Symbolism in TKAM

The mockingbird motif:

• most salient symbol in the novel
• repeated image of an innocence cretaure makes it a strong motif
• appears in chapter 10 - 'shoot all the bluejays you want if you can hi em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird' (pg 96). 
• scout is surprised to hear a nonjudgemental atticus calling anything a sin
• miss maudie explains that they are neither harmful nor destructive and only make nice music for people to enjoy 
• the symbol is kept alive through the narrative, continually reminding us of the themes it is associated with 
• it is refered to when:
• after the mad dog incident (chapter 10) - courage
• when waiting for the jury's verdict (chapter 21) - prejudice
• in Mr Underwood's article about Tom's death (chapter 25) - prejudice 
• 'the trees were still, the mockingbirds were silent' - represent and forershadows the dog's fate in chapter 10. innocent about to be silenced. symbolic of something bad going to happen in maycomb. the mockingbirds are used to create suspense
• at tense moments, the mockingbirds are refered to as being silent
• in moments of descriptive beauty the mockingbird is often allueded to, lurking somewhere in the background
• harper lee invits the reader to consider the 'mockingbird' in all its associations: the children mock Boo's life as they make fun of and imitate it; Mayella accuses Atticus of mocking her; the trail is a mockery of justice
• tom is clearly associated with the symbol
• connection with boo radley is not made clear until scout recognises in chapter 30 that bringing boo into the public gaze would be like shooting a mockingbird
• positioning the symbol that has been a motif throughout right at the end of the novel emphasises that the author is trying to make an important, positive point 
• value of the mockingbird has to be appreciated
• tom and boo are arguably the…