Saturday, July 16, 2011

Who is the mockingbird in Chapter 15 of "To Kill a Mockingbird? Why?

The mockingbird in Chapter 15 of TKAM is Scout. Jem and Scout receive air rifles for Christmas in Part I chapter 9. In Chapter 10 Atticus tells them they can shoot anyting they want except for a mockingbird. "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." When Scout asks Miss Maudie about the only thing Atticus has ever said was a sin she responds: "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Since this question is addressing Chapter 15 only and at this point the reader would not have knowledge of what happens later in the novel, the evidence lies in Scout's speech given to the mob. She is an eight year old little girl, a tomboy, who reminds Mr. Cunningham he has children too. Like a mockingbird she is "singing her heart out" trying to find a subject with which to engage Mr. Cunningham, the only familiar face in the angry mob, in conversation. She does this innocently, like a mockingbird. And like a mockingbird with an air rifle pointed at it, Scout does not realize she is in danger.

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