Loss of Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

Innocence Destroyed by the Evil of Mankind

In Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley symbolize mockingbirds that sing their hearts out for us (90), but mimic other birds songs. Since mockingbirds have no song of their own, they are judged by what other birds sing. Neither Boo nor Tom has their own song and they are labelled through silent gossip and hurtful actions from Maycomb citizens. Boo Radley is a mockingbird because he is seen as a malevolent phantom (8), judged by his lifestyle of not leaving his house. Tom Robinson is seen as a rapist, judged by the colour of his skin. Neither is what they are perceived to be. Although Boo Radley and Tom Robinson have very different lifestyles, they are both mockingbirds in the sense that they share the same prejudice judgment. They are similar because they are both social outcasts, however their innocence, accusations and consequences are drastically opposite.

Tom Robinson and Arthur Boo Radley are both innocent, and do nothing to deserve the reputation they have. However the people in Maycomb still find any reason to find them guilty because they are easy prey. Boo Radley has a mental child-like innocence because he has never left the house and is emotionally damaged by his father, making it hard to grow up. Yet he is perceived as the neighbourhood monster through silent gossip, he is labelled as a frightening person, Mrs.Radley ran out screaming into the street that Arthur was killing them all... (11). His Innocence is later realized by the children as a choice, Im beginning to understand why Boo Radleys stayed shut up in the house all this timeits because he wants to stay inside (227). Tom Robinson is innocent because he never raped Mayella. Yet, just because he is black, he is easy prey in a world run by white people. Tom Robinson said, I did not suh [rape Mayella Ewell], (194) to attempt to prove his innocence. How could he of harmed Mayella when, Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her (192). No matter how innocent Boo and Tom are, society is cruel to them because they are easy prey for the accusations of the people in Maycomb.

Tom and Boo are very similar in the sense that they are innocent, but yet found guilty. Since they are such easy victims, they are accused of things they clearly have not done. Tom Robinson is accused of raping a Mayella Ewell who is a white girl. Through the trail it is made clear that Mayella had not been raped by Tom, but beat by her father. If her right eye was blackedit would tend to show that a left-handed person did it (178). [Tom Robinsons] left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right I could see it was no use to him (186). This proves to the reader how prevalent discrimination is at this point in time. When Tom was accused, it was like shooting a mockingbird because Tom had done nothing wrong. Boo Radley is accused, through town gossip and rumours of trying to kill his family, Mrs.Radley ran out screaming into the street that Arthur was killing them all... (11). He was also accused of having to go to an asylum, because he was crazy, however, no Radley was going to an asylum (11). Some other rumours accused Mr.Radley of keeping him chained to the bed most of the time (11). However Boo never left the house, and no one ever talked to him, therefore all these stories were made up by the imaginations of the people in Maycomb. These stories tell us more about the people in Maycomb, then of Boo himself. They obviously have nothing better to do but to bully an innocent neighbour. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are both affected by the false accusations, which then lead to unjust repercussions.

Although Tom and Boo are both wrongly accused, their repercussions are completely opposite. Since Tom was accused of raping Mayella, he is sent to prison, where he is shot 17 times while trying to escape. Tom was killed all because justice and honesty was completely dishonoured. Boo was accused of being a terrifying, no good monster. On one hand the accusations affect Boo positively after he saves Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell. Scout then sees him as a kind friend and an actual human; I found it incredible that he had been sitting beside me this whole time, present (277). On the other hand, because Boo left his house on the night Bob was killed, town people will start speculating why, and it will most likely be negative. The after affects of the accusations were completely negative for Tom, however for Boo the affects were positive and negative.

Shoot all the bluejays you wantbut remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird (90). Mockingbirds are innocent in the sense that they do nothing wrong, but yet they are destroyed by vicious gossip and painful actions. Tom Robinson was seen as guilty and destroyed by false accusations, leading him to an early death. Boo Radley is seen as a fearful, dreadful person through town gossip and put through years of torment from Maycomb citizens. In the end, Boo finds the courage to leave his house to save Jem, only making rumours start again. Tom and Boo are both social outcasts, yet live in completely separate worlds. They do not deserve the reputation they have around town, especially since it is all vicious rumours. Tom and Boo are innocent people, like a mockingbird, it is a sin to kill them.

CITATION

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1960.