Themes And Symbols

Themes: Coexistence of Good &Evil Explore the moral nature of human beings--Are people essentially good or essentially evil? Scout and Jem assume that people are good because they have never seen evil. Develop this throughout the novel in order to understand their world. The Threat that Prejudice and Ignorance pose to the Innocent Tom and Boo are not prepared for the evil they encounter and, as a result, are destroyed. Jem is victimized to an extent by his discovery of the evil of racism during and after the trial Scout maintains her basic faith in human nature despite the outcome of Tom’s trial, but Jem’s faith in justice is badly damaged

Atticus is the Law Atticus is the moral voice is virtually unique in the novel in that he has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness Understand that people are grey, not black/white; good/evil Recognizes that the good qualities must be appreciated Understands the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”

The Importance of Moral Education In a sense, the plot of the story charts Scout’s moral education and the theme of how children are educated– how they are taught to move from innocence to understanding Atticus plays a key role in this development Devotes himself to instilling a social conscience in Jem and Scout School scenes provide a contrast to Atticus’s effective education Scout is frequently confronted with teachers who are either frustratingly unsympathetic to children’s need or morally hypocritical Sympathy and Understanding are the most important lesson Atticus’s methods vs. Miss Caroline’s rigidity

Symbol: Mockingbirds Mockingbirds= innocents destroyed by evil To kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence “Mockingbirds” in the novel= innocents who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil Atticus: publically ridiculed b/c he chose to defend a negro. Maycomb conveniently forgets the reputation for fairness and justice he has built for himself Helen Robinson: tried her bets to bring up her family after Tom’s death but is pestered by the Ewell’s and ignored by the “do-gooders” Mrs. Dubose: is hated by the children (misunderstood) Miss Maudie: loves her flowers; for this, certain religious people say she belongs to the devil Miss Caroline Fisher: experiences difficulties during her first year teaching b/c she has come from away and does not understand the ways of Maycomb people

Mockingbirds, cont. Mayella Ewell: victim of family circumstances; b/c of father, she is poor and friendless, and her loneliness causes her to seduce Tom Robinson. The Cunninghams: their poverty has made them suffer, but they are hardworking and proud Dill: sent away to Maycomb each summer b/c his parents are separated and his mother wants her freedom Jem and Scout: victimized by their father’s actions; both are innocent victims who are caused to suffer through no fault of their own