To Kill a Mockingbird

When first hearing motif, I had no idea how to find it in any book. As I read To Kill a Mockingbird, the meaning and purpose of motif suddenly became amplified and I began to understand exactly what it meant. Reading this book mainly helped me learn how to depict a reoccurring symbol and decide if it had anything to do with the theme throughout the novel. Now, I can analyze literature and the meaning behind a symbol in it with much more ease because of this book.
The Mockingbird motif is introduced throughout the story when something bad occurs. The Mockingbird is used to portray someone or something that is innocent, doesn't hurt anyone, and minds their own business unless they want to help someone. Atticus tells Jem and Scout not to kill Mockingbirds and this helps add symbolic meaning to the book because it compares characters who are composed of the same aspects of the Mockingbird. This bird resembles all people who are similar to Tom and Arthur who mind their own business and don't like to make themselves too known. The Mockingbird motif contributes to the different themes of the novel because they are birds and can't be racist or hypocritical, although they are still respected by all.