What does the title of the book refer to? How is this connected to patriotism?
Uploaded by Artinger on Jun 11, 2004
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about the racist South during the Great Depression. The title literally means killing mockingbirds. They are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, Atticus and Jeremy Atticus Finch. The title connects to patriotism because one of the main actions of a patriot is to help the helpless. One can help the country not only through actions, but also by words and thoughts. “To Kill a Mockingbird” literally means to not only cause death of a person, but to hurt a “Mockingbird”. A “mockingbird” is literally a common singing bird that is remarkable for its exact imitation of the notes of other birds. In this story it stands for an innocent man that reflects the community in which he lives in. “Killing” a “mockingbird”, in other words, is about defeating an innocent person who reflects the community. Patriotism is the love and devotion to one’s country. A patriot must be willing to risk his own life for his country. Patriots do the right thing for the country and care about equality. Patriots do their civic duties and respect for different viewpoints.
Arthur “Boo” Radley is an excellent example of a “mockingbird”, because it not only says so in the book, but he is someone from the lower hierarchy, who is weaker than others. His hair was described as “feathery” like a bird, which is a hint that he is a Mockingbird. He reflects the Maycomb community by staying inside of his house after his father’s death. He is not willing to have anything to do with other people because that will lead them to gossip and eventually to trouble. He has been supposedly “with the wrong kind of people”. He stabbed his father with a pair of scissors and went back to his work, but because he was a child, not knowing what’s wrong, he can be seen as innocent. His father traps him at home, “killing” the innocent child. Boo Radley no longer has a life, and stays at home. At the end of the book he comes out and saves Scout and Jem when Bob Ewell tries to kill them. Mr. Heck Tate doesn’t tell on him because Boo has done something good, even though it was violent. Telling on him would be “killing a...