To Kill A Mockingbird Literary Devices Essay
Below is an essay that I wrote as an honors assignment on To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and the literary devices that Lee used throughout the novel. This assignment had no designated class time to work and the essay was due a week from the proposal.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a powerful story about the racial discrimination that was rampant in 1930’s Alabama. The small town of Maycomb is segregated into two categories: white and black. Rarely is such racism bridged with the exception of a small girl named Scout Finch and her father Atticus. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee selects such stylistic devices as symbolism, foreshadowing and irony to present her theme of inequality and tell the story of a brave man who fights for those that do not have a voice during the Great Depression.
In the literary sense, symbolism is used to enhance the description of a story and give the reader a deeper meaning. The title of the novel is the most obvious use of symbolism. The mockingbird is an animal meant for enjoyment. It sings a sweet song and hurts nothing. When she receives an airgun as a gift, Scout is instructed to leave the mockingbirds alone for they pose no threat. Lee uses the mockingbird as a symbol of purity and innocence. Tom Robinson is a black male accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a young white female. Although all evidence points to Mayella’s father, Robert Ewell, as the perpetrator the jury decides that Tom is guilty primarily because he is black. In this case, Tom is the mockingbird; shot down although he has done no harm. Another example of symbolism in the theme of inequality is Scout’s pants. She is an independent girl that doesn’t follow the social norms of wearing dresses and playing with dolls. Instead, she is a tomboy and enjoys playing outside, getting dirty and sports. The pants represent her independent thinking and ability to express herself, something many girls were not doing at the time. Additionally, it is this way of thinking that allows Scout to see beyond the color of someone’s skin and accept the social outcasts.
Along with symbolism, Lee’s use of foreshadowing is another device which effectively present theme. The use of this allows the reader to have some insight into the character’s point of view. One example of this device is when Atticus shoots the mad dog at gunpoint. This scene foreshadows multiple things. First, the fear that the dog puts into the neighborhood foreshadows the fear that many feel towards Tom and the negroes in the community. Most people hide from the dog and often avoided confrontation with the black community as well. Secondly, it foreshadows the fate of Tom and his trial. The dog is running around and then shot just as Tom will be running from the courthouse and shot. The last example of this foreshadow is the fact that Atticus didn’t really want to shoot the dog as it was not something he was good at but he took the responsibility upon himself. Similarly, he is not required to fight racism in his defense of Tom but he takes on this regardless. Another example of foreshadowing is when Scout and her brother begin to find gifts left for them in a tree hole. The children are excited but wary of the gifts. This foreshadows the relationship between Scout and Boo Radley, the town hermit and how something initially frightening or uneasy can turn into something good.
Irony is another common literary device utilized by Lee. She uses this style to express her opinions about racism and prejudice. This is demonstrated when Bob Ewell is called to the stand during Tom Robinson’s trial. He is called by his full name, Robert E. Lee Ewell. This is ironic because Robert E. Lee was a confederate soldier during the Civil War who was opposed to slavery while Bob Ewell is the epitome of a bigot. The only thing they have in common is that they are both southerners. It is also ironic that he does eventually pay with his life for the crimes he committed although it was not “law” that punished him. Because he was a white man he was not a suspect in his daughter’s attack and therefore not charged with the crime. But ultimately, and ironically, he still paid with his life. Irony is also seen when Scout’s teacher criticizes Hitler for being prejudiced when in reality she is too, just towards a different race. It’s funny how someone can be so judgemental but excuse their own behavior. Lastly, it is ironic that the town “church lady”, Mrs. Merriweather, praises the work of Mr. Everett for working with african tribes but criticizes Atticus’ defense of Tom Robinson. Essentially, both men are working towards helping the needy, lesser represented classes of society.
Harper Lee’s use of symbolism, foreshadowing and irony in To Kill A Mockingbird allows the theme of inequality to be clearly represented. To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel about long standing prejudice and hypocrisy in a small southern town. But, honestly, it is a snapshot into how easy it is to judge and be judged simply by the mask we wear outside. After all, we truly don’t know how someone feels until we walk a mile in their shoes.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a powerful story about the racial discrimination that was rampant in 1930’s Alabama. The small town of Maycomb is segregated into two categories: white and black. Rarely is such racism bridged with the exception of a small girl named Scout Finch and her father Atticus. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee selects such stylistic devices as symbolism, foreshadowing and irony to present her theme of inequality and tell the story of a brave man who fights for those that do not have a voice during the Great Depression.
In the literary sense, symbolism is used to enhance the description of a story and give the reader a deeper meaning. The title of the novel is the most obvious use of symbolism. The mockingbird is an animal meant for enjoyment. It sings a sweet song and hurts nothing. When she receives an airgun as a gift, Scout is instructed to leave the mockingbirds alone for they pose no threat. Lee uses the mockingbird as a symbol of purity and innocence. Tom Robinson is a black male accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a young white female. Although all evidence points to Mayella’s father, Robert Ewell, as the perpetrator the jury decides that Tom is guilty primarily because he is black. In this case, Tom is the mockingbird; shot down although he has done no harm. Another example of symbolism in the theme of inequality is Scout’s pants. She is an independent girl that doesn’t follow the social norms of wearing dresses and playing with dolls. Instead, she is a tomboy and enjoys playing outside, getting dirty and sports. The pants represent her independent thinking and ability to express herself, something many girls were not doing at the time. Additionally, it is this way of thinking that allows Scout to see beyond the color of someone’s skin and accept the social outcasts.
Along with symbolism, Lee’s use of foreshadowing is another device which effectively present theme. The use of this allows the reader to have some insight into the character’s point of view. One example of this device is when Atticus shoots the mad dog at gunpoint. This scene foreshadows multiple things. First, the fear that the dog puts into the neighborhood foreshadows the fear that many feel towards Tom and the negroes in the community. Most people hide from the dog and often avoided confrontation with the black community as well. Secondly, it foreshadows the fate of Tom and his trial. The dog is running around and then shot just as Tom will be running from the courthouse and shot. The last example of this foreshadow is the fact that Atticus didn’t really want to shoot the dog as it was not something he was good at but he took the responsibility upon himself. Similarly, he is not required to fight racism in his defense of Tom but he takes on this regardless. Another example of foreshadowing is when Scout and her brother begin to find gifts left for them in a tree hole. The children are excited but wary of the gifts. This foreshadows the relationship between Scout and Boo Radley, the town hermit and how something initially frightening or uneasy can turn into something good.
Irony is another common literary device utilized by Lee. She uses this style to express her opinions about racism and prejudice. This is demonstrated when Bob Ewell is called to the stand during Tom Robinson’s trial. He is called by his full name, Robert E. Lee Ewell. This is ironic because Robert E. Lee was a confederate soldier during the Civil War who was opposed to slavery while Bob Ewell is the epitome of a bigot. The only thing they have in common is that they are both southerners. It is also ironic that he does eventually pay with his life for the crimes he committed although it was not “law” that punished him. Because he was a white man he was not a suspect in his daughter’s attack and therefore not charged with the crime. But ultimately, and ironically, he still paid with his life. Irony is also seen when Scout’s teacher criticizes Hitler for being prejudiced when in reality she is too, just towards a different race. It’s funny how someone can be so judgemental but excuse their own behavior. Lastly, it is ironic that the town “church lady”, Mrs. Merriweather, praises the work of Mr. Everett for working with african tribes but criticizes Atticus’ defense of Tom Robinson. Essentially, both men are working towards helping the needy, lesser represented classes of society.
Harper Lee’s use of symbolism, foreshadowing and irony in To Kill A Mockingbird allows the theme of inequality to be clearly represented. To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel about long standing prejudice and hypocrisy in a small southern town. But, honestly, it is a snapshot into how easy it is to judge and be judged simply by the mask we wear outside. After all, we truly don’t know how someone feels until we walk a mile in their shoes.