In a similar vein, another theme to be considered is the significance of the mockingbird’s connection with childhood innocence. On many occasion throughout the novel children were being exposed to the harsh reality of the racial segregation rampant at that time. The unanimous decision to incarcerate Tom Robinson, regardless of the evidence, was witnessed by Scout and Jem. It went against all their principles of fairness they had been taught and destroyed their view of the world as a fair and just place, making them another symbolic mockingbird.
The significance of the mockingbird’s symbology of freedom of spirit can also be closely associated with the racial prejudice presented throughout the novel. The blacks are denied the fundamental right of human beings, the right to live without persecution. If it’s a sin
to kill a mockingbird, it’s a sin to deny the rights of people to just be.
It is not lost on the reader that the trial of Tom Robinson is a mockery – loosely linking with the word in the title. The trial would not and could not ever be fair – the racial prejudice against blacks was too strong. A black could never go against a white, and Atticus Finch knew he couldn’t win even before the trial. Harper Lee uses mockery in the title for many varied and great effects. The two words in the beginning of the title “To Kill’ have great impact because they form one of the Ten Commandments. We, as Christians, know that this is a sin.
Dolphus Raymond is another character who is trying to fit in to a conservative, racist society. He pretends to be an alcoholic so that people will accept his mixed marriage. “It aint honest but it is mighty helpful to folks.” He does not have the freedom to behave in an honest way so again Harper Lee shows us that losing freedom can have many faces even though we are not all mocking bird‘s. “They could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.”
Various different meanings can be interpreted from the title To Kill a Mockingbird. The most literal situation in the text, much alike the title, is the destroying of a good, free-spirited man. As well as this, the racial segregation throughout the novel and the destruction of childhood innocence are the major themes in To Kill a Mocking Bird which are enhanced by the title. When the other supporting themes of religion and injustice are included, the title can be seen to draw instinctive reactions from the reader against the fate that Tom Robinson met. Harper Lee feels strongly against racism, and the title definitely guides the reader to feel negatively about the death of the mockingbird – Tom Robinson.
