TKAMB Motif. ~MOCKING BIRD~

You might be wondering how the book TKAMB has enhanced my understanding of motif. Or you might not be. either way, I still plan to tell you. When I was reading Catcher in the Rye I thought motif was whenever that particular item that represented the motif was mentioned. I now realize that it is whenever the action or feeling that the motif symbolizes comes up counts for motif. Such as when Helen Robinson is trying to walk to work, and the Ewells are being awful to her, is an instance of motif. Since Helen is one of the people that represents a 'mocking bird', being awful to her, in that way, represents 'killing' her. (sad huh? if you make fun of and pester an innocent person you are 'killing' them)

So now we move on to what exactly is the mocking bird motif. The mocking bird motif represents any innocent person that is generally nice and is not doing any harm and that it would be like a sin to kill them. There. I hope that explains it. But now how does it add a symbolic level of meaning to the other themes in the novel? Well it adds a symbolic level of meaning to the other themes in the novel by considering with them. When you find an instance of the motif in the book, you can also see one or two (or maybe three) of the themes showing through. Take our example. For instance, when Helen was walking to work and the Ewells were being awful to her you could see the themes of prejudice and of good vs. evil. The Ewells were being awful to her because she was Tom Robinson's wife. Think about this though; why did Bob Ewell decide to take Tom to court? It was because he knew he could win against him because he was black. So right there you can see prejudice. The Ewells were being awful to Helen because she was black. You can also see the theme of good vs. evil. First off you have to ask who represents good, and who represents evil? Then ask were the actions of the Ewells good or evil? Since they were evil that sticks Helen on the side of the good, since she was trying to provide for her family. She there you have it; a conflict between good and evil.

There you have it folks. You have your answers. How has reading To Kill a Mockingbird enhanced your understanding of the term "motif?", and What is the "mockingbird motif" and how does it add a symbolic level of meaning to the other themes in the novel? Ciao! Adios! Sayonara! Au revoir! Arrivederci!






The End!

'Lello rocks my socks!

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