Compare And Contrast Tom Robinson And Boo Radley

Words: 760
Pages: 4

The characters Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley and Tom Robinson can be compared as mockingbirds, from the title of the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, since their life resembles a mockingbird’s; they cause no harm to anyone but are instead targets because of their vulnerability, “ ‘I’d rather you shoot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds, shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Harper 90). The symbolism of being mockingbirds, relates Boo Radley and Tom Robinson to one another, as they are continually marginalized throughout the novel due to the many circumstances they are put in and the characteristics they possess. However, through this marginalization, they both develop a strong sense of determination only explained by their personalities and morals as the plot develops. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the symbolic mockingbirds Boo Radley and Tom …show more content…
Through the novel's progression, Boo and Tom are marginalized both by physical and social traits. Boo and Tom’s admirable perseverance allows their determination to excel and flourish as they discover who they are and what is important to them. Harper Lee may have purposely titled the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird as a reference to the plot in the story. As the Mockingbirds, Boo and Tom, are essentially killed in the end. Harper Lee’s creative writing style and references teach many lessons throughout the novel, and provokes many realizations from the readers about the characters. But the true powerful message of the story, that still touches many is in the quote, “Mockingbirds don’t eat up one thing in people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Harper