Jenna Kasarda

Mr. Boyatt

Pre AP English 9

June 1, 2021

To Kill a Mockingbird

Throughout her novel, Harper Lee represents limited structures of symbolism in To Kill a

Mockingbird allowing specific situations and decision making to become part of the reader's

mind expressing all negative aspects of discrimination and racsim that might impact the reader as

well. Characters contributing to the conflict and understanding of these issues also reveal the

impacts and origin of these symbols and what they truly symbolize.

Extensively shown during more important occurrences, symbolism is portrayed

constantly. Although the cover of the symbols are rare, commonly referred expressions are made

throughout the entire book, even if the symbol was first presented in the introduction. A more

specifically detailed symbol that directly impacted the storyline would be the Radley’s Tree. This

tree had permitted the interaction between important roles of characters that affected the

perspective of others and allowed the reader to easily understand one's reasoning of

communication.

The Radley’s Tree was basically a major form of communication. This tree withheld the

more impactful thoughts and mind of Boo Radley, Jem, and Scout. Boo’s attempt at

communication with the Finch children shows his demeanor to allow them to believe he is

present. Leaving gifts for the children shows how badly he wants them to continue to

communicate with him and try to understand and perceive him as the person he really is.
 Interactions later on in the novel show Boo’s true motivation and honesty of representing

the type of person he is. The common gifts and visits to the tree merely add on to the fact of how

humble he was to the children throughout their experiences with him. Jem and Scout believed

and knew he was a morally good person. When the tree had been destroyed, the impact shown on

the children expressed just how much their communication ment with one another.

The Finch children knew how much they meant to Boo, and vice versa. Allowing this

specific tree to create such a strong and important impact on one another, they realize that it had

also created a bond, a friendship, and an understanding that no one else could. The Radley’s Tree

had symbolic significance towards the demanding attempts at interaction with life for Boo,

clearly shown throughout the novel.