Symbolic Names in To Kill a Mockingbird Novel by: Harper Lee Presentation by: Mr. Lindgren

The essence of symbolism As we have previously discussed, symbolism is when an object stands for something else or has a special meaning associated with it. HOWEVER, symbols can be things other than objects, like names, for example. When writers are choosing names for characters, they often want to choose a name that fits that character’s personality. Harper Lee was no different when she assigned names to the memorable characters in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Atticus What does Atticus do for a living? Lawyer Is he a good lawyer? How do we know he takes his job seriously? He is an excellent lawyer. We know he takes his job seriously because of how much effort he put into defending Tom Robinson. Where are all men truly equal according to Atticus? In the courtroom, Atticus believes that people should be treated equally. Take a guess at what his name means…

The truth about Atticus… Atticus is the English respelling of the Greek word “Attikos.” This word was used by an Athenian poet and legal reformer named Solon in his writings. It ties Atticus to Solon, who was responsible for instituting the democratic laws of Athens sometime between 640-559 BC.

Scout Who is the narrator of this story? Scout is. The narrative is in first person p.o.v. Her name should be easy to figure out. So, what exactly is a scout? The American Heritage College Dictionary defines a scout as “one that is dispatched from the main body to gather information…to observe and evaluate.” Somebody please summarize why Harper Lee chose this nickname for Jean Louise Finch.

Jem Jem’s character description goes out to you…somebody please describe Jeremy Finch for me. Okay, so why might this name be symbolic of Jem? A gem, besides a valuable stone, is also defined in The American Heritage College Dictionary as “a beloved or highly prized person.” The author, like the characters in the book, like most readers of the novel, think Jem is a special boy.

Calpurnia…this one’s debatable We know that Calpurnia is the faithful, strict, motherly maid of the Finch family. However, was this name choice significant and/or symbolic? Calphurnia was the third wife of the Roman Emporer Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) who was noted for her faithfulness, but who had no children of her own. The similarity in faithfulness is apparent, but what is troubling? Does that matter?

Mayella Violet Ewell Although there seems to be no significance to the name Mayella, who can guess the symbolism of this character’s middle name, Violet? Remember the geraniums. Mayella seems to be a flower trying to bloom in the middle of a landfill. Flowers are symbols of beauty, and we know from the novel that Mayella tried to keep clean and she tried to maintain something beautiful in her ugly life.

Bob Ewell Have fun describing this man… So…guess what “Ewell” means. Despicable. Mean. Violent. He spends his welfare checks on booze. It was hinted at that he has a sexual relationship with Mayella. He threatened Atticus. It’s obvious he planned the Tom Robinson trial. The list of reasons he’s THE bad guy of this novel goes on and on and on… So…guess what “Ewell” means. Yep! Ewell is an old English form of the world e-v-i-l. How about that?!

Boo Radley What’s his real name? Arthur. Any connection to other pieces of literature? King Arthur Does that fit his character? SURE! He saves the day for the Finch family. He’s a hero!

Dill His name has nothing to do with pickles!!! The only significance I can think of, and this is a stretch, is that his names is a small flowering plant. From this plant’s seeds, spices are made. (Dill pickles) What is interesting about Dill is that is has been said that his character is based on Truman Capote, a famous American author who was a friend of Harper Lee’s. Capote wrote such famous novels as In Cold Blood, Answered Prayers, and the very famous novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s (turned into a movie).

Tonight’s Assignment What is the symbolism of your name? Almost all names have a meaning. Matthew, for example, means “God’s gift.” I find that completely appropriate! Use a name dictionary (found online, you may have one at home) or your parents. Ask them why they named you what they named you. Then, tell me whether it fits your personality or not.

Other symbols in the story Jem’s snowman…the morphodite? The blending of mud and snow, black and white, shows that people are basically the same. What happens to the snowman? Fire melts it. What could the fire symbolize? The burning racism of Maycomb.

Jem’s destruction of camellia bushes Camellias are white… Mrs. Dubose represents all of Maycomb’s racist ways, and as Jem destroys her white flowers, it is symbolic of his attack on all of Maycomb Later, when Jem nurses the flower she gives him, it is symbolic that he is trying to cope with his neighbors and hold onto his views.