Mockingbird Motif

mo⋅tif

 [moh-teef]

–noun

a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., esp. in a literary artistic, or musical work. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper lee uses different character to exemplify a :mockingbird motif". Each character represents a different theme too; racism, losing innocence/growing up, bravery, etc... One example of a motif is Tom Robinson. He represents the mockingbird and the theme of racism. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Though he was innocent, the racist jury proved him guilty. no matter what evidence was shown, there was no way Tom Robinson would get away without any punishment. people in Maycomb wanted this man dead. When he tried to escape jail, a citizen of Maycomb County shot him dead. Everyone thought it was "typical" for a black man to try and escape jail. Therefore, Tom Robsinson exemplifies Racism and a mockingbird in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.