The Innocent Simultaneous Mockingbirds To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee about justice, prejudice and racism. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the sleepy town of Maycomb, with its two-faced inhabitants who secretly harbor strong prejudices against anyone who doesn't fit their hypocritical standards. The novel boasts a variety of unique and special characters, few of whom represent mockingbirds. A mockingbird is an innocent being who has been oppressed by society and others. There are subtle hints about how the "warblers" of the story are Arthur "Boo" Radley and Tom Robinson. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Boo Radley is the town ghost and recluse. Even though he is white, he is bombarded with false accusations and rumors. He is the figure that dominates the imagination of Jem, Scout, and Dill, the main characters, at the beginning of the story. The children, especially Scout, wonder how Boo could be a recluse. Miss Maudie replies that Boo stays at home because instead of actively participating as a member of society, he prefers to remain isolated, away from other people. Scout describes Boo as a "malevolent ghost" who spies on others in the dead of night and mutilates and eats live animals. This shows how Boo is a victim of harsh and false rumors that plague him as he is a recluse which the town denies. Towards the end of the book, in one particular scene after the trial, Jem hints: "'I think I'm starting to understand why Boo Radley stays in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay in." '” (227). After being oppressed by society for so long, Boo prefers to stay at home rather than face people and society. It is also important to note that although Boo's choice to remain a recluse is evident, he chooses to give both Scout and Jem precious things and cares for them as if they were his own. Another example is when Bob Ewell is found dead. Scout and Sheriff Tate try to convince Atticus that Bob fell on his knife. Atticus asks Scout, "'What do you mean?'" (276), to which Scout, knowing that it was Boo who killed Bob, promptly responds, "'Well, it'd be kind of like shooting a mockingbird, it wouldn't be true ?'” (276). At that moment, it is implied that Boo is an innocent person, accused of rape that he did not perpetrate. Every day, people are accused of crimes that they did not commit, but very rarely those false accusations have serious consequences. Tom Robinson is a black man living in 1930s Alabama in the fictional town of Maycomb. Tom is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman and racism are strongly present, Tom's life is over. During the trial, when Tom reminds the jury of the truth, Mr. Gilmer asks him why he decided to help Mayella for free really felt sorry for her, he seemed to try harder than the others...'” (197). Mr. Gilmer responds, shocked that Tom seems to pity Mayella, a white woman. A black man taking pity on a white woman is incredible in the world of false identities and cruel segregation. The racial hatred is so strong that Tom is on trial for doing nothing more than showing basic human kindness. Instead of receiving gratitude for his sacrificial nature, he receives hatred and suspicion for being a black man. When the trial is over and the jury decides to convict Tom, the reader knows that Tom is innocent and guilty of a crime he did not commit. This ties into one of the main themes of this story: mockingbirds. Tom is a person.