To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. Harper Lee uses symbolism to portray some of the main themes and ideas in To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel's main ideas are negative effects of racial and social segregation and the attitudes and influence of society on people at the time of the novel. The symbol of a flower represents different female characters in the novel and show their attitude towards society, the influence that society has on them and how this shows racial and social segregation. This symbol is repeated throughout the novel to remind the reader about the key theme of the novel. Miss Maudie and her azalea flowers represent her understanding but critical personality, Miss Maudie is critical towards those who are 'snobs' in society. We often see Scout say "Miss Maudie and her azaleas" whenever she thinks of Miss Maudie. Azalea flowers are a common and hardy flower, they can grow in any kind of soil and can grow in the shade.
President George W. Bush awards the Presidential M...
Film producer Alan J. Pakula with Lee; Lee spent t...
Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)Miss Maudie is a tolerant person, she remains very positive when her house burns down, she is also tolerant towards the 'foot-washers' when "they pointed to Miss Maudie Attikson's yard, ablaze with summer flowers" (Page 175) and criticize her garden. Azaleas are beautiful on the outside but they usually grow in acidic soil. This relates to Miss Maudie because she appears like a nice lady on the outside and generally acts nice to whoever she thinks is a good person, however she is 'acidic' or toxic towards people she does not like such as the gossip Mrs Merryweather and the 'foot-washers'. When the foot-washers come by her house she comes out onto on her porch to confront them, Scout says "We knew she wore a grin of the uttermost wickedness" (Page...