To Kill A Mockingbird

The Senseless Slaughter Of Songbirds By Hunters And Children

By Beth Swanson

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." This quote from To Kill A Mockingbird highlights the general theme of the book. Throughout the book, there are many "mockingbirds". A few characters that are such "mockingbirds" are Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson among many others.

Throughout the entire length of the book, Atticus Finch did many good deeds for the entire Maycomb county, but it earned him little respect from most of the community. Many characters in the book took offense to Atticus's sincerity in the Tom Robinson trial. "The court appointed Atticus to defend him. Atticus aimed to defend him. That's what they didn't like about it. It was confusing." That is what Scout says to explain why the towns people are offended by Atticus's standpoint in the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus chose to let his children in on the happenings of the case. He let them stay at the trial to see the decision of the jury and told them exactly why everyone was mad at him. A lot of towns people saw this as him being a poor parent, although he never endangered his children and all he actually did was tell them the truth. Through the book Atticus only did what he thought was fair to do and he stuck to his morals, but many people were still offended for no legitimate reasons.

Another character that is a "mockingbird" throughout the book is Boo Radley.

Through the book, he does many small good deeds for the Finch children, but they still

fear him. The Radleys are private people and Boo had gotten into trouble as a teen, as

many teens do. He grew to become a shy and very private man, and didn't leave his

house. As a result, there were many rumors about him. Jem describes him as a monster.

"Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his track; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were blood stained.... There was a long, jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time."

Although, in the end of the book we discover Boo was really just a pale, feeble old man

who was very compassionate and just tried to be a good neighbor. He left Jem and Scout

many small, thoughtful presents in the oak tree, he mended Jem's pants, and he put a

blanket around Scout's shoulders when Miss Maudie's house was on fire. When Scout

walked him home and stood on his front porch, she realized what all she had failed to

consider about Boo. When