To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Use of Symbols and Symbolism :: Kill Mockingbird essays

Use of Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird   It is quite broad that some characters names in To Kill a Mockingbird are implicitly symbolic. Scout, for example, like the familiar military scouts who were dispatched from the main body to gather information, is a seeker, scouting out new areas of experience. Additionally, Atticuss name is a reference to the district Attica of ancient Greece in which Athens was located. In some way Atticuss rational sexual climax to life is similar to that of ancient philosophers, especially the Stoics The four cardinal virtues of the Stoic philosophy are wisdom, courage, besidesice and temperance. All people are manifestations of the one comprehensive spirit and should, according to the Stoics, love and help another, regardless of rank and wealth (Encarta Encyclopedia). Atticus is the main character who serves these four virtues, justice, wisdom, courage and temperance in the story, just like the ancient philosophers of Athens did. As a lawyer he is a faithful servant of justice for all people, black or white. His wisdom lies not in his education but in the way he raises his children and his knowledge of peoples attitude. For him courage is Mrs Duboses effort to break from morphine. He says to Jem the day she died I treasured to show you what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. Its when you know youre licked in front you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what (118). From his point of view, Atticus showed his courage when he accepted the Tom Robinson vitrine even though he knew beforehand that it was a lost battle. And, finally, the reader knows he believes in temperance when he advises Scout and Jem not to get carried away by peoples provocation, and sets the example when he does not react to Bob Ewells threats. Therefore it becomes evident that Atticus could easily be considered a Stoic as he made their philosophy his way of livi ng. He could be a citizen of ancient Attica as his name implies. Another symbol in the story is Jems broken sleeve as well as Scouts ham costume. It has been mentioned that Atticus did not expect Jem to be so greatly affected by the events of the trial. Scout was more probable to be influenced because she was younger.