Who is The Mockingbird in "To Kill a Mockingbird?"
What is a "mockingbird" and why is it important to the book? A Mockingbird is a harmless, innocent creature, but why is that important? In this book, a "mockingbird" is an innocent individual who is harmed or destroyed by evil. A "mockingbird" is very symbolic in this novel. Many innocent people are destroyed by evil. In this book they compare mockingbirds to real people. For example, Tom Robinson was innocent in a trial, but his verdict was guilty because he was black. Miss Maudie says: "Your father is right," she said. "Mockingbirds don't do one thing, but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't rest in corncribs, they don't do anything except sing their hearts out. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."-page. 119. Tom and many other "mockingbirds" had wrong done to them.
The most significant "mockingbird" in this novel is Tom Robinson.
During chapters seventeen through twenty-one, a trial that involves Tom is going on. The Ewell's have accused Tom Robinson of raping a white woman. That woman's name was Mayella Ewell. Basically, the Ewell's side of the story is this: Mayella needed help with chopping up a chiffarobe, and Tom was passing by. Mayella yelled for Tom for help. Mayella went into her house, and Tom followed. When Mayella turned around, Tom grabbed and beat her. He strangled and then raped her. Then Mr. Ewell saw him, and Tom ran away. Atticus pointed out many flaws in this story. After Mayella was raped, no one took her to the doctor. Her right eye that was blackened suggests someone left hand dominant hit her. Tom's left hand was crippled, so he pointed out he couldn't have done it.