The mockingbird, a harmless, innocent bird that sings to us, and generally makes the world a more pleasant place. In `To Kill A Mockingbird', the mockingbird symbolizes two main characters, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson. These were two innocent men, who never did anyone harm. To hurt these men would be a sin, as they did nothing wrong. Atticus tells both Scout and Jem, "I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit `em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

The mockingbird resembles Boo and Tom in many ways. For one, mockingbirds themselves have no song. They instead sing the songs of other birds, and are therefore seen through the other bird's calls. The community of Maycomb saw Boo Radley and Tom...