I didn't think of Scout having to grow up especially fast. She did have to go through a lot of hard things that forced her to understand things that are hard to accept

Kendra

4/26/2020 07:41:39 am

Scout is a great example of a “mockingbird.” She is seen differently by simply the way she dresses.

Ele

4/27/2020 08:12:29 pm

I agree, Scout is an awesome example. She is a very outgoing and went through a lot like you said! Throughout the book she had to become more and more dependent and everything started escalating quickly in her life and she started to learn a lot.

Boaz

4/24/2020 07:44:49 pm

To me there are 2 main aspects to a mocking bird, a kind of neutral good and a sense of innocence. The perfect example of this is revealed at the end of the book but for now I see Tom with a neutral good alignment. Generally he minds his own business but he is a good person. In the book his employer says that Tom hasn't caused any trouble ever and Tom helped Mayella when he passed. In this case Tom literally died. I think we always associate nature with innocence especially when it comes to birds. I have no idea why but even I do. Scout has that kind of naturally good innocence. She calmed a mob and saved her father from potential problems by just being innocent. Scout figuratively dies because we know that a child's innocence will eventually leave.

Keely

4/26/2020 07:04:02 pm

A child’s innocence is most humbling. Seeing what scout did through out the book proves this. Grown men were left speechless in her presence because of it.

Tyler

4/26/2020 07:13:09 pm

Yah but a lot of the people in Maycomb just can’t see why some people like Tom help others out just out of the goodness of their heart.

Kendra

4/26/2020 07:32:36 am

A clear example of a “mockingbird” in this story is Tom Robinson. Tom has a different color of skin, therefore he is treated differently. You can see that he did not harm anyone or anything. Another good example of a “mockingbird” would be Atticus Finch. He is a kind, hardworking man. He was assigned to Tom’s case, so others portray him as a traitor. Bob Ewell spit on him and he was also criticized by many other people. He did a good deed and people still hate him for it.

Janessa

4/26/2020 06:40:51 pm

Atticus really did do a good deed defending Tom. I thought it was really nice for the black community to thank him by standing for him and bringing food for his family.

Madeline Sapp

4/27/2020 12:09:36 am

I agree Atticus is a really good example of a mockingbird.

Kendra

4/26/2020 07:38:38 am

I believe a clear “mockingbird” in the story is Tom Robinson. In Tom’s case he was treated differently because of the color of his skin. Tom was innocent and it’s unfair how he is treated. Another “mockingbird” would be Atticus Finch. He is a kind, respected man. But just because he did a good deed for Tom, because he was assigned to he is treated differently. Bob Ewell saw him and spat on him even though his daughter got what she wanted. He is also criticized by other people because of what he did.

Kendra

4/26/2020 07:40:01 am

I thought it deleted my first response so I tried to remember what I wrote on the first one, that’s why there is 2. 😂

Nathan

4/26/2020 06:48:33 pm

I agree with what you said Tom Robinson did nothing wrong

Janessa

4/26/2020 06:29:47 pm

An example of a "mockingbird" would be the mixed children. White people won't have anything to do with them because they're black and black people won't have anything to do with them because they're white. In their society mixed children have the saddest situations because no one will accept them, whereas even if you are black you have a community. Another mockingbird to me is Mayella Ewell. She had a lonely childhood and wasn't positively influenced throughout it because Atticus scares her on the stand and she feels she is being "mocked". (Haha. Mocked. Get it? MOCK-ing bird? "Mocked"?) She's the only person running the house and her father has abused her. On page 194 Scout says she "must have been the loneliest person in the world". (Honestly I really like that quote please go read it). Just like the mixed children, she isn't welcomed by either the whites or blacks. The only person that showed her some amount of decency was Tom, but she accused him. I don't know her motives, whether her father threatened or brainwashed her, or she was angry Tom didn't accept her. Obviously this doesn't excuse what she did in any way, but she was still hurt. Even in her situation, she still cared about things and tried to have a good life, shown by her geraniums she cared for. To me she's a mockingbird because of all that's happened to her, even if it caused her to do some bad things.

Janessa

4/26/2020 06:30:28 pm

Oh man I have a LOT to say about the whole Mayella situtaion. I have so many theories!!

Keely

4/26/2020 07:01:45 pm

The mixed children are a great example, they’re tossed around by Maycomb society in a way because they don’t really belong to any group due to their race.

Ele

4/27/2020 07:57:17 pm

I really like how you related mix children to a mockingbird. Those are great insights, and the would be really hard. Hahah and nice pun! That is a really good quote.

Cade

6/4/2020 01:55:33 pm

You're completely right that they just never had a chance. It wasn't fair to them being rejected by both of their heritage's.

Nathan

4/26/2020 06:47:04 pm

Tom Robinson is prime example of a mocking bird. He was an honest man and did no crime. He was kind and didn’t want to hurt a sole. But because of his situation he was unjustly accused of raping miss mayella. His being black was the only reason he was decided guilty. As humans i wonder why we have this heinous streak in us is. I am surprised of how we can treat each other this way for the sake of tradition or because other people are doing it. It is not right. We were all created equal.

Tyler

4/26/2020 07:08:35 pm

I thought that too, the jury just couldn’t see the reason for Tom to be so nice to Mayella.

carson

5/11/2020 10:48:14 am

I agree Tom is innocent. He just wanted to be a good honest man and he was killed for it.

Keely

4/26/2020 07:00:06 pm

The top “mockingbird” in this story is Tom Robinson. He was of a different race, one that was frowned upon greatly. He did no harm to anyone. He did things out of the goodness of his heart with no fee in mind. He was accused of raping Mayella Ewell mainly because it’s something a “man of his standings would do”. Seeing as though he couldn’t much considering his deformity. It’s sickening to think that assumptions and cases like these are still going on today. We claim to be evolved and pride ourselves on being better but there are some ways in which we’ve never glanced at the opportunity of change.

Madeline Sapp

4/27/2020 12:07:57 am

I agree it is absolutely sickening and we have no excuse all we can do now is learn from past mistakes and make an effort to change.

Tyler

4/26/2020 07:06:48 pm

I think that a great example of a mockingbird would be Atticus. He is a just man that only does good for other people and he tried to the most of his abilities to save Tom Robinson but he failed. After that it seemed like Atticus had gotten nicked down and was having trouble getting back up. Another example of a mockingbird would be Tom he would go and help Mayella just out of the good of his heart but the judge and the jury just couldn’t see the reason for him going and doing her chores even though he knew he had chores of his own. Tom was just trying to be a good man but in the courtroom all I’d did was just make him look more guilty because of all the selfish people in the jury.

Myah

5/17/2020 09:14:13 pm

I like what you said about Tom and I agree. It's sad that in that society, and even in society sometimes today, how people can misjudge you or not understand you when you do something good or nice to other people. In Tom's case, this was simply because of his race, which is horrible.

Ele

4/26/2020 09:09:43 pm

An example in the book of a mockingbird would be Tom Robinson. He always wanted to help no matter what and had lots of good in his heart. No one would believe him to do such a thing because of his race and they don’t believe someone like him could do something good for free. Many people did not him mostly based on his race, and he couldn’t change that. He was accused for raping Mayella when all he ever did was help her. Tom was a very honest and kind man and he wanted people to know that. Many people put these horrible assumptions on him because if they were wrong and if they thought they would be wrong , they would be humiliated. It is just natural in there day to not trust any man or woman like Tom. The jury did him unfair and Atticus tried his best. Which Atticus in many ways is also a “Mockingbird.”

Madeline Sapp

4/27/2020 12:04:29 am

In this book there are multiple examples of mockingbirds. To me the first one who came to mind was Tom. He did absolutely nothing wrong. He went to work and his boss said he never caused any problems, and he even helped his neighbor who he did not need to help. This same neighbor who he had been helping for about a year took advantage of him and accused him of rape. The next example of a mockingbird in this book I believe is the African American race. I think this because in the book not once do they cause any problem or hurt anyone they would even rather avoid justice for themselves rather than going to court just because they knew what would happen to them. These people who washed their clothes and dishes, did the cooking and cleaning were mocked, doubted, and hurt all because other people were to prideful and stubborn to give them rights or even a shred of dignity.

Cade

6/4/2020 01:53:59 pm

I agree that Tom was actually very innocent.

carson

5/11/2020 10:47:15 am

I think Tom is a mockingbird because he is innocent. I think anther character that is a mockingbird Is Atticus because he is nice to everyone. He is also genuine around everyone. He just wants to do good, and be a fair person. These are the 2 characters I would say are most like mockingbirds.

Myah

5/17/2020 09:09:29 pm

I think Boo Radley is a mockingbird because he is very kind and innocent even though so many people on the story view him negatively. At first he is portrayed by the kids as some creepy guy who only comes out at night, but in reality we learn he is just really quiet and shy. He's frightened of society because of how his father treated him as a child, so he is actually a victim of his fathers cruelty. We can see how kind he truly is though by how he leaves presents for Jem and Scout in the knothole.

Megan

5/20/2020 10:44:33 am

An example of a mocking bird in this novel is Tom Robinson. I feel he was a mocking bird because of the color of his skin and society standards. Today society still sets on these different colored skin standards. All people should have and opportunity to speak how they feel no matter race or ethnicity. People should learn from this book and reflect on how the actions of people today can effect the lives of black people.

Cade

6/4/2020 01:52:50 pm

One of the people I thought was a mockingbird was Boo Radley because everyone thought he was terrible but he was actually pretty kind. Everyone thought he was just a strange man who happened to be a night owl but he was actually just kinda shy and standoffish. He was nice in the way that he left little gifts in the hole for the kids. The way his dad treated him as a kid ruined how he saw society around him, causing him to be seen as an old bitter man.

Mockingbirds

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