~Mockingbird Motif~

Through reading To Kill a Mockingbird I got to understanding the literary elements that we have been learning in English. One of these elements being motif. In To Kill a Mockingbird the motif of the novel is actually killing a mockingbird. This basically symbolizes doing something wrong to someone who doesn't deserve it. There are a few examples of this in the novel. One being repeatedly shooting Tom Robinson to kill him for escaping when really one would have done the job. Another Example is when there is an argument about whether Boo Radley should be put to trial for killing Bob Ewell. Even though he did it to save the Finch kids.

This novel has helped me understand what the definition of motif is by showing clear and obvious examples. All through the book, the characters would say, "This is just like killing a mockingbird." Many of the themes have to do with bad behavior of one person to another. These being hypocrisy, prejudice, and racism. The motif shows how strongly theses problems are in a southern community and with people in the time in general.