Tom Robinson Is A Sin To Harm The Innocent

Words: 403
Pages: 2

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates the theme “it is a sin to harm the innocent.” Scout and Jem’s father - Atticus Finch teaches them the lesson to not kill a mockingbird. He tells them it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they “don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 90). Throughout this rollercoaster of a novel these children encounter many people who can represent a mockingbird in their lives, and they see this lesson put into place.
One of the ‘mockingbirds’ readers are introduced to is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is an African-American man who is accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus Finch proves Mr. Robinson is innocent, he is still ruled as guilty. During the trial, many characters eventually realize that he is not in the wrong-doing. After the trial, Jem is distraught at the outcome and says “It ain’t right, Atticus.” (Lee 284) This shows that Jem understands that Tom Robinson did nothing wrong, and that Maycomb is simply prejudice.
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At the end of the book, Mr. Ewell is stabbed. When fingers are pointed to Boo Radley, the sheriff says to Atticus, “To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight - to me, that’s a sin,” (Lee 369). This is an example of how harming the innocent is wrong in many people’s eyes. Boo Radley has not harmed anybody in the past, but has recently done Maycomb a favor in the killing of Bob Ewell. Mr. Radley has many rumors spread around him oftenly, which gives him a ‘bad rep’ although he is not a bad