Harper Lee uses the mockingbird as a recurring motif throught out ‘To kill a Mockingbird’. The symbol represents a character who has had there innocence destroyed by evil. An example of a character who may be a mockingbird is Atticus.
Atticus is a mockingbird as he tries to help the community and even takes the case of defending Tom Robinson in court which is considered a bad thing in the society of Maycomb County. However Atticus faces hatred from society and is called a ‘Niger lover’ for protecting a black man in court who appears to be innocent. The citizens of Maycomb county are destroying Atticuses innocence as he is trying to be helpful in the community, yet he receives hatred for his actions.
React!